Advocacy at its' Best: Prevent, Don't Sue

I recently had a telephone call from a fellow Physician Assistant who looked at my resume and saw that I had worked for a lawyer as an investigator, determining when medical standards were breached and if there was potential to sue the doctor (or hospital.)

As I listened to her, it took me back to many years ago when I believed that I could change the system, that if there were “bad” doctors out there who made life-changing mistakes, not only would the patient be compensated, but the doctors would no longer be able to practice.

I quickly learned that in Maryland, at least, it doesn’t matter. I had one doctor who was found guilty of malpractice four times and was still practicing when he missed a lacerated liver on an 18-year-old child who died.

As I was listening to this woman speak to me about what happened to her mother, I realized that trying to stop the doctors was a long and arduous task. Instead, we must work to prevent these incidences. We need to advocate for ourselves, our loved ones, our clients. Why wait until the mistakes happen?

No amount of money will make up for a dead child or a parent who had been independent, now living in assisted living, unable to toilet themselves.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when the healthcare system is broken. More and more people are leaving medicine (upwards of 50% of people graduating from medical school will not practice as physicians). The cost of drugs is at an all-time high, and we need to protect ourselves and work with our providers.

Having an advocate will help you navigate the “broken” medical system and make your visits more meaningful and productive. We know what questions to ask, when a second opinion is necessary, and the risks to consider when pursuing tests and treatments. We can review your medication list and work with your providers to be sure you are taking what you need, no more, no less.

Don’t forget your yearly physical. Keep track of your preventive health visits, i.e., mammograms, prostate scanning, dermatologist screening, and any other specialists you see. Don’t count on the doctors reminding you.

Be your own advocate! If you need help, call or email me. It may save your life or the life of someone you love.

410.978.3763 or myra@katzadvocate.com