Steps You Should Take if You Suspect You’re the Victim of Medical Malpractice
When you seek medical treatment, you expect that the care you receive will help you to feel better. Unfortunately, doctors and other medical professionals sometimes make mistakes. In some cases, they do things that they should not do, like operating on the wrong part of the body. In other cases, they fail to do something that they should have done. In either case, when a mistake is made, the patient either ends up feeling the same as they did when they sought treatment, or they feel even worse.
If the above scenario sounds familiar to you, know that you do not have to continue to feel the way that you do. It is possible that the doctor who provided care to you made an error which constitutes medical malpractice. If you are a victim of medical malpractice, you may be able to pursue a claim for damages against the doctor who injured you.
As soon as you suspect that something is amiss, begin documenting your illness or injury by keeping a journal and taking pictures. Since you will be pursuing additional treatment in order to heal from your illness or injury, it is important to preserve evidence of the conditions that you experienced following the incident of malpractice. Be sure to keep your journal and pictures in a secure location, and do not allow anyone besides your Tennessee medical malpractice attorney to have access to them.
It is also essential that you obtain a copy of your medical records as soon as possible after you begin to suspect that you may be the victim of medical malpractice. Any doctor that you see for a second or third opinion, or who will provide you with the care that you need in order to feel well again, will need to see your medical records when they treat you. Also, once you file a claim for medical malpractice, the doctor who has been accused of medical malpractice may attempt to alter your medical records. Obtaining the records before filing a claim helps to ensure that you have an accurate record of the treatment that you received.
If you feel as though you may be a victim of medical malpractice, you should seek a second opinion as soon as you can. Some people wait for a long time before seeking a second opinion, enduring unnecessary pain and suffering from both the physical aspects of their illness or injury and from wondering why they are not feeling better. Meeting with a doctor for a second opinion will help you in two ways – by giving you insight into whether or not it is likely that you have been a victim of medical malpractice, and by getting answers about what treatment you will need in order to feel better.
If the doctor who provides you with a second opinion (or a third one, if need be) thinks that you are a victim of medical malpractice, contact a Tennessee medical malpractice attorney right away. While you get started on the road to recovery by getting the care that you need, your attorney can begin to pursue your claim for damages against the person or persons who are responsible for your injuries.
To learn more about how a Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer can help you, contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC, today. We will evaluate your case, answer all of your questions, and sit down with you to help you determine the best way to proceed. Call 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case with us. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
Read more about Thomas R. Greer