Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer Offers Tips on Ways to Avoid Harm From Medical Mistakes

If you have landed on this Web page before any incident of medical malpractice has taken place, we commend you for your proactive approach as you consider ways to prevent or avoid medical malpractice. While we agree that doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies and therapists should follow accepted standards in their fields, we also believe that patients should be active participants in their care whenever possible.

Avoid injury through medical malpractice by accepting your role as the most important person in your own medical care plans.

• To the best of your ability, stay healthy so as to avoid unnecessary medical treatments. For example, stop smoking before you are diagnosed with a nicotine-induced illness.
• Think twice before getting elective surgery (such a breast implant surgery) or requesting risky medical procedures (such as varicose vein stripping). Do the expected benefits truly outweigh the risk that goes along with any surgery?
• Get second opinions from respected, neutral doctors before agreeing to a risky medical procedure. In many cases, health insurance will cover the cost of getting a second opinion.
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations by taking prescribed medications at the right times and reporting changes in symptoms right away.
• Do some research on your proposed surgeon’s reputation and track record before undergoing major back surgery, gastrointestinal surgery or other high-risk procedures. If the hospital where you are scheduled for surgery has a patient advocate, this person may be a helpful resource.
• If you are going to have surgery or give birth, ask your surgeon or obstetrician and his or her nurses about their standard safety precautions to prevent surgical errors or birth injuries — such as how they make sure not to operate on the wrong side of the body, how they make sure that all instruments are accounted for before closing up a wound or how they respond to signs of fetal distress during labor.
• Have a trusted friend or family member with you during and immediately after surgery or childbirth, so that any irregularities may be noticed right away and your companion can advocate for you as necessary.

If, after surgery or after a medical procedure, you suspect that a mistake was made and you are injured or ill as a result, contact a medical malpractice lawyer promptly — and the sooner, the better. You may require repeat surgery to undo the damage, and you will want qualified legal advice before signing any waivers.

Contact a Media Birth Injury Lawyer or Surgical Error Attorney if You Have Suffered Harm Through a Medical Mistake

If you have been harmed through medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, please contact Cherry Injury Law, by phone or e-mail to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys.