Some injuries and ailments are possible to shake off on your own. Sometimes, however, your condition may be so serious that you require medical intervention. When you check in to a medical institution, you expect staff to help you and ultimately make you better. They have a legal duty to do everything in their power to make this happen.
Usually, doctors honor this duty of care. Nonetheless, doctors are only human, which means they can make mistakes. Some mistakes may be forgivable, but mistakes arising from negligence should not happen.
Were you diagnosed incorrectly?
The first stage of medical treatment is coming up with an accurate diagnosis. This can take time, but it should always be done as efficiently as possible. To do this, doctors will need to listen to what you have to say, examine your symptoms and run diagnostic tests. Mistakes in this process, including delays, can result in your diagnosis being inaccurate and you not getting the treatment that you need to feel better.
Were you given the wrong medication?
Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will have to decide on a suitable treatment plan. Often, this involves prescribing you medication. That means reviewing your chart for drug allergies and for any interactions the new drug might have with your other medications. It also means looking at the whole picture of your health, not just one thing, and making a careful choice about dosages. When that isn’t done, you can end up worse off than before.
Doctors train for many years to gain relevant knowledge in their area. They must stay up to date with modern treatments and always act within the confines of the law. If they breach the duty of care owed to you, then you can hold them to account. Seeking legal guidance to find out more about medical malpractice claims can help you learn more about your options.
