It is said that the third leading cause of death in the US is due to medical errors. For this reason, there is an increase in lawsuits against doctors. Many of which are tagged as medical negligence. And as the virus hit the town, so did the rise in medical lawsuits related to COVID. This can be a bit alarming for patients, knowing that simple negligence from the doctor can cost a life.
People keep asking, what can be done? How can you protect yourself from the medical negligence of doctors? There certainly is hope if you know what to do. To start, we’re showing you the essentials so you can handle the implications that come with COVID concerning medical negligence with relative ease.
COVID-19 Medical Negligence
Even if you have an idea of the regular suing process, this is a whole new ball game entirely. And that’s because the pandemic is a game-changer. COVID-19 definitely brought about some changes in the medical world that were not seen before.
For instance, early into the pandemic, doctors had no clue how the virus was being transmitted. And with that, doctors weren’t wearing any PPE when attending to patients. In such cases, you couldn’t sue the doctor for negligence at that time. However, it’s a totally different story now.
Also, as time went by, states had to put in laws to protect doctors. Because doctors had to attend to so many patients, they could make simple negligences and not be sued. Coupled with the fact that resources were limited. So if you’re in a state like that, you know that suing is not an option.
As much as getting the doctor to pay for what has been done, in COVID-19, there have been so many twists and turns. For that reason, there are many things to consider when trying to protect yourself from medical negligence.
How to Protect Yourself from Medical Negligence
First is recognizing what is medical negligence or not in the COVID-19 period. For example, a doctor giving you meds used by some doctors but not all to treat COVID is not negligence. Why? The doctor is trying the best possible to keep you alive. The medication might not be popular as to treatment to COVID, but it could have been effective for some patients.
One which is obviously medical negligence is a doctor coming to see you without a PPE on, especially if you know the doctor just came back from seeing a COVID-19 patient. That’s putting you at risk of getting the virus. And you can file a lawsuit for that.
So basically, understand what is and what’s not. Don’t waste your time filing a lawsuit that will be discarded in no time. That’s why you need a good legal team. With a good legal team, you can be sure the case would push through.
Your attorney definitely has a large role to play in pushing the case forward. It would help if you got someone you can trust and with a sterling record to boot.
Another vital component is getting a competent court reporter. A good one can be a shot in the arm. He can help you navigate through the messy ins-and-outs of a COVID-related legal proceeding.
Since you are at home, you need someone to get your testimony and write it. Thankfully, some companies offer great services like this. You get to give your testimony over a video conference call. The important thing is getting one that efficient and reliable. This makes the work of your lawyer a lot easier. And makes the whole process smoother.
Medical negligence commonly happens. But no one prays to be a victim. And if you are, you can definitely get back by suing the doctor or the hospital as a whole. You can get the justice you deserve so long as you know the steps to get it.
