We rely on the skills and knowledge of medical professionals for our health and well-being, especially when we know that there is something wrong with us. When you go to the doctor, you expect them to listen to your complaints. Unfortunately, there are times when doctors ignore what the patient is telling them. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers want to discuss five ways ignoring patient complaints can impact a person’s life.
What can happen when a patient is ignored?
One of the central aspects of medical care is listening to the patient. After all, the field of medicine revolves around alleviating the pain and suffering of patients. However, there are several ways in which ignoring a patient’s complaint can lead to serious malpractice claims.
1. Missed diagnosis and failure to treat
The most glaring example of how a patient could be affected if they are ignored is a doctor missing a diagnosis or misdiagnosing them. If a patient is explaining symptoms to a doctor, but the doctor fails to adequately investigate what may be causing the symptoms, a missed diagnosis could lead to a failure to treat a dangerous condition.
2. Delayed treatment
Similar to a failure to treat a patient, delayed treatment can lead to significant patient harm. This is especially true for a disease or illness that progressively worsens. Delayed treatment could lead to a patient requiring more aggressive treatment measures that cause needless pain and suffering that would otherwise have not occurred.
3. Performing unnecessary tests
When a doctor listens to a patient, they are gathering important information about possible afflictions. Unfortunately, there are times when doctors failed to listen to patients and proceed to run countless tests that do not need to be completed. Not only could this create pain and suffering for the patient, but it could lead to tremendous medical costs.
4. Changing conditions
When a patient is undergoing treatment, their condition will inevitably change. This could be due to an improvement in the patient’s condition, but it could also be a worsening of a patient’s condition. If a patient tells their doctor that something has changed, they should be listened to, and treatment should be adjusted appropriately.
5. Improper follow-up care
All too often, a doctor will treat a patient’s initial emergency and failed to follow up with adequate care. Part of the process of recovery is continual monitoring by a healthcare professional. Improper follow-up care is indirectly also a failure to listen to a patient.
Our team is standing by to help
If you or somebody you love has been injured or become ill because the doctor ignored your complaints, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our skilled and experienced team will investigate every aspect of your case and work to secure the compensation you deserve. This could include:
- Coverage of any medical bills caused by the mistake
- Lost income and benefits due to missed work
- Loss of personal enjoyment damages
- Pain and suffering damages
- Punitive damages against a grossly negligent medical provider
If you need a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
