If you visit a medical facility for a procedure, you may expect nothing but the highest treatment standards. After all, your well-being and, potentially, your life are at stake.
Medical professionals owe you a legal duty of care. This means they can be liable if their negligence causes you harm. While doctors are usually highly trained and adept at providing the best care possible to their patients, they may still be prone to committing errors.
One of the common errors a doctor can make is failure to ask for assistance. Below are three of the most common reasons a doctor may refuse to ask for help:
Complacency
Doctors may be highly skilled but tend to be complacent, especially when dealing with a familiar case. Medical conditions may affect people differently depending on factors such as age, comorbidities and overall health. Similar symptoms in different people may not result in the same diagnosis. If your doctor did not rule out other possible issues or failed to refer you to a specialist to ensure an accurate diagnosis, it may be considered as neglect if you end up suffering adverse effects.
Fear of consequences
Hospitals are hectic facilities, and the healthcare industry is fast-paced and hostile. This environment may overwhelm an already stressed-out doctor, making them hesitate to ask for help. They may also want to maintain an appearance of independence and being highly knowledgeable in their field, so they may try to resolve things independently.
Additionally, internal policies and budgetary measures could stop them from referring a patient to another specialist or seeking assistance from another doctor.
Absence of help
Your doctor may also have sought help, but it just never came. This is possible when the hospital does not have enough medical staff to cover the volume of patients or if they are trying to cut back on their expenses.
If your condition got worse because of a negligent doctor, know that you have legal options. An experienced attorney may help you understand your rights and options better.
