Medical Malpractice Wreaks Havoc on Your Life

Medical negligence can run the gamut from failure to diagnose a life threatening condition such as cancer or a stroke, to surgical mistakes such as amputating the wrong limb. Some medical malpractice is so severe that it can leave a newborn with an injury so severe it lasts a lifetime. Regardless of the type or severity of medical malpractice, it’s a devastating event that affects the victim and the victim’s family.

Medical negligence, if you survive the initial event, almost always means that you will have to have additional medical care, above and beyond the care originally needed. At the very least, this means additional expense and downtime, usually it means more pain and suffering, and often a reduced chance of survival or recovery. Medical negligence can easily result in permanent disability or death.

Victims of medical negligence often avoid or delay future medical treatments, due to a very strong and well-founded fear of doctors and medial treatment, and may suffer disabilities or an early death as a result.

Medical negligence takes its toll on your body, your quality of life, your loved ones, and your bank account.

Quality of life

The physical pain and disability often caused by medical negligence are just the tip of the iceberg. Emotional trauma for you and your loved ones, and the wear and tear that a changed life can have on relationships can leave your life in shambles. Victims of medical negligence often suffer:

• Physical pain
• Temporary or permanent physical impairment
• Disfigurement
• Long-term psychological and emotional problems
• Cognitive, memory, and speech difficulties
• Extreme discomfort in social settings
• Martial problems or divorce
• Sexual dysfunction
• Inability to have children
• Inability to care for existing children
• Inability to return to normal activities, hobbies, or career

Financial impact

Medical negligence can affect you financially. Financial damages and expenses associated with medical negligence may include:

• Additional medical care or procedures
• Travel expenses required for obtaining additional medical care
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Rehabilitation
• Therapy, counseling, and other services required to deal with the emotional and psychological trauma
• Special equipment needed to deal with disabilities or impairment
• In-home care
• Long-term care
• Other necessary paid services including housekeeping and childcare
• Moving expenses should your injuries require moving to obtain ongoing care, due to physical limitations, or due to loss of income
• Loss of long-term investments, liquidated early to cover immediate needs
• Loss of your ability to provide for the long-term needs of your children