When to Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Misdiagnosis or Surgical Errors

The National Practitioner Data Bank reports that there have been 11,388 medical malpractice payment reports in the year 2024. A Medical Malpractice Payment Report is a reflection of the amount of money a patient could receive as a result of an injury issued against a healthcare provider, either a doctor or other healthcare practitioner, for harm caused by a lack of care.

When a healthcare professional makes a mistake that hurts you, the action is called medical malpractice. This could happen if doctors make mistakes in diagnosis, surgery, or other parts of treatment. If you’ve been through any of these things, it’s important to know when to get in touch with a medical malpractice lawyer.

According to Goethel Engelhardt, doctors can’t cure or save every patient. They can be held accountable for mistakes, poor decisions, or substandard care that result in serious injury or death.

Find out how to recognize these signs and how a medical malpractice lawyer can help you through this tough time by reading this article.

Understanding Medical Malpractice: Definitions and Examples

Everybody should be ready to get medical care that meets the standards. Mistakes can happen when medical practitioners engage in careless procedures.

It is called medical malpractice when a medical worker either doesn’t give the right amount of care or hurts someone. 

If your test results were misinterpreted by a doctor and you were prescribed the wrong medicine, you could experience serious side effects. A surgeon might operate on the wrong site and put your life in jeopardy.

Another example is a woman who comes in with chest pain and trouble breathing that won’t go away. Based on the symptoms they displayed, the patient was diagnosed with pneumonia and given antibiotics. Even after treatment, the symptoms didn’t go away. More tests showed that she had malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare disease that is often linked to being around asbestos. This mesothelioma misdiagnosis can impact her chances of recovery. 

It is important to understand these descriptions and examples of medical malpractice to recognize when one may have a closed claim and when they need to take the step of seeking an attorney.

Signs of Misdiagnosis: When Your Doctor Gets It Wrong

How can one tell if they had a misdiagnosis? Pay attention to the symptoms and their evolution. Be wary of worsening symptoms or if the prescribed treatment does not provide any significant changes to your health.

Trust your instincts. If your doctor fails to listen to you or does not conduct a thorough examination, it is likely that there is a problem.

A second opinion is always advisable should the diagnosis contradict your symptoms.

Unexplainable symptoms that are inconsistent with the given diagnosis should be carefully observed, and if there ever is a feeling of confusion or frustration, one should advocate for oneself and against the negligence of the doctor by hiring a medical malpractice attorney.

Surgical Errors: Recognizing Negligence in the Operating Room

Surgical mistakes are a different kind of mistake that can have immediate catastrophic repercussions and are often more distressing. 

If surgery complications seem unusual, negligence should be considered. Take note of infection, severe bleeding, and unusual postoperative pain. These symptoms indicate surgical protocol violations.

If an organ is accidentally damaged or a faulty surgery is done, act promptly. Document the surgical mistake and seek a medical malpractice lawyer. They will help you find your rights and sue negligent parties.

The Importance of Medical Records in Malpractice Cases

Medical records play a key role in medical malpractice cases, serving as powerful evidence to support your claim.

These records detail every bit of information concerning your diagnosis and treatment and any procedures carried out, including the limitation of establishing if the accepted standards of care were breached.

Your medical records can describe the time events took place and the decisions undertaken by the medical officers during the period of misdiagnosis or surgical error.

The proof of negligence or substandard care therefore depends on this information. Evidence of malpractice helps your lawyer create a more compelling argument in support of you.

Without medical records, it’s almost impossible to figure out what went wrong in a doctor’s treatment that could have seriously hurt someone or perhaps killed them. Obtaining medical records is significant since they will help you better understand the incident and be provided with more information.

Steps to Take Before Contacting a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Before seeking the medical malpractice attorney, the necessary information related to the matter should be obtained. Gather all the relevant medical records, together with any test results or treatment notes.

An event timeline helps. Records can be kept of symptom onset, diagnoses, and treatments. Document the names and conversations you had with your doctors and caregivers about your health. The attorney will have a better grasp of what happened if they have these pieces of evidence on hand.

Try to find witness testimonials or other proof to support your allegation. Be clear about your goals while meeting with the lawyer. Prepare everything beforehand so that your meeting with the legal expert goes smoothly.