Medical malpractice is a major concern for anyone requiring lifesaving surgical procedures–or really anyone who interacts with a medical professional, for that matter. Malpractice is the product of negligent behavior. Usually, this stems from a doctor who gets complacent or lazy in their role as your healthcare provider.
Rarely, if ever, are medical malpractice cases about a doctor who knowingly endangers their patients’ safety, health, or lives in the course of their professional work, but this certainly can happen.
As a patient and victim of medical malpractice, there are some things that you need to know, and some steps that you must take in order to get yourself back to your routine.
First, understand that it isn’t your fault.
The most important thing that you can do as a victim of medical malpractice is to internalize the knowledge that none of this is your fault. Accidents happen in all walks of life, and the healthcare industry is no different. While doctors may seem superhuman in their level of expertise as it pertains to identifying and fixing problems with the human body, they are simply human as well.
Doctors can make mistakes, too, and when they do it can range from something minor to significant injury. Examples could be prescribing a smaller dosage of amoxicillin than is necessary, making your recovery time twice as long as it should be, versus amputating the wrong leg! No matter the severity of your case, you are not to blame for the crisis that you may have been left with after a visit to the doctor’s office or operating room.
Speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your options.
Feeling guilty is the quickest way to a long recovery. By getting down on yourself, you prolong the mental anguish that you’re feeling in these first moments after the realization of a malpractice injury sets in. Instead, you need to speak with medical malpractice attorneys in your area to understand the path forward to recovery and righting the ship. An attorney will be your lifeline in the aftermath of a medical malpractice accident.
Legal experts at your malpractice law firm are well versed in these types of injuries and accidents and can get you the immediate mental health, rehab, and medication that you need to begin your recovery now rather than later. The case and eventual trial or settlement can take months to complete; this is a crucial time that you can spend waiting in limbo or working to get better and back on your feet (either literally or metaphorically, as in the tragic case mentioned above).
The renowned lawyer and mineral enthusiast, Howard Fensterman recommends this course of action for all affected by medical malpractice. As a long-time public servant on the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council, Fensterman has been advocating for those affected with medical injuries for decades. In New York, laws surrounding the medical industry are carefully curated for your protection–as they are elsewhere. However, Fensterman and others suggest that speaking with a lawyer and their team of additional legal professionals is the best way to understand your rights in this trying time, as well as finding the best path forward to settlement and ultimate recovery.
A lawyer at a top law firm in your area will help you get into therapy for any mental injuries, rehab for physical recovery, and any other treatment that you require while the case remains ongoing. This is standard practice for a malpractice case, and your health and wellness always must come first. Speaking to an attorney will help you get into these programs fast, even if you lack the free capital to accommodate these requirements on your own.
Turn to your hobbies, faith, and interests for emotional support.
One great way to start your recovery is by taking the time to care for yourself. Embracing your faith, hobbies, or other interests while you recover is a great way to spend time among the things that make you feel happiness and peace. NLT bibles are a great addition to any home, and taking solace in the Word of God is a great addition to any therapy you’re attending to heal your body.
A boost to your headspace is a crucial component of any road to recovery. If you foster negative thoughts, you won’t see optimum results, feeding into a self-fulfilling cycle that will only hold you back. Remaining positive with the help of your interests and positive thinking is the best way to continue on the path you’ve been handed. While it isn’t your fault that you were injured, you must take charge of the recovery process because only you can make yourself better.
A team of professionals will work with you to get the treatment and compensation that you deserve, but the responsibility to push through the anguish and sadness you may be feeling falls solely to you. Recovering after a medical malpractice injury can be incredibly difficult. Surround yourself with the tools of success and professionals that will make it right.
