If you suspect medical malpractice, there’s a good chance that your health and well-being are at risk. For this reason, you need to effectively balance the care you receive and the steps you take to protect your legal rights.
Here are some steps you should take if you suspect medical malpractice:
- Obtain evidence: Collect evidence related to your claim, such as notes of conversations you had with your doctor and medical records. It’s best to collect everything up front, as you’ll need it at some point in the future.
- Under most situations find another provider: Don’t continue to see the same doctor. Find another provider, discuss your concerns and ask them for a second opinion. Not only does this allow you to obtain care, but it can help you better understand if you should proceed with a medical malpractice claim.
- Focus on your health: While you’re taking steps to hold the negligent provider responsible for their actions, you should focus on your health and what you can do to make a full recovery. Follow the direction of your medical team, down to every last detail.
- Continue to take notes: As the days go by, you’ll find yourself uncovering new information pertaining to your potential medical malpractice case. Keep a journal and continue to obtain evidence related to the incident. If you don’t do this right away, it’s possible you could forget something that could help you win your case.
If everything points toward malpractice, learn more about the legal system and the steps you can take to start your claim.
If you suspect medical malpractice has affected your life or the life of someone you love, it never hurts to take the steps above and learn more about your legal rights.
As you do so, you’ll come to better understand your situation, the law and what you can do to protect yourself.
