Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorney: 4 Tips to Protect Yourself from Negligence June 29, 2012.

When you seek medical treatment, you trust your doctor or hospital to provide the best care possible. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Tens of thousands of people fall victim to medical malpractice each year. While it may not be possible to prevent yourself from falling victim to a surgical error, such as a doctor nicking your bowel or intestine, there are precautions you can take before the operation.

Tip #1: Ask Questions

When you see your doctor or surgeon, ask him questions about your condition, any medications you will have to take, and what side effects to expect after surgery or while taking prescribed drugs. Write down everything he or she says, and ask for printed information. This way, you can make sure each step in your treatment is followed accordingly.

Tip #2: Appoint an Advocate

Ask a family member or friend to accompany you to your appointment, so he or she can keep an eye on what the staff does and catch any mistakes.

Tip #3: Read Your Medical Records

You have the right to read your medical history, and you should from time to time. This is especially true if you suffer from a condition that requires regular medical treatment through a physician or healthcare facility. Reviewing your records enables you to identify any problems, clerical errors, or inconsistencies before they lead to serious physical injury.

Tip #4: Journal Your Medical Care

Always keep a journal of all your medical treatment and medications and take it with you to your appointments. This way, you can jot down what the physician or nurse tells you for future reference.

Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim?

We welcome you to contact our Cleveland office with any questions you may have about a potential medical mistake orsurgical error that caused a severe and debilitating injury, such as nerve damage or paralysis.