Medical malpractice cases can be extremely confusing for the victim. You want to trust your healthcare professionals, especially in cases where you’ve needed long-term treatment and have developed a relationship with your regular physician. Patients can have a difficult time determining if there was any wrongdoing.
Because of terminology and confusing explanations of treatment options, some patients may not even understand all of their diagnosis. You may have a feeling something isn’t right about the treatment you received but you might not think you can prove it. Often patients feel that their physicians are smarter and more knowledgeable and they defer to the medical professional’s opinion, which makes the cases of medical malpractice even more confusing.
Signs You’ve Been A Victim of Medical Malpractice
The unfortunate truth is that your healthcare professional will not always be forthcoming about a medical mistake. This can be confusing because you won’t have access to the type of advanced medical knowledge that your physician has. But there are some signs that may indicate you’ve been misdiagnosed or that your treatment wasn’t optimal for your condition.
- No Improvement – If you’ve been under a doctor’s care and there has been no improvement in your condition, it’s an indication that they may not be treating you adequately.
- Complications – If you’ve been under treatment or have recently gone through surgery and you have complications that were either unforeseen or far more severe than the possibilities discussed, there may have been a mistake in your treatment.
- The Healthcare Provider Has Told You of a Mistake – In some cases, your physician may tell you that they made a mistake and offer compensation. It’s always advisable to seek a second opinion and consult an attorney to make sure that you gain proper compensation before agreeing to any settlement, especially in light of unforeseen future issues that may arise from the mistake.
- Treatment That Doesn’t Coincide With Tests – In some cases, a physician will run tests but the treatment doesn’t coincide with the test results. You’re entitled to all of your results and a second physician can assess your results with the course of treatment.
- Deteriorating Health – If you’ve been under a doctor’s care but your condition has worsened, it may be an indication that the treatment is not working. In some cases, misdiagnosed treatment can cause further health problems.
- Second Opinion – You’ve gone to a different physician and their diagnosis and treatment are at odds with the first physician.
Do You Believe You’ve Been the Victim of Medical Malpractice?
If you believe that you might be the victim of medical malpractice, it’s important that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, PA to discuss your case today. We have helped many people walk through this confusing process, and will be with you every step of the way.