It can be challenging for medical malpractice victims to know when they’ve fallen victim to a doctor’s negligence. Doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies are notorious for covering their tracks, and they will never admit to making a mistake. While medical malpractice lawyers in Michigan can assist victims with obtaining evidence to confirm that malpractice occurred, there are sure tell-tale signs that patients can look for that suggest malpractice.
This article will outline several of those signs. If you suspect that you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, contact Fieger Law as soon as possible to inquire about the possibility of filing a lawsuit to recover money for personal injury.
1: Condition Worsening or Not Responding to Treatment
For the most part, medicine has evolved to a point where doctors know what treatments work for specific conditions. At the same time, doctors also know which states are unlikely to respond to treatment, and medical ethics require that doctors entirely communicate the risks involved with a course of treatment. If your doctor communicated expectations, and your condition did not respond in a manner that matches those expectations, it’s possible that something went wrong. It’s also possible that medical malpractice may have occurred.
These cases especially indicate malpractice when the treated condition was expected to be easily cured or managed. If- a condition continues to worsen or does not respond to treatment, the following types of malpractice may have occurred:
- A false diagnosis.
- A wrongfully prescribed medication.
- A wrongfully filled prescription.
- Misinterpreted test results.
2: Unexpected or Unexplained Side Effects
As previously mentioned, doctors have an ethical duty to tell their patients about any side effects or complications associated with a treatment, procedure, or course of action. Doctors must ensure patients have complete information to provide informed consent for treatment when disclosing side effects and risks. If a side effect arises after a procedure without prior disclosure, it likely indicates an issue during the procedure itself. In other words, unexpected side effects imply something unusual occurred, as expected side effects should have been disclosed. Unexplained side effects may suggest the following types of medical malpractice:
- Errors in surgery or during procedures.
- A missed diagnosis.
- Faulty medical devices.
- Failure to monitor test results.
- Infection.
3: Communication Issues With Your Provider
When a doctor or hospital anticipates a potential medical malpractice claim, they typically take action to conceal their activities and thwart the filing of a lawsuit. In severe instances, patients may even encounter “ghosting,” where their medical provider completely ceases communication.
Even if you haven’t experienced ghosting, any difficulty in communicating with your doctors, especially medical malpractice lawyers in Michigan, may signify other underlying issues.
Doctors with nothing to hide are generally upfront and available to their patients. If your doctor isn’t accessible, especially if your doctor becomes inaccessible after your condition worsens, malpractice may have occurred.
4: A Different Second Opinion
When patients encounter new or worsening symptoms, their initial response is often seeking a second opinion. However, if the second opinion differs significantly or reveals new issues, it raises concerns about the initial doctor. Missed diagnoses can be as devastating, if not worse, than surgical errors. This is especially true for conditions that worsen over time, potentially leading to a less favorable prognosis. Receive a second opinion that suggests your first doctor may have been wildly incorrect. You should contact a Michigan medical malpractice lawyer to discuss filing a malpractice lawsuit as soon as possible.
5: An Instinct of Wrongdoing
Detecting malpractice is challenging because doctors rarely admit errors. Trust your instincts. Often, malpractice victims realize they missed warning signs. These indicators can be subtle, like a poorly maintained hospital room, or severe, such as a doctor concealing qualifications.
Regardless of what triggers your suspicion, contact an attorney promptly if your condition worsens or you suffer unrelated injuries. An attorney can access vital information that patients cannot, potentially uncovering significant evidence.
With the help of a Fieger Law medical malpractice lawyer, Michigan malpractice victims can be sure that a complete and thorough investigation has occurred.
Contact Fieger Law Today
Fieger Law is proud to offer free consultations to prospective medical malpractice clients. If you or a loved one has been involved in a problematic medical situation, you may have a valid claim for compensation against your doctor. Contact our office today to set up a free, no-risk consultation with a member of our team.