When you need to have a medical procedure done, of course, you make the assumption that you can trust your doctor and the rest of the medical staff to ensure you’re in good hands. And in most cases, this is true. Unfortunately, medical malpractice does happen – and perhaps even more, unfortunately, the average victim of medical malpractice waits for more than 16 months after the incident to begin seeking legal assistance.
By being aware of the common signs of medical malpractice, you can seek the action for recourse that you need and get on with your life as much as possible after becoming a victim.
Extremely Short or Long Operation Times
When you undergo any kind of medical procedure, no matter how major or minor, your doctor and his or her staff should keep detailed operative records. This includes information on when you were prepped for the procedure, when the procedure began and ended, and when you left the facility. If you experience complications following a procedure and your operative records reveal an unusually long or short operative time, this should be seen as a red flag for malpractice.
Infection or Abscess After a Procedure
When you undergo a medical procedure, you’ll be asked to sign a consent form stating that you’re aware of the risks of your particular procedure. All too often, however, patients view signing this document as being equivalent to signing away their right to bring forth a lawsuit if any mistakes are made by the medical staff. In reality, an infection or abscess that arises after the procedure could be a sign of medical malpractice and a lawsuit could be filed, despite what the consent form might have implied.
Returning to Hospital for Outpatient Procedures
Outpatient procedures should be some of the most simple medical procedures, often having patients in and out of the medical office or hospital within just a few hours. The risk of complications from these procedures is also supposed to be relatively low. Therefore, if you end up having to return to the hospital or doctor’s office due to complications from a simple outpatient procedure, you should keep this in mind as a potential sign of medical malpractice.
Failure By Your Doctor to Order Basic Tests
Depending on your diagnosis or specific medical situation, your doctor should be following strict protocol by ordering additional tests to treat your condition. If you find out later on that a standard test was not performed by your doctor following a diagnosis or even certain telltale symptoms, you may very well have a case for medical malpractice.
The above are just a few common red flags of medical malpractice, though the only way to determine whether or not this is the case for your unique situation is to work directly with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. Get the answers you’re looking for regarding your case by calling Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick Law today at (954) 905-4600.