When you visit a medical professional, you expect to receive proper medical care and treatment. People have a lot of trust in medical professionals to the extent that they assume that they will communicate with them adequately about their medical conditions and provide them with accurate medical care.
However, when communication is lacking between patients and doctors, it can lead to many issues, with results that are far from satisfactory. Lack of communication can be quite dangerous and even rise to the level of malpractice.
If you suspect that a lack of communication has led to harm in your medical care, you might want to speak with a lawyer to determine whether or not you have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Our New York medical malpractice lawyers at Leitner Varughese PLLC can help you build a strong case against negligent doctors and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
What is a Lack of Communication?
To begin, we must understand what we mean by lack of communication. This occurs when there is a failure to convey necessary medical information between medical professionals and patients. This may include information about the patient’s medical history, results of medical tests, and treatment plans. Patients also have the right to ask questions about their health and to receive candid feedback from their doctor in order to make informed decisions.
Fact: According to the American Journal of Managed Care, an estimated 30% of all medical malpractice cases involve some form of miscommunication.
The Dangers of a Lack of Communication in the Medical Field
When there is a lack of communication between a medical professional and a patient, it can lead to a range of potential issues. These may include misdiagnosis, medication errors, delayed treatment, and even emergency medical situations. There is also a potential for patient harm, especially when critical medical information is not shared between medical professionals.
When a Lack of Communication Constitutes Medical Malpractice
Under some circumstances, a lack of communication between a medical professional and a patient may lead to medical malpractice. A medical professional might be held responsible if their communication breaches the accepted standards of care and causes injury or harm to the patient.
Examples of issues that might constitute malpractice stemming from lack of communication could be a failure to disclose all the risks to the patient, providing incomplete instructions to the patient, failure to inform the patient of alternative treatment options, miscommunication of allergies, or not sharing the full scope of treatment benefits and risks.
How to Prove a Lack of Communication in a Medical Malpractice Case
In order to win a medical malpractice case based on a lack of communication, there needs to be adequate proof of the issue. You might need to hire a skilled lawyer who will help you gather evidence to prove that a lack of communication has occurred. Your lawyer will review medical records to search for any evidence that points to malpractice and work with medical experts in the field to help establish a malpractice claim.
Get a Consultation With a Lawyer
Lack of communication between medical professionals and patients can lead to many disastrous outcomes. If you believe miscommunication has occurred while receiving medical care and you suffered harm as a result, contact our medical malpractice lawyers to discuss your legal options. Reach out to Leitner Varughese PLLC to get a consultation. Call 212-671-1110 today.
