
Everyone is allowed to make a mistake at their job every once in a while. However, there is a far higher standard for those who work in the healthcare field. This is because one measly medical error may result in catastrophic, life-altering, and life-threatening consequences for the patient in which they are treating. So if this ever happens to you, you must quickly react, specifically with a legal response.聽Follow along to find out what you should do after becoming the victim of such an incident and how a proficient New York City medical malpractice attorney at Mark L. Bodner, P.C. can walk you through the proper steps.
What should I do after becoming the victim of a medical malpractice incident?
First and foremost, your health comes first. This is to say that immediately after becoming the victim of a medical malpractice incident, you should switch healthcare providers. You may better understand who to turn to next by getting a referral from someone whom you trust or conducting independent research on the New York State Department of Health’s physician profile platform found online.
Next, you should continually submit to medical attention by your new healthcare provider and follow the treatment plan they have set out for you. In the meantime, you should ask them to provide a statement referencing the severity of your physical or mental health condition. They should also provide copies of the medical records, medical bills, and medical test results they have allocated thus far. This is in addition to your collecting similar documentation from your previous healthcare provider. This is all in an effort to connect your bodily injuries and damages to the medical malpractice incident for your legal case.
All the while, you should keep a personal journal of your healthcare journey thus far. This is for the best because this is an overwhelming time and memories fade over time; so you do not want to leave any stone unturned in your legal case. Of note, this may go well alongside personal recounts by your loved ones and even your employer.
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice complaint?
Again, your physical and mental health must be made the priority in this situation. But you must not put your potential medical malpractice claim on the back burner for too long. This is because the statute of limitations for such a claim in New York State is 2.5 years from the date of your incident. This timeline may be speedier than you initially anticipated.
It is also worth mentioning that you should file a complaint with the negligent healthcare provider’s employer as soon as possible. This is because their employer will then be obligated to report the incident to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) or Office of Professional Discipline (OPD). A separate investigation and hearing may commence, which may ultimately result in their medical license being temporarily suspended or permanently revoked.
In conclusion, you must deeply reflect on the gravity of the situation at hand. Once you do, you must drop everything and reach out to a talented New York City medical malpractice attorney at Mark L. Bodner, P.C.