Thousands of healthcare professionals in Connecticut face medical malpractice lawsuits every year because patients believe they breached their duty of care. If you work in the medical field, you might be wondering if it is possible to avoid these lawsuits.
While the odds may seem like they are against you, understand that you can take steps to reduce the risk of being sued. Having Attorney Russell Berkowitzof Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice & Injury Lawyers by your side can make a significant difference. Therefore, below are five things you can do to avoid a medical malpractice suit in Connecticut.
Do your job well while carrying out your duty of care properly
No medical practitioner ever intends or plans to be sued for medical malpractice, but it happens anyway. If you do not practice good medicine, you are at a higher risk of facing a malpractice suit. The concept of good medicine is broad, but it generally means treating each patient as though they were a friend or family.
Go out of your way to give your patients ideal care; see them as real people you care about. While this does not necessarily eliminate the risks of being sued, it helps ensure you are providing a higher level of care. Hence, it will be much easier and possible to prevent mistakes that can lead to lawsuits.
Be thorough in your analysis and presentation of reports for each case
Sometimes, medical professionals face suits because they did not take test results seriously or they downplayed their severity. Although no news is good news in some cases, it is not always so. More so, studies have shown that doctors in Connecticut fail to report one in 14 abnormal test results.
Failing to report a test that could be vital to someone’s health outcomes could result in a medical malpractice lawsuit. To avoid this, ensure you always analyze test results properly, administering more robust test result measurement protocols. See yourself as responsible for the test results you got from the lab and inform your patient about them.
Think outside the box, but ensure it aligns with your code of conduct
The medical field is broad and replete with different people with different skill sets, from diagnosticians to surgeons. With that in mind, remember that you can ask for help or a consultation when you feel stuck. Being a healthcare provider can be extremely challenging, especially when it seems your patient is not responding to a promising therapy.
It is even more frustrating when your patient consults a personal injury lawyer because they believe you did not adhere to the standard of care. Therefore, endeavor to think outside the box when treating your patients, including consulting specialists and conducting tests. Start over with the case if you have to; you might have missed something another professional would not miss in the same situation.
Never assume when investigating or analyzing a case
It is normal to make assumptions as a healthcare professional, especially when you are experienced. However, assumptions can land you in trouble or, worse, cost your patient something they can never get back. Even if you think you have gotten the correct answer, it is important that you run follow-up tests and consult other professionals.
Unless you are 100 percent sure of your patient’s condition, you should keep investigating and seeking second opinions. You ought to be able to boldly attest to the fact that you covered all your bases before diagnosing a patient.
Develop a proactive and preventive approach
No physician wants their patient’s condition to worsen; therefore, asking you to think about worst-case scenarios may be rather unpleasant. However, even a condition that seems like a mere cough could worsen overnight. Considering worst-case scenarios helps you avoid situations where you misdiagnose your patient, thus potentially saving you from a malpractice lawsuit.
Do not be intimidated by the number of medical malpractice lawsuits you have witnessed; avoiding them is possible. While there is no guaranteed way to avoid a medical malpractice lawsuit, prioritizing these actions can help reduce the risks.
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