Most of us have been through this scenario at some point in our lives: we’re in a meeting where it’s important to focus and pay attention to what’s being told to us. This could be, for example, a meeting with our boss, our banker, or our child’s teacher. And out of the blue, we’re given some unexpected information that’s hard to process and wrap our heads around. It’s no different when you’re meeting with your doctor or other medical professional about your health. And it can be even more complicated given the unfamiliar terminology that’s often used in that kind of setting.  

That’s where the power of a patient advocate comes in. What, exactly, is a patient advocate? A patient advocate could be a professional who helps guide you through the healthcare system. There are also professional patient advocates, paid for by the patient, whose primary interest is helping the patient understand the medical process and advocate for them.

But here, we’re talking about a patient advocate who is a family member, friend, or caregiver who you trust to accompany you to your healthcare visits and be part of your personal healthcare team. 

Your Personal Patient Advocate

The person you choose to be your advocate should know you well, have a calm demeanor, be well organized, and be able to ask appropriate questions. Before your medical meetings or treatments, your advocate can help you pull together a list of your medications and your medical history. During your meetings, your advocate can take notes and ask questions when the medical jargon or proposed treatment plan is unclear. Your advocate can also give you a perspective on how he or she thinks your medical therapies are working. 

Most experts believe that having a patient advocate can reduce the likelihood of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare professionals or hospitals, and other medical institutions fail to follow the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to a patient. 

The harm could be:

• Misdiagnosis or failure to properly diagnose, leading to delayed treatment or inappropriate treatment.
• Surgical errors, such as performing a procedure on the wrong body part or leaving surgical equipment inside the patient.
• Medication mistakes, which include prescribing the wrong medication or dosage.
• Failure to provide or receive informed consent .

Patients who have suffered from medical negligence are entitled to economic, non-economic, and sometimes punitive damages. Economic damages include out-of-pocket medical costs such as hospital bills, rehabilitation, nursing care, and lost wages. Non-economic medical costs include such things as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. Punitive damages are awarded rarely, as they require proof of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. 

How a Patient Advocate Can Reduce the Likelihood of Medical Malpractice

Patients have key rights in the provision of their healthcare. These include: 

• Being fully informed about their treatment options and the risks of those options. 
• Having competent medical treatment that meets the appropriate standard of care. 
• Having the right to have a second opinion.
• Maintaining confidentiality between the patient and their medical professional.

However, in the stress of a medical meeting or treatment, patients often forget that they have these rights. A patient advocate can monitor the situation and ensure that these rights are met. 

A patient advocate can reduce the likelihood of medical malpractice by:

• Helping the patient deal with treatment delays
• Facilitating doctor appointments
• Preventing rushed exams
• Facilitating complete medical histories
• Improving patient satisfaction and safety
• Increasing adherence to treatment plans

You might be surprised to learn that approximately 250,000 deaths occur each year from medical errors, the third most common cause of death in the United States. Having a patient advocate is one way to lessen your odds of being the victim of a medical error. 

Contact Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm

If, despite your efforts to manage your medical care, you feel you or a loved one has suffered from medical malpractice, you must act quickly, because there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in the State of Florida, and the information-gathering process (ex. obtaining medical records) can be time-consuming and is considered part of that timeframe. 

Our attorneys have handled multiple cases and have a deep bench of experience dealing with medical professionals who have failed to properly treat patients. Do not wait. Contact a Ft. Lauderdale medical malpractice attorney or Orlando medical malpractice lawyer at Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm today for your free and confidential legal consultation at 1-800-693-4465 or fill out our CONTACT FORM.