It is difficult to conceive that a patient could suffer serious harm or injuries as a result of a medical mistake. Yet the reality is that it happens, leaving some victims disabled or faced with numerous health complications.
When you or a loved one has been the victim of a doctor’s error or any other medical professional’s mistake, it could lead to you filing a claim. For help in understanding your legal rights, you should contact a Suffolk County medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
When a Medical Mistake Happens
You can prepare yourself for surgery or for a possible diagnosis when you have undergone tests. However, not much can prepare you for becoming the victim of a medical mistake.
It can be traumatic to learn that a preventable mistake happened. Whether it was receiving an incorrect dosage of medication, having the wrong side operated on or being diagnosed with the wrong medical condition, the aftereffects can be devastating.
Not only are you left to deal with the physical repercussions, but also there is often a great deal of emotional trauma. And if the medical provider denies wrongdoing, it can make the situation even more difficult.
How a Checklist Can Help after a Medical Mistake
One of the ways to determine what went wrong and who was liable is to go through a checklist. While it can help physicians understand the point at which a mistake happened, it might also prevent future errors.
Here are some of the questions that should be considered when determining how a medical mistake happened:
- What was the result of the medical mistake (the injury or illness it caused the patient)?
- Were appropriate steps taken?
- Were there steps that shouldn’t have been taken but were neglected?
- What could have been done differently?
- How can this be prevented from happening again?
- How can I help other medical staff members who were involved in the situation?
The answers to these questions can help not only the responsible medical professional to understand what went wrong, but it also could help you determine liability. You could ask yourself some of these same questions.
For instance, if you had surgery, did the doctor discuss the location of the procedure with you before you went under anesthesia? Did the doctor mark the location? If these steps were missed, it could help indicate the source of the mistake.
Contact a Suffolk County Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Checklists that ask questions can help pinpoint the source of a medical mistake. They also can be helpful in determining who was at fault and may be found liable for the resulting illness or injuries. However, you will need experienced legal counsel to assist.
Having adequate proof is necessary in order to file a claim of this nature. Because of the complexities surrounding this area of the law, it would be in your best interest to consult a lawyer who has experience handling medical malpractice claims.
Not only can legal counsel help determine liability and assemble evidence, but an attorney also can assist you with other aspects of the claims process. He or she can explain the types of damages you may be entitled to seek and provide an estimate of the amount of compensation you could be eligible to receive.
For help with your case, contact a Suffolk County medical malpractice lawyer at Gacovino Lake & Associates. Our law firm serves residents of the 5 boroughs of New York City and clients nationwide. For experienced help with your medical malpractice case, contact us today at 800-246-4878.
