Going to the doctor is a vital step in protecting your health. Preventative care often includes a physical exam, wellness questions, and basic blood tests to measure factors like blood sugar and cholesterol. When results are abnormal, a doctor may appropriately recommend further testing. While this process is reasonable in many cases, some patients are subjected to unnecessary invasive tests that provide no real medical benefit and may even cause harm.
If you have experienced this type of situation, a Charlottesville unnecessary/invasive tests lawyer at MichieHamlett can help. We will review your case, explain your rights, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call our seasoned surgical errors attorneys today to learn more about how we can assist you.
There are a number of reasons why an unnecessary test may be ordered and performed. These include:
In some cases, patients may be asked to submit to unnecessary and invasive medical tests, and may perhaps suffer adverse impacts as a result–such as higher medical bills and pain or discomfort–and yet the procedure does not constitute malpractice. Malpractice occurs when a doctor breaches the medical standard of care owed to a patient.
The medical standard of care is the same standard of care that another physician of similar background, training, and education would demonstrate in the same situation. In order to prove malpractice, then, you’ll need other doctors to testify that the invasive test was indeed unnecessary and was outside of the purview of what another doctor would find reasonable.
If you believe that you have been the victim of an unnecessary and invasive test, and if you’ve suffered harm, you should start by collecting all of your medical records – these serve as an important type of evidence. Additionally, you should document all of your losses that have directly resulted from the invasive test, such as pain, suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and any other economic or non-economic losses. Then, you should act quickly to contact a medical malpractice lawyer. After malpractice has occurred, you only have two years to file a lawsuit for damages, and the claims process should be initiated earlier than that.
In some cases, invasive tests are essential for a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. In other situations, however, unnecessary invasive tests cause harm and stem from medical malpractice. If you have been impacted, contact us at MichieHamlett today. By scheduling a free consultation with a Charlottesville unnecessary/invasive tests lawyer, you can review your case in detail, understand your rights, and determine whether you have a viable claim. Reach out now to get started.
