With so many changes in the current topic of health care, it is very easy to be caught up in a whirlwind of medical expenses. But what do you do if you suspect that you are a victim of medical malpractice? How do you know if you are a victim? Understanding the basics of medical malpractice and how it may be affecting you can help you be prepared for the future. Some signs that show you may be a victim of medical malpractice include delayed diagnosis, no original or additional tests, or no follow up from your health care provider. Other signs can also include your condition not improving when it should, or simply being ignored, leaving you with none of your questions answered. You as a human being have the right to be attended to, along with the right to have your questions answered. If you are a victim of medical malpractice, you will need to find a medical malpractice lawyer to help you take the first step in your case.Medical malpractice is the negligence of a patient by a professional, due to a practice that is below the standard procedure of care. This results in the patient's injury or death. Medical malpractice exists when a duty was owed, a duty was breached, the breach caused said injury, and damage exists. With all four elements proven, a medical malpractice case can be made. The damage can be considered financial, emotional, or otherwise. If you or a loved one have been wrongfully treated by a health care provider, you may be the victim of medical malpractice.1.) Delayed DiagnosisMedical malpractice is the perfect example of how procrastination can be deadly. When occurring, a delayed diagnosis can mean that by the time you or your loved one receives the diagnosis, the disease or sickness has progressed to a point where treatment will not help. Effective treatment is the endgame of standard medical procedure; if your diagnosis was procrastinated due to missed signs, late tests, or some other inhibiting aspect, then this might be a sign of medical malpractice.This sign can only be determined by proper proof. Medical malpractice may be at work if the health care provider was procrastinating, or in any way waiting for any unnecessary reason for your results and diagnosis. However, if an individual waited too long themselves before seeing a doctor or health care provider, then there is nothing to be done if it is caught too late. This is why regular trips to the doctor are vital.2.) Your Health Care Provider Never Ordered a Common Test or Additional TestsThere is always a standard procedure for various treatments. If you do not receive the standard care, then medical malpractice may be an issue in your situation. If there is a common test for your specific area of need, then that test alone should be the beginning of your treatment. You should receive a test associated with your diagnosis. If you have been diagnosed without the help of a common test, then medical malpractice may be existent, as your health care provider is not providing you with the standard of care necessary.A diagnosis should not be based off of a singular result. Tests can be contaminated, switched, or erred due to accidents. A diagnosis should be made based on multiple, consistent results. More than one test is thus necessary for a proper diagnosis. A diagnosis with a single test may be a sign of inaccurate testing and a lowered standard of care.3.) Your Condition Does Not ImproveMany different treatments are available for various conditions: pills, therapy, and surgery, among others. You, as the patient, have the right to know and understand the different treatments available to you based on your condition. This can only happen, however, if your condition is properly diagnosed. A misdiagnose can lead to the wrong kind of treatment, which may make your condition worse, if it affects you at all. If a treatment is ineffective, then that may be a sign of medical malpractice. This, however, is a weaker point due to the various reasons a treatment may not be successful; if no wrongful diagnosis exists, then the body may be rejecting the treatment altogether. If your diagnosis is correct, then the procedure of the treatment may not have been correctly done. Many things can go wrong during surgery: the wrong procedure, the wrong treatment, or even the wrong patient. If your condition does not improve after a considerable amount of time of treatment, you or your medical malpractice lawyer may be able to investigate if a medical malpractice claim exists.4.) You are Being IgnoredYou as a patient, as previously stated, have the right to proper medical treatment based on the official standard of care. Part of the official standard of proper medical treatment is keeping you knowledgeable about your own condition every step of the way. You have the right to know your treatment options, your statistics, your dietary regulations, your vitamin regimen, and any other accompanying information. If you have any questions, concerns, or statements about anything regarding your condition or treatment, then you have the right to be answered and informed. If your health care provider does not answer your questions or various forms of correspondence, then that may be a sign of medical malpractice. Your situation is unique, and you have the right to know about your situation. A red flag may be evident if they are reluctant to tell you something, as this may mean that they know something negative that you may not know. If they do not want to tell you, that is a sign that deserves suspicion.5.) No Follow-Up from Your Health Care ProviderAfter every treatment, surgery, or other form of major care, your health care providers should follow up with you during the aftermath, similar to the debriefing session after a war operation or psychological study. Your options should be discussed with you after every visit and milestone in regards to your specific situation. Your questions should be answered after every new chapter, and you should never be left in the dark regarding your own condition. You should leave each session with the knowledge of how to properly prepare for the next step. You do not have to face your diagnosis, procedures, treatment, and recovery alone; if you are not given the adequate information you need to care for yourself as much as you can, then that may be a warning sign for medical malpractice or a negligent health care provider. You deserve to receive the treatment entitled to you. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer if you are not receiving the help you should be getting.The list only provides some signs of medical malpractice. If you feel that you have been wrongfully treated by your health care provider, whether due to the aforementioned reasons or not, gather the necessary documentation for evidence and contact your medical malpractice lawyer, They will guide you through the four elements of proving your case and they will work to ensure you or your loved ones obtain the care according to the rights deserved. If your loved one was the victim in the event of a wrongful death, you can be the plaintiff on behalf of your late loved one. If you have any worries or see the beginning signs of medical malpractice, call a medical malpractice lawyer immediately to get your questions answered and begin your case. You are a human being, and you deserve to get the proper treatment according to the modern standard of care.
