What to Do If You Think Your Doctor Made a Mistake

May 20, 2022
doctor and patient with x-rays

Doctors may not be miracle workers, but it’s reasonable to assume you’ll feel better after seeking treatment from them. At the very least, you shouldn’t feel worse.

Unfortunately, however, those in the medical field make mistakes like everyone else. From misinterpreting diagnostic images to leaving surgical sponges in body cavities, there are countless ways for health care providers to cause harm to their patients.

If you think your physician made a mistake when diagnosing or treating you, filing a medical malpractice claim could yield the funds needed to put your life back together. First, however, you’re going to have to build a compelling case.

If you’re wondering what that entails, start by taking the following steps as soon as possible:

1. Seek Care Elsewhere

If you have reason to believe your doctor made a mistake or is otherwise neglecting you, seek a second opinion. In addition to protecting your health and ensuring you get the treatment you actually need, this will bolster your case. If you were to continue seeing the same provider, it would be hard to make the case that you didn’t feel safe under their care.

2. Preserve Your Medical Records

A resourceful medical malpractice attorney can track down all kinds of hospital records, nursing logs, and other essential documents when building your case. You can support their efforts, though, by preserving whatever records are already in your possession.

If you have any of the following, store them in a safe place until you can give them to your legal team:

  • Diagnostic images,
  • Intake and release forms,
  • Prescriptions,
  • Health insurance statements,
  • Hospital bills, and
  • Photographs of any visible wounds.

3. Start a Daily Journal

As soon as you suspect malpractice, start writing about your journey in a personal injury journal. Record every hurdle you must now overcome because of your doctor’s negligence.

Detailed entries that are written in your own words will help contextualize your medical records, strengthening your claim in the process. They’ll also come in handy when you have to demonstrate the extent of your non-economic damages, like diminished quality of life, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

If you’re not sure what to write about, start by considering the following, and hopefully the content of your entries will flow from there:

  • Why do you think your doctor made a mistake?
  • How did the malpractice worsen your condition?
  • What kinds of additional treatments must you now undergo?
  • How is your condition hurting your quality of life?
  • What kinds of tasks are you no longer able to complete yourself?
  • How is your condition affecting relationships with loved ones?

Discuss Your Case with a Medical Malpractice Attorney in South Carolina

Think you might have been the victim of medical malpractice? Turn to Hodge & Langley Law Firm to determine how best to proceed.

Our compassionate team is backed by the knowledge, resources, and experience of a powerhouse practice, but we remain committed to providing the personalized service and attentive counsel of a small, local firm. To set up a free case review with one of our medical malpractice lawyers in South Carolina, submit the Contact Form on our website or call 864-585-3873.

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