How To Prepare For Your First Meeting With A Medical Malpractice Attorney

There are many factors to consider when preparing for your first meeting with a medical malpractice attorney. Come prepared with what you will discuss with the attorney.

You may believe you have a medical malpractice case. If so, you should contact a medical malpractice attorney and make an appointment to meet with them. This article will assist you in preparing for that meeting. The more information you can give to the attorney, the greater their ability to evaluate your case. If you are like most people who believe that they have been victims of malpractice, you’ll want to begin your legal case as quickly as possible.

Factors To Consider

There are many factors that you should consider. Don’t rely on your memory alone: dig out whatever documents and medical records you have in your possession. Speak with family members who will be able to help you remember names, dates, and medicines. Some may help you remember and describe details of your medical problems. Write down all the essential information.

For all the things you list, be aware that providing dates is of the utmost importance. When did you see a particular doctor or take a particular test or go to a hospital? When did you first experience certain problems or symptoms? An accurate timeline will assist the medical malpractice attorney in understanding your overall condition.

You should always keep in mind that the medical malpractice attorney is going to focus on two things:

Liability

A bad result does not necessarily mean that the doctor did something wrong. Procedures have risks, and medicines have possible side effects. A successful malpractice lawsuit requires more than just a bad outcome; it requires proof that the doctor in question was careless or negligent. The question to be asked, therefore, is: what did the doctor or medical professional do wrong? Although ultimately medical experts will have to answer that question, your input about what you felt was done improperly can be very valuable as the attorney begins to analyze your case.

Damages

You may have heard the saying in sports, “no harm, no foul.” That saying applies to medical malpractice cases, too. A mistake that doesn’t cause damage will not form the basis for a successful medical malpractice claim. A medical error alone is not enough; the medical error must have damaged your health. The question to be asked, therefore, is how the medical malpractice has injured you?

What To Discuss With The Attorney

Here is a list of a dozen issues that you will want to discuss with your medical malpractice attorney when you have your meeting. Like most medical malpractice cases, your case may have some unique features. It isn’t true that “one size fits all.” Nevertheless, most cases have certain things in common. Some of the factors listed below will almost certainly apply to your situation.

• What were the medical problems that led you to contact the doctor? When did you first experience that problem? If you saw a general practitioner, did he refer you to a specialist? Who was the doctor to whom you were referred?
• What medicines, if any, did the doctor prescribe? What medical tests, if any, did the doctor order? What were the results of those tests? What procedures, if any, did the doctor recommend? Did you undergo any surgery or procedure? If so, what was the purpose of the procedure? What were the results?
• Were you admitted to a hospital? Which one(s)? What treatment did you receive there? How long were you hospitalized?
• What other people have information about these things? Is there a spouse, friend, or relative who knows your experiences? Did anyone accompany you to the doctor’s office or the hospital? Does anyone have familiarity with the change in your lifestyle and quality of life after the malpractice occurred?
• Have you discussed what happened in this matter with any other doctors? What opinions, if any, have they offered regarding the doctor’s treatment of you?
• What reasons do you have to believe that the doctor involved was careless? Be as specific as possible.
• What medical information documents do you have in your possession? Do you have a copy of your medical records or a Discharge Record from a hospital? Do you have copies of any test results? Do you have any records of MRIs or CAT Scans? The attorney will want to review all such material.
• Are you able to make a list of the medications that you were taking? What dosage did you take? What was the reason for the medicine? What were the side effects?
• How did your quality of life change after the malpractice occurred? Do you have pain, discomfort, or dysfunction that you did not have before? Are there activities that you are now unable to pursue because of medical malpractice?
• How did the medical malpractice impact you financially? Did you lose your job? Are you now unable to perform the tasks that your job demands? What are your present earnings as opposed to what they were before the medical malpractice?
• What medical expenses have you incurred because of the medical malpractice? Were “corrective” procedures necessary? Did insurance cover them? How much money are you “out-of-pocket” for additional medicines, subsequent doctor’s visits, and hospital procedures?
• Did the doctor fully and clearly explain the risks involved in your situation before commencing treatment? Did the doctor allow you to ask questions? Did the doctor answer those questions to your satisfaction? Were the risks and possible side effects of the medications that were involved adequately explained? Were the risks involved in any procedure or surgery adequately explained? Were the available alternatives that may have existed explained to you?

Be Prepared

It is vital to communicate as much detail as possible to your medical malpractice attorney. Going to your first meeting or phone call with the ability to describe your situation in an organized and orderly manner will help the attorney quickly and completely understand your situation. That said, if the situation has you overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted, and you just can’t get yourself organized, don’t worry; make the call anyway. A good lawyer can help you though the intake process.

Ohio Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Have you or a loved one suffered an injury from a doctor’s mistake? If so, reach out to an Ohio medical malpractice lawyer for guidance and direction. The Eisen Law Firm has spent more than four decades advocating for victims of medical malpractice. We know how to hold deficient doctors legally accountable to you. Our malpractice attorneys are ready to work hard on your case to help ensure that you get fully compensated. When you are ready, contact The Eisen Law Firm by calling (216) 687-0900 or contacting us online for a free consultation.