Medical malpractice is a type of lawsuit that you can file against a physician or hospital when you suffer an injury due to a mistake or omission. The error can range from using the improper tool or improperly using the correct tool to even operating on the wrong body part or leaving a tool inside of you. If this happens to you, you can file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries and to pay for future medical care to address the damage.
The first thing you will want to do before filing a lawsuit is to speak to the medical professional. Often hospitals and doctors will want to explain the situation and offer you additional help to address the injury. If you immediately file a lawsuit, it is possible you may never get a straight answer from your doctor. It is best to try and resolve it amicably before you resort to litigation tactics.
After you speak to the doctor and if she continues to refuse to help or answer your questions, contact the relevant medical board. Medical boards are regional. Medical boards issue licenses and regulate the medical profession. They cannot compel the doctor to treat you or answer your questions, but they can censure or sanction the offending physician.
After speaking to the medical board, you will want to call a lawyer. An attorney can connect you with other experts to assess the extent of your injuries, inform you on the duration of your claim, and discuss the efficacy of any settlement offers. You don’t want to negotiate this matter on your own; a lawyer can ensure that you receive a fair offer. Consider that the compensation you receive may have to cover your medical expenses for years into the future. You don’t want to accept a number that is too low to pay your bills.