Consumer Information: How to Avoid Medical Malpractice
- Be involved in your health care. Take part in every decision on your behalf.
- Make sure all of your doctors know everything you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbs.
- Inform your doctors of any allergies or adverse reactions to medication.
- If you get a prescription, make sure you can read it and understand what it is for.
- Make sure that when you pick up your prescription from the pharmacy, it is what your doctor prescribed.
- If you have questions, ask.
- Be sure you have written information about the side effects your medicine could cause.
- If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many patients have had the procedure or surgery you need.
- Make sure health care workers who have direct contact with you have washed their hands.
- When you are discharged, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
- If you’re scheduled for surgery, make sure that you, your doctor and your surgeon are all clear on exactly what will be done.
- Ask a family member or friend to come to the doctor’s office or hospital with you, to get things done or speak up for you if you can’t.
- If you have a test, make sure you get the results.
- Mayo Clinic - http://www.mayoclinic.com/
- National Institutes of Health – MedLine Plus - http://health.nih.gov/
- WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/
- healthfinder® - Provides a gateway to reliable consumer health information from the Federal Government and other organizations. http://www.healthfinder.gov/
-
Partner with Physician for Best Surgical Outcome – AAOS --
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/category.cfm -
Tips for Patients to Prevent Wrong Site Surgery - JCAHO
www.jcaho.org/general+public/ -
Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Have Surgery - AHRQ
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/surgery/surgery.htm
For more information, please see the following related page on our website:
Medical Malpractice
