(Newswire.net — February 4, 2021) — When you fall ill and see a doctor, you trust them to give you the best services. This is because you know that most doctors understand that their patients’ well being largely depends on their skills. Unfortunately, you can land in the care of a bad doctor.
A study by the Journal of Patient Safety revealed that, in 2014, more than 200,000 U.S. patients died from complications related to preventable harm done by a medical practitioner. Some of the patients were suffering from minor conditions, but their treating doctors’ incompetence literally killed them.
So, how do you spot a bad doctor?
Seek a Second Opinion
As a patient, you have little knowledge of medical practices, thus, there is not much that you can do to spot a bad doctor. After a diagnosis with a life-threatening condition, always seek a second opinion, especially when interacting with a medical doctor for the first time.
You can consult with another doctor and request their prognosis and suggested treatment. Do not tell them about your visit to the other doctor, unless you want a biased second opinion. You can also order additional tests to confirm the initial diagnosis.
What If You Notice Something Amiss?
After the appointment with the second doctor, you might feel that there is something amiss. You can’t be sure at this point, so you might have to see a third doctor. If you notice persistent inconsistencies from your first doctor’s direction, then this might be a red flag.
Find a second or third doctor that you can trust through your network of friends or other doctors that you have known before. Share your concerns and ask them for their professional opinion.
If they suspect malpractice, they might advise you to obtain the medical records of the particular doctor. This is because having access to all medical records is critical for building a strong medical malpractice case. At this point, if you were harmed by the bad doctor, it might be time for you to get a medical malpractice attorney.
Stay Watchful
You might not have access to your medical records due to various reasons, but you still need to stay watchful to keep yourself safe from falling victim to a bad doctor. Do the following to save yourself a lot of trouble before it’s too late:
Trust Your Gut Feeling
If you have the feeling of something not being right whenever you see your doctor, then trust your gut. You can ask questions and clarifications on the procedures and treatments that they recommend. The more information you have, the easier it will be for you to discern the truth.
Study Their Attitude
Does your doctor seem to care about your wellbeing? If they seem indifferent or uncaring, then these are red flags. How do they respond to your concerns? A good doctor encourages you to want to do more about your health. If your treating doctor is cold or rude, then you should seek another doctor.
Pay Attention to Overtreatment
The opioid epidemic that’s ravaging the nation at the moment is primarily caused by overtreatment. Some patients who had minor pain were recommended the strongest of painkillers, and they got addicted. You should pay attention to overtreatment lest you find yourself in the same scenario.
Reporting Medical Malpractice
Here is where you can report medical malpractice:
- Take the matter to the hospital administration
- Submit your complaints to state medical boards
- Contact organizations dedicated to stemming out medical malpractice.
You might also need a lawyer’s help to make the whole process easier for you, especially if you seek compensation for the harm endured. If you have a compelling case and don’t have the resources to pay the legal fees, some medical malpractice lawyers might agree to take your case pro bono.