ABA Family Legal Guide

Personal Injury

Negligence

Medical Malpractice

What do I do if I think I have a medical malpractice claim?

Talk to a lawyer who specializes in such work. Tell the lawyer exactly what happened to you, from the first time you visited your doctor through your last contact with him or her. Gather all your medical records from all your doctors and hospitals. They have to provide you with copies if you ask for them. (They may charge you copying costs.)

What were the circumstances surrounding your illness or injury? How did your doctor treat it? What did your doctor tell you about your treatment? Did you follow your doctor's instructions? What happened to you? Answers to these and other relevant questions become important if you think your doctor may have committed malpractice. Your lawyer will look at all this information and may have it reviewed by a doctor. Your lawyer might tell you that the care you received was proper or that a suit is warranted.