The Connection between Communication and Malpractice
Did you know that medical professionals who have good relationships with the people in their care are less likely to be sued for malpractice than those who don’t? It makes sense, if you think about it. When medical professionals develop relationships with their patients which are based on trust, respect, and good communication, the patients feel as though they are receiving good care. The same goes for doctors and caregivers who take plenty of time to address their patients’ concerns and who respond to emails and phone calls promptly. If something goes wrong while care is being provided and a person suffers an injury, the patient who has a strong positive relationship with their doctor is more likely to think of the harm that he or she experienced in terms of a mistake rather than as negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
If, on the other hand, the relationship between a medical professional and a patient is weak, the patient may wonder if the medical professional is truly serving his or her best interests. Some medical professionals can be rude or dismissive. Others give patients little information about what they observe, expecting the patient to simply follow their instructions without fully understanding what is going on with their body. If an injury occurs or something goes wrong in a situation where there is this negative type of relationship between a caregiver and a patient, there is a much higher likelihood that the patient will feel that the doctor was negligent. Interestingly enough, nearly a third of the medical malpractice complaints that end up in litigation are related in some way to communication.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend in the medical profession towards practicing defensive medicine, and towards looking at patients as potential adversaries. The problem is that defensive medicine rarely helps to build a strong doctor/patient relationship, and usually does little to lessen the burden or cost of malpractice lawsuits.
When you are injured by medical malpractice, the road to recovery can be physically and financially difficult. When you let the experienced Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC take care of the legal aspects of your medical malpractice case, you can focus your efforts on healing your body and moving forward with your life. To learn more about how we can help you with your medical malpractice case, please call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your medical malpractice case with us.
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
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