Is It Possible For A Victim To Bear Some Responsibility For The Medical Malpractice Error?

In normal circumstances, getting quality medical care should be straightforward. However, sometimes the process gets complicated when the caregivers act contrary to standard procedure. Hence, if you get injured or hurt from some ambiguity in the treatment process, you might assume that the caregiver will be to blame. However, there are some cases where you could contribute to your injuries. Here are a few instances where this can happen and why you need a medical malpractice lawyer to handle the claim.

How Patients Contribute to their Injuries

Many patients accept their doctors' recommendations without considering their options for care. So, be truthful with your doctor about your health, including your symptoms, treatments, and medical history. Also, follow the doctor's orders for treatment, but if you cannot, tell them. More importantly, ask follow-up questions if there's something you don't understand. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to ask questions and get answers from a doctor. Sometimes, it happens because you can't hear the physician clearly, the language they use is unfamiliar, or the expert has a foreign accent. Note that while the law holds the doctor to higher standards, you still have to take some responsibility for your health.

How Doctor-P atient Confusion Could Lead to Contributory Blame

You should always give accurate information to the physician if you want a reliable diagnosis and treatment. Note that a physician may have a claim that the patient's conduct caused harm if the person willfully disobeys the instructions or provides false information. However, these situations are often not clear and require further investigation. Sometimes, patients overlook the instructions because they view the doctor's opinion as merely a suggestion rather than an order. Furthermore, it's possible that the healthcare provider told the patient what to do, but they never wrote it down.

The Importance of Pursuing the Claim

You should consult a legal advisor before deciding against filing a claim for medical malpractice if you think you shared responsibility for the incident. Unfortunately, it is common for patients to place the blame for their condition on their shoulders, even when it is not their fault. That said, doctors and hospitals must deal with the consequences of any harmful decisions or omissions they make. So, you should seek compensation through a malpractice suit so that future vulnerable patients will get the protection they need.

If you suffered more harm during treatment, speak to a personal injury lawyer even if you feel responsible for what happened. Chances are you still have a case worth pursuing and settling.

Reach out to a law firm like Cartee & Lloyd Attorneys At Law to learn more.