The last thing to wish on any person in New York who has health problems is negligent medical care. A surgical error, a missed or incorrect diagnosis or wrong prescription can be devastating for patients and their loved ones. Because of the prevalence of reports about medical malpractice, it might be beneficial to be aware of the risks when dealing with physicians, hospitals and other health care providers or facilities.
When choosing a doctor, it might be wise to check his or her credentials and experience in the appropriate field. Remember communication is essential and for that reason, selecting a physician who would maintain effective communication with the patient could be beneficial. One way to clear away uncertainty about imminent procedures is asking questions and getting understandable answers.
Signing documents or waivers without clarity and understanding can be detrimental, and a full knowledge of procedures and potential long-term consequences, risks and costs is vital to avoid signing away legal rights. No procedures may be done without the patient’s consent. Furthermore, it must be informed consent, meaning that the doctor must be sure that the patient understands all aspects including the consequences of failure to have the procedure done.
If, after taking all these precautions, a New York patient suffers adverse consequences caused by medical errors or negligence, he or she might have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages. However, this is an intricate field of the law, and establishing negligence can be particularly challenging. For this reason, the most logical step in such circumstances might be to retain the services of an experienced medical malpractice attorney to provide the necessary support and guidance.
Source: emedcert.com, “10 Simple Tips To Avoid Malpractice Claims“, Adam Rapp, Accessed on Oct.19, 2017
