West Virginia residents hold their doctors at high standards and expect appropriate care from them. However, it’s important to know what to do if you learn your physician has withheld information from you.
What are the risks of medical information being withheld?
If your doctor withholds vital information from you regarding your health, it can have dire effects. You need all the information about your health so that you can know about your status and make informed decisions about your treatment options. If your doctor fails to give you all the information, it can exacerbate your medical condition and even increase the risk of death.
When doctors withhold information from patients, it can be considered medical malpractice under some circumstances If you have an illness that can be treated, you can get the right care and have the condition under control or even cured depending on the situation.
What should you do if you’ve been a victim?
Your doctor has a duty to give you all the information about your medical status and offer you treatment. If they fail to do that, they are acting negligently and you have cause to file a medical malpractice claim if you are harmed as a result. This scenario involves gross negligence on the doctor’s part. Doctors take an oath to provide the highest standard of care to patients to diagnose and treat their medical conditions.
If you learn that your doctor has withheld information from you, the first thing to do is to see another doctor. A second opinion is important as it gives you a chance to learn about your health status and get the treatment that you need. You can also file a complaint against the original doctor with the state medical board.
Finding out that your doctor has withheld information about your health is terrifying. You might want to take a few extra steps and hold that doctor legally accountable.