When you put your health in the hands of medical professionals, you expect to receive a high standard of care. Doctors, nurses, and hospitals often provide excellent treatment that improves patients’ well-being. However, medical negligence and malpractice can sometimes occur and lead to devastating injuries, worsened health conditions, and even death. As Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers, we know how the failure of healthcare providers to follow proper standards can forever alter patients’ lives. While you cannot always prevent negligence, being alert to warning signs allows you to speak up, ask questions, get second opinions, and involve an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney before it’s too late. Here’s what you need to know.
Knowing Medical Negligence and Your Rights
Medical negligence occurs when the treatment provided by a doctor, nurse, hospital or other medical professional falls below the accepted standard of care and causes harm to a patient. Some examples include:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Medication and prescription drug errors
- Surgical mistakes
- Birth injuries
- Failure to properly monitor a patient’s condition
- Failure to order necessary tests or act on results
You have the right to medical care that meets professional standards. When negligence occurs, you may be entitled to compensation through an Atlanta medical malpractice lawsuit. An experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case and help protect your rights.
What to Watch Out For
Some signs that could potentially indicate medical negligence include:
- Your condition is not improving or is getting worse with treatment. If your health continues to deteriorate despite following the treatment plan, it could signal an incorrect diagnosis or improper care. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.
- Your diagnosis does not match your symptoms. If the diagnosis you receive seems inconsistent with the symptoms you are experiencing, ask questions. Make sure the doctor has considered all possibilities and has not overlooked something.
- Your doctor is not listening to you. If you feel like your doctor is dismissive of your concerns, is not listening, or is not taking your symptoms seriously, speak up or consider changing providers. Your input matters.
- Lack of follow-up or gaps in care. If you have trouble getting test results, experience long gaps between treatments, or your doctor fails to follow up as needed, the care may be inadequate. Proper follow-up and continuity of care is crucial.
- Insufficient explanation of risks. If a doctor glosses over or minimizes the risks of a medication or procedure and you end up experiencing serious complications, it could be a sign that proper informed consent protocols were not followed.
- The care seems sloppy or disorganized. If you notice signs of poor hygiene, disorganization, lack of proper record-keeping, or general carelessness in how the clinic or hospital operates, it could foreshadow problems with the quality of care.
- Lack of communication among your medical team. If it seems like your primary care doctor, specialists, nurses, and other medical staff are not sharing important information or coordinating your care properly, mistakes are more likely to happen. Continuity of care is important.
- A bad gut feeling. Sometimes, your instinct is picking up on signs of a problem, even if you cannot articulate exactly why. If something feels “off” about the care you are receiving, pay attention to that intuition and do not be afraid to get a second opinion.
What To Do If You Suspect Medical Negligence
The most important thing is to speak up and take action quickly before the situation leads to even more harm. Here are steps to consider:
- Talk to your doctor. In some cases, an open conversation may resolve the issue. Give your doctor a chance to respond to your concerns and provide more information. Take notes during this discussion.
- Get a second opinion. Have another medical professional evaluate your condition and treatment. This can give you a clearer picture of whether you are receiving proper care.
- Report your concerns to the appropriate people. If you are receiving hospital treatment, share your concerns with the patient advocate. If your doctor is part of a larger practice, talk to the clinic or practice manager.
- Request your medical records. You have a right to copies of your medical records. Reviewing your records can sometimes reveal red flags you would otherwise miss.
- Contact the state medical board. If you believe a doctor has engaged in unethical or negligent behavior, you can file a complaint with the state’s medical board, which will investigate the situation.
- Consult an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer. An experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney can review the facts, assess the strength of your case, deal with insurance companies, and stand up for your rights. Many offer free initial consultations to discuss the details of your situation.
At our law firm, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our knowledgeable Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers are here to help if you have suffered harm due to medical negligence. We know the devastating impact malpractice can have and will thoroughly investigate your case and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
The sooner you involve a skilled Atlanta medical malpractice attorney, the better. There are strict time limits for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Atlanta, Georgia. In most cases, you have only two years from the date of the negligent act or omission to bring a claim.
However, the deadline may sometimes be extended if you do not discover the negligence immediately. An Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer can determine all filing deadlines applicable to your particular case.
Get in Touch with Us Today
While compensation cannot undo the harm you suffered, it can ease the financial burden caused by mounting medical bills, lost income, and other expenses attributable to negligence. Successful Atlanta medical malpractice lawsuits hold negligent parties accountable and shine a light on dangerous practices so others do not experience the same mistreatment.
You trust in medical professionals to make you better and do no harm. When they betray that trust through negligence, you deserve justice. If any of these warning signs sound familiar, don’t stay silent. Reach out to the compassionate Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys at Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC today to discuss your situation and learn how we can help.