Unfortunately, too many people report that medical professionals are no longer taking their health concerns seriously – or, worse, are putting them in more harm with the treatments they’re recommending for debilitating physical conditions. How is the average patient supposed to avoid this kind of negligence?
At Hollis Law Firm, we understand these challenges and recognize the value patient advocates bring in helping someone make their voice heard in the exam room. If you’re struggling to recover from a medical device injury and worked with a patient advocate, our attorney may be able to use their testimony when fighting for our clients’ rights to compensation. With 15 years of experience handling medical device claims, we can help evaluate your situation and determine your legal options.
What is Patient Advocacy?
The phrase “patient advocacy” refers to the professional role someone takes in an effort to ensure that someone, often you, gets the treatment they deserve in a medical environment. You can rely on an advocate to push for your right to reasonable treatment and to call medical professionals out if they attempt to minimize your pain or right of your concerns.
Unfortunately, patient advocates have become a staple in the medical industry. Why is this unfortunate? An increasing number of patients have reported that medical professionals won’t take their health concerns seriously or that they’re struggling to communicate with medical providers.
Can Patient Advocacy Prevent Medical Malpractice?
A patient advocate specifically works to hold medical professionals accountable for your care. These professionals can help you read through the paperwork related to your care and break down the protocols that medical professionals have to abide by when caring for you.
In other words, patient advocates can prevent medical professionals from worsening your health or mistreating you. In this way, a patient advocate can prevent medical malpractice that might otherwise compromise your overall well-being.
This does not mean that patient advocates are infallible or cannot make mistakes. However, working with a patient advocate gives you a safety net if you feel uncomfortable or uninformed while seeking services.
How Do Patient Advocates Contribute to Medical Malpractice Cases?
If you fall victim to medical malpractice, a patient advocate’s record of your treatment can become an essential piece of evidence in your fight for justice. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can ask a patient advocate to provide testimony about your treatment. Your patient advocate may also be able to provide an attorney with paperwork relevant to your care.
How Can You Work With a Patient Advocate?
You can specifically rely on a patient advocate to support you through a medical malpractice case by:
- Preparing you for the ins and outs of the legal process alongside a medical malpractice lawyer
- Offering to interpret the laws relevant to your recovery in understandable terms
- Providing your attorney with the evidence they need to hold medical professionals or institutions accountable for the losses you sustained
Most importantly, patient advocates can provide you with emotional and practical support following an incident with a negligent medical professional. Some patient advocates can even help you seek out alternative care to address any health concerns that negligent parties may have neglected.
What Are the Benefits of Working With a Patient Advocate?
While patient advocates don’t guarantee that you’ll win your case for medical malpractice compensation, their input on your case can improve your case’s outcome. Their habit of documenting your treatment can prove invaluable as you move to prove that you were mistreated while under a professional’s care.
Moreover, patient advocates actively help survivors like you handle the stress of ongoing health concerns and a legal case. You can rely on a patient advocate for guidance and benefit from legal advice from an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.
Let a Patient Advocate Contribute to Your Personal Injury Case Today
Healthcare is an endlessly evolving industry. Patient advocacy is beginning to find its place in the examination room and in the courtroom. If you’re mistreated while seeking assistance with a medical condition or suspect you are the victim of medical malpractice, a patient advocate can help you make a case for compensation in civil court.
When you meet with our medical malpractice lawyer for a personal injury case consultation at Hollis Law Firm, you can learn more about a patient advocate’s role in your upcoming medical malpractice case. Your consultation comes free of charge and prioritizes every possible opportunity to amplify your voice and make your needs known. If you’re ready to file a medical malpractice claim or want to learn more about the legal process, use this contact form or call (800) 701-3672 to book a free case consultation.
