What To Do After Experiencing Hospital Malpractice
May 17, 2019
Experiencing hospital malpractice can be extremely upsetting and difficult to navigate when you experience it, especially since you should put your health first at all times during the process. However, if you’re experiencing hospital malpractice, you should make a claim as soon as possible to ensure that your case receives the investigation that it deserves.
Determine Your Case
Firstly, you should ensure that you determine on what grounds you wish to make a claim against the hospital that you were under the care of, as this can influence the running of the case and your ability to make a hospital negligence claim. Hospital malpractice occurs when you believe that you were staying in an unclean or unsafe environment which could be considered unhygienic or dangerous.
It also applies if you were neglected under the care of the hospital, which may have caused injury to yourself or another, if your medication was wrong, if the care you received was sub-standard or incorrect, if your condition was not diagnosed, or there is evidence of misdiagnosis. You can only make hospital negligence claims, however, if these malpractices caused significant damage to you. For instance, if your condition became worse.
Seek Medical Records
Your medical records are vital in the event of negligence in hospitals as they will prove the care given to you, as well as any errors in judgement. Medical records state:
- what medication they give you;
- the care you receive;
- treatment, and;
- the symptoms that you were showing at the time.
Not only this, but it can also be provided as evidence if the case goes to court. Hospitals must allow you to have access to your medical records. To that effect, they will keep these for a couple of years after they treat you.
Speak to a Solicitor
Then, you should seek a solicitor in order to further your case. Solicitors will be able to help you compile evidence and give you advice on your individual situation. They’ll be able to state whether your case is strong enough to succeed. Moreover, they help you write & file a complaint, as well as initiate court proceedings if they are in order. By giving your solicitor the relevant information, they’ll be able to represent your case to the best of their ability. Accordingly, they’ll be able to investigate the malpractice further.
File a Complaint
After you have contacted a solicitor, they will help you to write and file a complaint with the NHS through their complaints procedure. By investigating this case through your complaint, you will then be able to find out more information before going to court if the case is then not resolved.
Then, you can consider whether you believe that you have enough evidence and a strong enough case to withstand the rigours of court, making an informed decision on the next step. If you do decide to go to court, this can take a long time. However, you have the opportunity to receive compensation for the malpractice that has taken place.