Regardless of whether you use state or private forms of healthcare, there is always a chance that things can go wrong. This negligence could also occur during any travels, which may leave you more confused and concerned as to how you could potentially proceed. For example, if you live in the USA and have been travelling in the UK, you might be querying your options regarding medical negligence in the NHS. There are also a number of different forms of negligence that you might want to consider and gain more information on while you decide what to do next.
Pregnancy
It is possible to come across forms of medical negligence while you are pregnant. This may occur within the early stage or later on. Misinformation, as well as improper scanning, lack of appreciation for any concerns or pain you feel, or wrongly diagnosing an in vitro problem can all lead to medical negligence. One example of this would be an expectant couple being given information regarding a life inhibiting disease in their unborn baby, and then finding out after terminating the pregnancy that this was, in fact, an error. Situations like this, that are irreversible and seriously damaging, need to be avoided at all costs.
On top of that, if you experience trauma or damage throughout labour, or if you or your baby are harmed as an effect of the actions of a medical professional, this may also count as medical negligence.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a problem is meant to help you find a potential solution, or to at least give you some clarity into what you are facing. For some, an incorrect diagnosis might be the difference between successfully battling an illness and it taking their life. It is suggested that 10 to 20% of diagnoses of cancer in the United States are misdiagnosed. This can have a serious and debilitating impact upon the treatment available to the person, as well as the spread of the disease.
For illnesses where early recognition and treatment are essential, being misdiagnosed wastes precious time and can potentially be a profoundly serious form of medical negligence.
Treatment
Receiving the correct treatment is also imperative when dealing with your health. If you are given the wrong form of treatment, or one containing ingredients that you are recorded as being allergic to, this could cause more harm than good. You may also then need to wait to be given the correct form of treatment. Depending on where you live, you may wish to get a refund on any prescriptions or treatment that you received in error, particularly if the cost of this was high.
You should be able to trust in the medical professionals that you see, no matter the size or potential fatality of the problem. Medical negligence may not just affect your physical health. It can also have an adverse effect on your emotional and mental wellbeing that can stay with you long after the event has passed.
