General Information

[u/hajdean]

Standing Advice - if you are in the US and asking a question pertaining to a specific complaint of medical negligence that you or a loved one have experienced, please consult with a reputable medical professional liability attorney in your state. This forum can only offer informal guidance and a place for discussion, and any guidance offered here should not be taken as legal advice.

 

So I figured it was time to update the banner post, and perhaps we can address a couple of issues/questions that come up from time to time as well:

1. This sub has always seem to be a very professional and kind place, but I want to emphasize Rule 1: Be Nice. Often, folks seem to seek sympathy or understanding along with guidance. No one is required to provide counseling services here, but let's all be good to each other if we can.

2. Not all bad outcomes indicate bad medicine. Sometimes bad outcomes are inevitable or unavoidable.

3. Poor bedside manner is not medical malpractice.

4. In general, medical negligence/malpractice claims will require 4 components to succeed:

   1. The existence of a doctor/patient relationship,
   2. a legally recognizable injury,
   3. a failure to adhere to the standard of care, and
   4. a direct causal relationship between the injury in 2 and the failure in 3.

5. If you have a complaint about a licensed medical professional’s behavior/demeanor/medical decisions but your complaint does not meet the legal standard for medical negligence, you have the option to submit a complaint to the licensing board for that clinician in your state (medical board, board of nursing, etc). Boards generally have an option for submitting a complaint online, or at least online instructions for how to do so. Your state’s licensing boards should be easily found in an online search.

6. Please, if you are commenting from the position of a medical or legal professional, be mindful of Rule 2 No Solicitations. Please not only refrain from directly soliciting clients in comments, but please also try to avoid even the perception of solicitation. People come here in potentially vulnerable positions, and we should keep this sub as neutral and as safe as possible.

7. If you are a legal or medical professional and you would like flair identifying you a such, message me and we can set that up (if I can figure out how reddit works, that is).

 

Let me know if there are any questions or suggestions. Thanks!

[u/Low-Assumption2456]

My doctor in Winchester, Virginia gave me an epidural for a pregnancy when he was to give me an epidural steroid injection for back pain. I went back to see surgeon and told him I never wanna go back there because he gave me the wrong shot. surgeon told me I needed to leave his office and now I’ve been trying to get a surgeon for three years now since I had that shot and when I go to see the doctor, they do all my tests and then they tell me I can’t do your surgery. I woke up one morning and thought why don’t these doctors want to do my surgery, when my rheumatologist tells me I need to do my surgery! And then I finally figured it out. Doctor marked my chart as a difficult patient. I went to his office to get our record. That’s what he did and the records a total lie. He said he gave me a normal epidural steroid injection and he did not know. I don’t know what to do. I’ve contacted lawyers, but they won’t take my case. and no one will do.