subject: Steps You Can Take To Avoid Becoming A Medical Negligence Claim Victim [print this page] This article explores some steps that you can take to minimise the chances of you becoming a victim of medical negligence.
Research.
The internet is a wonderful research tool. However, the important point to remember is that a lot of the information on the internet is not moderated. Some people post opinions and views that might have no scientific evidence supporting them. If you are carrying out research on any aspect of your treatment you must review several websites (preferably medical related ones) to gain a wider view of your research. If you only visit one website you might be unfortunate and read a review from one person that has had a horrific experience, or is providing an opinion which is simply incorrect. Reviewing several opinions and websites will provide you with a much broader view.
Once you have decided to do some research, what should you research?
The Nature Of Your Treatment.
The first stage is to find out more information about the surgical procedure that is going to be performed. Look for more information about your type of surgical procedure so you know what the potential complications might be. You should make notes about these so that you can discuss them with the surgeon who will be carrying out your operation.
A Hospital Or An NHS Treatment Centre.
The next step is to review the hospital or NHS Treatment Centre that will be carrying out the treatment. Do they have a good reputation? Have there been any very recent stories about the hospital that might cause you some concern? Jot down any points so that you can ask the hospital or treatment centre about them later on.
The Surgeon.
If you know who will be carrying out the operation you can also research the surgeon. Everyone makes mistakes, including surgeons, so you must balance the information you discover about your surgeon with all the times that they carry out good work. Ensure that you make some notes so that you can raise any issues of concern with your surgeon.
When In Hospital.
When you are in hospital awaiting your operation you should raise any questions you have with your surgeon before the operation. You sould also ask for the likely prospects of success of your operation, along with any alternative treatment options available. You can then make your final informed decision about whether you wish to proceed with the operation.
Conclusion.
There are thousands of operations every year. The important point to bear in mind is that the vast majority of these proceed smoothly and without any complications. However, these are generally not reported online or in the newspapers so you rarely hear about them. You will usually only here in detail about operations or surgical procedures that have gone terribly wrong leading to huge medical negligence claims. You must consider this when you are carrying out your research and deciding whether to go ahead with the surgery.
