In light of all of the discussion about medical malpractice and the ensuing costs and suffering that comes with such a suit, there are some things that we as consumers can do to help keep ourselves safe. Making informed decisions about your healthcare is the best way to help prevent any accidents from happening. Taking the extra time to do your research before you select a physician could save you from a lot of heartache in the future.
It is very important that you feel comfortable with your physician. It is sometimes hard to talk to about the symptoms that we are experiencing and some can be more embarrassing than others. A physician’s bedside manner, age, gender, and even the area they practice in can all affect your level of comfort. Make sure you pick the physician that you will feel the most at ease with so you can have an uninhibited conversation about your healthcare. After this conversation, you should be able to evaluate whether or not you feel you can trust that particular doctor. If you feel they were unprofessional or unsympathetic then you should probably move on to a different physician. In the end, you need to be able to trust your physician to make the best and most effective decisions about your treatment.
It is also a good idea to research a physician’s history. Check and see where they went to school, see if they underwent any specialized training, see if they are board-certified. A physician who puts forth the extra effort to get board-certification shows a commitment and investment to their practice. You can also check to see if the physician has been involved in any medical malpractice claims or disciplinary cases. One of the easiest ways to learn information about a physician is to ask a current or previous patient. Knowing the history of a physician gives you a better idea of how they will act in the future. This will help you evaluate whether or not this is the right physician for you.
