Understanding the Emotional Toll of Negligent Healthcare

It’s easy to entrust your car to a mechanic or leave able-bodied plumbers to repair your septic tank. When it comes to your health, though, you’re literally putting your life in someone else’s hands. That’s why it can be traumatic to learn a healthcare provider violated your trust by failing to provide a reasonable standard of care.

The potential consequences of medical malpractice include so much more than the wounds you might sustain during a botched surgical procedure. In fact, it is not uncommon for victims of malpractice–and personal injury victims in general–to develop post-traumatic stress disorder after sustaining serious injuries.

If you received substandard care from a healthcare provider and suffered physical and emotional injuries as a result, contact The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling will assess your case to help you determine the best way to proceed. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice attorney in New Orleans.

Read on to learn more about the emotional toll of negligent healthcare:

On the Victims

A review originally published in the Medical Law Review conFirms it is entirely possible to develop post-traumatic stress disorder after receiving negligent care in a healthcare setting. PTSD is a serious psychological disorder that can affect both day-to-day living and your overall quality of life. Symptoms include:

Reliving the traumatic event;

Avoiding situations that might remind you of the triggering incident;

Avoiding others and detaching yourself from those with whom you used to be close; and

Feeling increased emotional arousal or remaining on high alert.

Living with PTSD is incredibly challenging, and in severe cases, it can even inhibit an individual’s ability to hold down a job or take care of his or her family. Although you cannot put a price on peace of mind, it is because of this stress and emotional turmoil that malpractice victims have the right to recover compensation for their pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, the state of Louisiana caps all medical malpractice damages at $500,000, excluding future medical expenses. Thus, if you sustained debilitating injuries that are going to leave you paralyzed, you may not recover any compensation for pain and suffering because your medical bills and rehabilitation costs alone might amount to $500,000. For plaintiffs who sustained less severe injuries, though, including non-economic damages in the settlement negotiations can affect the final amount significantly.

On Their Families

The patient who received negligent care is not the only one who suffers emotionally as a result of the incident. According to The New York Times, it is common for family members to blame themselves for their loved one’s injuries. For example, they might find themselves wondering if the malpractice would still have occurred had they been at the facility during the procedure.

Medical malpractice takes a serious emotional toll on both patients and their families who have enough to worry about without having to deal with complicated legal proceedings. If you or a loved one sustained injuries at the hands of a negligent healthcare provider, contact The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm for guidance during every step of the claims process.

Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a case evaluation with a medical malpractice lawyer in New Orleans. You can learn more about malpractice claims in Louisiana by visiting USAttorneys.com