Be Your Own Patient Advocate To Protect Against Medical Malpractice In Daytona Beach

When you are sick or injured, you trust your medical providers to take the appropriate actions to make you better or, at least, more comfortable. This includes reviewing your health history, conducting diagnostic testing, and recommending appropriate treatments. When they fail to take the appropriate measures or make mistakes in providing care, the results can be devastating. Unfortunately, this type of scenario happens on a regular basis. To protect yourself against medical malpractice in Daytona Beach. It is important to act as your own patient advocate.

Patient Safety Awareness Week: Protecting Yourself Against Medical Errors

Patient Safety Awareness Week is held annually each March. The goal is to encourage people to take a more active role in their health. This includes identifying ways to improve patient safety and reducing the likelihood of medical mistakes and errors. More than 40 percent of all patients report some problems in the quality of care and in dealing with medical providers. These can have major impacts on their overall health, leading to potentially serious problems that are otherwise preventable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that medical mistakes, errors, and other adverse events impact more than 134 million patients each year, leading to close to three million deaths. Among the most common problems include:

• Misdiagnosis: Missing signs of potentially serious conditions and misdiagnosing symptoms delays treatment and can result in life-threatening complications.
• Failure to follow up: Routine follow-up appointments and after-care following procedures are vital to catching complications before they become serious.
• Surgical mistakes: This can involve procedural areas or performing surgery on the wrong site or wrong patient.
• Hospital-acquired infections: Life-threatening infections can happen when medical staff fails to properly disinfect surfaces or follow other sanitary requirements.
• Medication errors: Not reviewing the patient’s chart and failing to coordinate care among different providers increases the odds of medication errors.

Be Your Own Patient Advocate

To protect your health and prevent medical mistakes and errors, it is important to act as your own patient advocate when visiting doctors in Daytona Beach. Review ratings on websites such as Health Grades and keep your own records regarding all medical care, testing, and treatment you receive. Other steps to take when visiting the doctor include:

• Make a list of all symptoms you are suffering before your visit;
• Bring a list of medications you are currently taking, along with any side effects you suffer;
• Inform your doctor of other medical providers or specialists you are seeing;
• Make sure your medical history is updated and that the doctor consults it during your visit;
• Request copies of results from medical tests performed;
• Ask questions if you are unsure of anything that occurs during your visit.

Let Us Help You Today

Despite your precautions, medical mistakes and errors can still occur. When they do, Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A. helps you hold at-fault medical providers accountable. To discuss your case and how we can help, contact our Daytona Beach medical malpractice attorneys today.

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