According to the Institute of Medicine, nearly 98,000 patients die annually as a result of medical negligence and other similar errors. Medical negligence is a common problem for most individuals visiting hospitals. Whether you are in hospital, or you intend to visit the hospital for some check-up, you should there are some things you should do to minimize the chances of becoming a victim of medical negligence.
In case you, a relative, or someone you know suffered injuries due to a doctor’s negligence, you can pursue a personal injury claim. It’s best to consult with a reputable local medical malpractice law firm to know your options.
Know your medical symptoms and conditions
To avoid instances of medical negligence, you must always keep a record of your medical history. That involves noting down your symptoms and conditions. Apart from this, you should ensure that the medical providers and doctor keeps a record of your medical history.
You also want to keep a record of all your meetings with the doctor and other medical providers. Having a detailed medical makes it easier for your doctor to understand your health better. This ensures accurate diagnosis and medical prescription.
Protect yourself
When you visit a hospital, you must always ensure you are safe. Do not rely on the healthcare providers and staff at the hospital to protect you. Some measures you can take to protect yourself include changing your sheets every day, cleaning all instruments, and ensuring all the medical providers enter your room after disinfecting their hands. Actually, you can ask your doctor to ensure this is done.
Understand your prescriptions
Medical negligence results in many deaths worldwide. After receiving a prescription from your physicians, you must ensure you read and understand it. You must consult the pharmacists for clarification on what you don’t understand. Also, you can bring your prescription bottles to the hospital for the right prescription.
Learn more
The best way to avoid medical negligence is by educating yourself on your health and the type of medication you are getting from the hospital. Also, it would be best if you researched on your medical condition, the possible remedies available, and the drug combinations that you can expect.
You must always beware of the medical facility you are visiting. Find out if the doctor handling your case is qualified and the hospital is well equipped to offer the right medication.
Be in the company of an advocate
You can bring an advocate when attending your medical appointments. They will help you take relevant notes and ensure the medical provider address all your needs accordingly. If you are too sick, the advocate can speak on your behalf to the medical providers.
Wrap up
Most deaths occurring in hospitals because of negligence are preventable if we can be more careful when we visit hospitals to seek treatment. If you want to avoid medical negligence whenever you seek medical attention, you should observe some of the tips we have highlighted here.