Did you know that medical malpractice is the third-biggest cause of death in the United States? When you put your hands in the care of those who are supposed to be experts, you run the risk of being seriously injured — or even dying. While you don’t want to deny yourself needed medical care due to the fear of malpractice, you should still be on the watch for signs that things aren’t going as they should.
And, if you are a victim of medical malpractice, you need to speak with a good personal injury attorney immediately so that you can get the compensation you deserve to make you whole. But how can you tell if you are the victim of medical malpractice?
Indications that You are a Medical Malpractice Victim
First of all, you need to make sure that you understand the state laws surrounding medical malpractice. Each state defines it a little differently. Your lawyer can help you determine whether or not your situation meets the state definition of medical malpractice in Maryland.
Realize that most definitions of medical malpractice revolve around what is known as “standard of care.” This represents a regular standard that professionals are expected to meet, in relation to their peers and the requirements of the law. There are 5 main indications that your health care provider isn’t providing the proper standard of care, and that might mean you are a victim of medical malpractice:
Your health care provider didn’t order a common test: Is there a common test designed to help in your specific diagnosis? If there is a common test used as a “standard” when it comes to diagnosis, you should have received it. If you didn’t, your medical provider might not be providing adequate care.
Delayed diagnosis: Another sign is if your diagnosis is delayed. If it takes too long to come to a diagnosis about your condition, and you are past the point where the condition could have been treated with relative ease had it been identified sooner, you might be a malpractice victim. This is especially true if the common test was overlooked, and your diagnosis was delayed as a result.
No additional test are ordered: We’re all human, and simple mistakes aren’t the basis for medical malpractice. However, your entire diagnosis shouldn’t be based on the results of a single lab test — especially since these tests can be contaminated or techs can mix samples. Make sure that there are other bases for a diagnosis. If your health care provider doesn’t offer other reasons for diagnosis, that could be a problem.
Your condition doesn’t improve: Are you continuing to struggle, even after treatment has started. If you aren’t recovering well after a surgery, it could be an indication that something is wrong. Instruments have been sewn up inside of patients, and there have been cases of surgeons performing the wrong procedure on the wrong patient. If you feel like things aren’t improving, it could be the result of gross oversight, and the situation needs to be corrected immediately.
No follow up with health care providers: Have you been left on your own? Medical professionals should follow up with you after diagnosis, after a procedure, and throughout treatment. Your health care team should be concerned with helping you recover. If you aren’t sure how to properly care for yourself or administer treatment, it’s especially important that you get help. If you haven’t received that help, it could be a sign of medical malpractice.
If you feel as though something is very, very wrong, follow your gut. Contact us today and tell us about your situation. We’re here to help.
