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WINNER Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year

Medical Negligence and Malpractice: Why Communication is Vital.

There are things in life that are hard to take, but ultimately you can accept them.

Doctor Speaking With Patient In A Hospital Regarding Injury Or Illness.

Your car breaks down on a highway, your team loses the grand final or you drop your phone in the pool – these things can have an immediate impact on you, but usually there isn’t any lasting damage.

However, when it comes to your health, medical negligence and malpractice is something you absolutely can’t accept.

What is medical negligence or malpractice?

When health conditions arise that potentially threaten your wellbeing, it’s health practitioners you turn to and put your trust in. As a result, it’s important to realise you as a patient are entitled to receive an appropriate level of care and be provided with all the information relating to your condition and treatment.

You may have come across the terms medical negligence or malpractice but never really taken the time to understand what they refer to. Essentially it’s an act or failure to act by a health professional when treating a patient that can directly lead to injury or illness.

Why there always needs to be clear and open communication

Without doubt, failure by a health practitioner to communicate effectively with their patient throughout the treatment period is the leading cause of malpractice claims.

According to MIGA, a leading Australian indemnity insurer, approximately 70 percent of all malpractice claims come about as a result of a communication breakdown between the practitioner and patient.

Whether it be knowing all the risk factors associated with a procedure, having that reassurance that your medical professional is available if you are in need or just feeling comfortable enough to raise any potential concerns – like any relationship, communication between patient and practitioner is absolutely vital in avoiding any unexpected outcomes.

Here are some key scenarios that can arise from poor communication and potentially lead to malpractice suits.

Sometimes things do go wrong when you’re receiving medical care. Whether you feel that you’ve been the victim of poor communication with negative consequences or even if you had good service but have sustained ongoing effects from your medical intervention, you may be eligible for compensation.

Give us a call and speak to one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors for free advice today.

Shane Butcher

Principal

An accredited specialist in personal injury law and spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, with the best part of 20 years’ experience in assisting injured Australians to receive everything they’re entitled to.  

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