Lowe Scott Fisher Partner Ryan Fisher Talks Medical Malpractice—Part Two

Since this blog began, we have made it one of our goals to educate the public—and, most importantly, injured victims—about the realities of Ohio medical malpractice lawsuits.  Recently, Lowe Scott Fisher Co., LPA’s own Ryan Fisher took our message to the radio, discussing the facts about medical malpractice suits and what patients can do to protect themselves.  In a previous blog entry, we presented some of Ryan’s discussion points separating fact first fiction about medical malpractice.  Below, we offer Ryan’s advice to patients and victims of medical malpractice.

Medical Malpractice: Practical Advice for Injured Victims

If believe that you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, you should stop receiving care within your current health network.  For Cleveland-area residents, this means that if you experience a problem in one of the larger networks in the area, you should switch to the other one.

There are a couple of reasons for this advice.  First, for your own peace of mind.  If you have been treated by a health care provider or physician that has been negligent, you do not want to risk further negligence from this careless network.

Second, if you are the victim of medical or surgical malpractice and wish to file a lawsuit, you will need an affidavit of merit from another doctor that says that the original health care provider or physician was negligent.  Clients who come to a medical malpractice attorney having already had their medical records reviewed by another doctor start off a step ahead in the medical malpractice lawsuit process.

This “step ahead” can be very important because of the short statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice actions in Ohio.  If you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, every second counts.

Medical Malpractice: Advice for Prevention

Being a patient can often be a frightening or uncomfortable situation, and many people feel that they do not know enough about medicine to question their treatment.  The truth is, though, that questioning your treatment is a simple way to prevent errors.

Be your own advocate.  As Ryan says, “The quiet patients are the ones that suffer.”  When a nurse comes in with a shot, ask what it is.  If you believe you have been ordered a course of treatment and any member of the medical staff deviates from that course, speak up.  If you do not understand a procedure or why it is required, make your physician explain it to you until you do understand.  While speaking up cannot stop all instances of medical malpractice, it will help ensure that your treating physician and staff are giving you the attention you deserve.  With so many instances of medical malpractice due to oversights by preoccupied health care staff, your voice of concern or dissent may coax your physician or nurse into reviewing your situation and catching their own mistakes.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of medical malpractice or surgical malpractice, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Lowe Scott Fisher Co., LPA for a free consultation.