How do I start the process to see if my mother has been through malpractice?
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How do I start the process to see if my mother has been through malpractice?
She was in the hospital for open heart surgery and was released the 7th day. From what were told there seems to be no clear explanation. She started internal bleeding from the PICC line removal in her neck. The line was removed a couple hours before we picked her up. Within an hour and half driving home she almost died in the back seat of the car. She had internally bleed almost half of her blood. She is currently still in the hospital (after being transported from another hospital we were near)and has been there the last 15 days trying to recover.Her vision is partially blocked still.
Asked on August 13, 2014 under Malpractice Law, New York
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
Get another doctor's opinion--someone *not* connected with the hospital or the doctors who cared for you mother; if the doctor can't examine her directly, see if the doctor can at least look at her records. The issue is not whether your mother had a bad outcome or problems--sometimes patients do not do well, no matter what the medical care providers do--but whether the doctors, nurses, or hospital were careless or made any mistakes; it is making mistakes or being careless that is malpractice. You need another medical professional to help determine if that's what happened.
Try speaking with a medical malpractice attorney (many, by the way, provide a free initial consultation; you can check on this before setting the appointment). If the lawyer feels there may be a case, he/she can most likely direct you to a doctor who can take a more detailed, medical look at the situation.
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