Do you ever feel that your doctor isn’t listening to you? Are you worried that you’re not being taken seriously? When we reach out to our doctors for advice and diagnosis, we expect to be greeted with respect and, ultimately a solution. Your doctor should always have your best interests at heart, but sadly for many patients, they are denied this simple right.
No one wants to end up suing a hospital for negligence, as it can be a long process with a lot of distress and upheaval to contend with. Even though the outcome may the one you need, it still doesn’t make it any easier.
With this in mind, it’s worth remembering that prevention is better than cure and if you’re worried that you might become a victim of medical negligence, consider following the simple steps below.
Get a second opinion
There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Many people do. Any diagnosis should always be backed up with another professional opinion. It’s your right to do this and it will also give you peace of mind. On the other hand, if you believe that your doctor is wrong, and they should have considered other tests or you just don’t think they’ve got it right, seeking another opinion could give you the diagnosis you’ve been looking for or the clarification you need.
Bring someone along with you
You may have plenty of questions in your head, but when your doctor starts down a particular road you may find it difficult to get your point across or make sure that your points and concerns are being heard. Bringing someone along with you and giving them plenty of information before the appointment can help bring more clarity to the proceedings. They can bring up points you’ve forgotten to mention, ask questions you may not have considered and helped you remember what the doctor has said.
Be your own advocate
Maybe the treatment you’ve been given is making you feel worse or you think they’re making a mistake. Don’t be intimidated. Yes, they’re medical professionals but you know your own body. Confronting the doctor and asking questions, voicing your concerns and speaking up isn’t a bad thing. If you’re not happy with your treatment – keep pushing.
Give them as much information as you can
Before you head to the doctors, make sure you’re being completely transparent and detailed with your symptoms, concerns, family history and health signs. Every ache, every cramp, every time you feel ill. Document everything as much as possible. The more detailed you can be, the more accurate your treatment and diagnosis is likely to be.
And finally, ask questions
Don’t just take everything at face value. How will this treatment help you? What other treatment options are there? Have they handled cases like yours before? Why have they recommended this course of treatment? Gathering as much information as possible will help you understand the treatment and your diagnosis better. It’ll help you make better choices and if something does go wrong, then you’ll be better equipped to pursue a medical negligence case.
