Medical malpractice and the precautions patients can take

On Behalf of | Jul 20, 2021 | Medical Malpractice |

Medical malpractice is a lot more common than many people think in West Virginia. When this happens, many individuals choose to bring about a medical malpractice suit against their doctor. Here is more information about malpractice and precautions that patients can take.

Surgical malpractice happens quite often

Surgical malpractice makes up about 25% of all medical malpractice suits. Surgical claims tend to include things like mistakes that occurred during surgery, poor judgement by the surgeons, medical instruments left in the body cavity and operations performed on the wrong part of the body. Many individuals might not realize there is an issue for quite some time after their surgery. When surgical malpractice occurs, it can have debilitating effects that can last throughout the patient’s lifetime. In more severe cases, the surgical error can cause the patient to die.

Precautions that patients can take

Fortunately, patients can take some precautions to lessen the likelihood of medical malpractice from happening. Patients should ask their doctors for as much information as possible about their surgery. They should speak up when they aren’t comfortable with a particular procedure that their surgeon wants to perform. It’s also a good idea to ask for another opinion from additional doctors in order to make sure that a procedure is necessary. Many patients don’t realize that it’s okay to question their doctor’s treatment plan if they don’t feel comfortable with it.

If you’ve experienced medical malpractice, just remember that it isn’t your fault. You may want to consult with an attorney so that they can help you decide whether or not you should pursue a medical malpractice suit.