From the very beginning of our lives we are scared of hospitals and doctors. As children we worry that we’ll get poked with a needle or have to take yucky medicine. As we grow older, however, hospitals should become a safe place where we go to feel better.
Medical Malpractice: Doctors Can Make Harmful Mistakes
But what if your hospital or doctor doesn’t help you feel better, but instead their choices actually make you feel worse? If you believe that your Fairfax doctor is causing you more harm than good, he may be committing medical negligence. Studies estimate that ten percent of patients in the United States are victims of medical malpractice due to human error and miscommunication, and you could be one of them. However, determining if you’re a victim may not be as easy as you think.
If you believe that your physician or hospital provided substandard or dangerous care, there are things you should and shouldn’t do in order to seek answers:
DON’T:
- Automatically assume negligence if your treatment isn’t working.
- Accuse your doctor or hospital of medical malpractice on your own.
- Diagnose or treat yourself without a secondary medical opinion, in case the effects worsen.
DO:
- Make sure your medical records are complete and all diagnoses and treatments are documented.
- Research your symptoms and other popular treatments to see how they vary with your doctor’s opinion.
- Seek a second opinion from a different hospital or physician.
- Contact the Fairfax medical malpractice lawyers at Shevlin Smith for a free consultation by calling 703-634-7350
Ask Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers For Help
We’re here to help. Get a free consultation with a Shevlin Smith attorney for your case in Washington D.C. or Virginia. Call today at 703-634-7350