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Medical professionals are trusted to provide safe, competent care—but when that trust is broken, the consequences can be devastating. While not every negative medical outcome is the result of malpractice, there are clear warning signs that something may have gone seriously wrong. Recognizing these red flags can help you protect your health and your legal rights.
Here are some common signs that you might be a victim of medical malpractice:
Worsening Condition Despite Treatment
If your health continues to decline even after following your doctor’s recommended treatment plan, it may be a sign of a misdiagnosis, incorrect treatment, or lack of proper follow-up. While some conditions are difficult to treat, a responsible healthcare provider should recognize when a treatment isn’t working and adjust accordingly.
Diagnosis Doesn’t Match Symptoms
If your diagnosis doesn’t make sense based on your symptoms—or seems to keep changing—you may not be receiving appropriate care. For example, being diagnosed with a minor illness like a cold or flu when you’re experiencing severe or worsening symptoms may suggest your condition wasn’t taken seriously enough.
Surgical or Procedural Complications
While every surgery carries some risk, complications such as leaving surgical instruments inside the body, operating on the wrong body part, or performing the wrong procedure are red flags of surgical malpractice. If something feels off post-surgery or you’re not given a clear explanation for your pain or symptoms, further investigation may be warranted.
Lack of Informed Consent
As our friends at Azari Law, LLC can attest, doctors are legally and ethically required to explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives of any treatment or procedure before proceeding. If you weren’t fully informed or didn’t give proper consent, and something went wrong, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Unusually Severe Side Effects or Reactions
Most treatments come with some risk of side effects, but if you experience unexpected or severe reactions that weren’t discussed beforehand, it may be due to a prescription error, improper dosage, or lack of screening for allergies or interactions.
Rushed or Dismissive Medical Care
If your provider seems uninterested, rushed, or unwilling to answer questions, it could indicate a failure to thoroughly evaluate your condition. As a medical malpractice lawyer will tell you, miscommunication or neglect can lead to serious oversights in diagnosis or treatment.
Records That Don’t Match Your Experience
Discrepancies in your medical records—such as symptoms you never reported or procedures that weren’t performed—may be signs of mistakes or attempts to cover up errors. Reviewing your records can be a crucial step in uncovering malpractice.
What to Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice
If you recognize any of these red flags, don’t ignore them. Seek a second opinion from another medical professional and request copies of your medical records. Then, consult an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to review your case. They can help determine whether malpractice occurred and guide you through the legal steps to seek compensation.
Medical errors can lead to long-term harm or even loss of life. If you believe your care was compromised, speaking with a qualified attorney can be the first step toward justice and recovery.