Sometimes, the unthinkable can occur. You seek the help of a medical professional and you’re injured by the actions or negligence of a doctor or other medical practitioner. You sought care to get better, but instead, you’ve gotten worse or have entirely new injuries.
If you’ve been harmed by a doctor in Phoenix or anywhere in the State of Arizona, you might be left wondering what you should do. If you think a doctor error has caused your injuries, follow these three steps to know whether medical malpractice in Phoenix has occurred.
STEP 1: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF ABOVE ALL ELSE
The first thing you should do is get your injuries checked out by another medical professional, preferably one who is not in the same health system as the one who harmed you, if possible. The most important thing in any case that involves harm being caused by a doctor is your health. You want to get your injuries checked out ASAP so that you can start to get better.
From a legal perspective, it is also important to get your injuries timely checked out because it shows that you have been legitimately harmed and that you are taking your injuries seriously. Defendant doctors will question every action you take as a possible defense—so do the right thing and address your health promptly and thoroughly.
STEP 2: BE AWARE OF YOUR INJURIES
The next step is to document what your injuries were before you saw the doctor or health-care professional who harmed you, what they were after, and what the recovery period and outlook are for the future. You can do this by taking notes of how you felt before, during and after, as well as gathering medical records from all your health-care providers. A responsible medical malpractice attorney will need to see your records before providing an opinion on whether you have a case.
Documenting your pain and discomfort as well as your interactions with the doctor who harmed you is extremely important in establishing whether medical malpractice has occurred.
STEP 3: CONSULT A LAWYER WHO CAN HELP
Medical malpractice cases in Phoenix and throughout Arizona can be complicated. While you might be convinced that you suffered severe physical and emotional pain as a result of the actions or inactions of a doctor or other health-care professional, it will take the expertise of a Phoenix lawyer well versed in the area to determine whether actual medical malpractice has occurred.
To prove medical malpractice, you must be able to show that the doctor or health-care professional made a mistake that would not have been made by a reasonable doctor that caused an injury to the patient. Failure to diagnose, delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis are other common forms of medical negligence, which is currently one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
GET A FREE CONSULTATION IF YOU’VE BEEN HARMED BY A DOCTOR
Medical malpractice cases are complex and require the services of a seasoned professional with experience in the field. If you were harmed by a doctor in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, call the attorneys at Miller Kory Rowe LLP at (602) 648-4045 for a free consultation.
