Three things you can do to avoid medical malpractice

In a prior post, we highlighted the breaches in procedure and improper actions taken by physicians that led to Joan Rivers’ death. Essentially, there were critical errors that if they were abated, could have saved Rivers’ life.

While the Rivers’ case appears to be a straightforward case of negligence, many other medical malpractice cases are not so clear cut. This led us to think about potential things that patients could do to help them avoid medical malpractice cases. This post will identify a few.

Speak up – Doctors are trained to diagnose medical conditions and make recommendations on how to treat them. However, you know your body much more than a physician can. So if you feel that something is wrong but doctors are telling you that everything is alright, speak up for yourself and not simply rely on one opinion. After all, it is your body and only you have to deal with the consequences if something goes wrong.

Get educated – Understanding a particular condition is a prerequisite. This means that doing research and asking questions are two things that can help you understand what you are up against and the preferred ways of treating your condition.

Ask questions – In the same vein as speaking up, having a list of detailed questions to ask before proceeding with a particular condition is helpful. Also, when you ask questions, you should expect to receive complete answers, including the risks and benefits of undergoing a particular procedure. Of course, if you don’t understand what you are being told, having someone you trust, such as a family member, is helpful.