Many people are terrified by the thought of having to go under the knife for an operation. However, in some cases, a surgery that they thought was absolutely necessary ends up being a result of medical malpractice.
Recently, a Florida eye doctor was charged with operating on patients for issues that didn’t exist. The doctor allegedly would tell patients that they had degenerative eye disease and they would need a costly laser eye surgery treatment. The fraud led to Medicare paying out $7 million in unnecessary surgeries.
I Think I May Have a Medical Malpractice Suit, What Do I Do?
In Florida, a claimant who thinks he or she has a medical malpractice suit must conduct an investigation to determine that the defendant negligently treated the patient, which subsequently led to an injury. The injury needs to be confirmed by the opinion of a medical expert. Once all of the necessary information is obtained, the claimant must file a notice of intent to initiate litigation. A claimant needs to ensure that they obtain all the necessary documents before filing a suit. They can do this by discussing their case with a medical malpractice attorney.
What Can You Do to Prevent Yourself From Becoming a Victim?
If you have recently been diagnosed with an illness that requires surgery, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you do not become like one of the patients in the case described above:
- Prior to booking an appointment you should consider searching the Internet for reviews on the specific surgeon, or by consulting with friends who have had encounters with the same doctor.
- While you are looking up reviews on the doctor, you should also consider checking whether the doctor is board certified in the field of medicine for which they are treating you. If a doctor is board certified this indicates that they have an exceptional expertise in the field.
- Some websites also show whether the doctor has had any malpractice claims, sanctions or board actions. If anything severe is listed, then you know that you may want to find another physician.
- Finally, if a doctor you like recommends a serious surgery that you feel may be unnecessary, you should get a second opinion. This will further help ensure your safety.
The sad reality is that even when people take these precautions, they may still experience a doctor who performs a surgery that was not needed. When that is the case, an attorney can help guide a person on what evidence they would need to compile for a malpractice suit.
Has Your Life Been Altered By Medical Malpractice?
If you think that you have been a victim of medical malpractice and are located in central Florida, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney today. Our Florida attorneys at Reed & Reed are here to listen and evaluate your concerns. From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, East Hillsborough County and throughout the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.