We visit our doctors to get help. For most people, this goes smoothly, but in some cases, you may feel unhappy with your doctor’s care.
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Why You Might Be Unhappy
You might be unhappy for several reasons. If you think you have a particular condition or ailment and your doctor dismisses you, you might not feel they have taken you seriously. This can have serious consequences, including a misdiagnosis. This can lead to being treated with the wrong medication, making the situation even worse. But what should you do if you aren’t happy with your doctor’s diagnosis?
Get A Second Opinion
Your doctor should respect your right to seek a second opinion. If you aren’t happy with the diagnosis your doctor has given you, you should ask them to explain why they have made the decisions they have, but you can still get a second opinion.
You might want to approach another doctor in the surgery you usually go to about your concerns or even find a new surgery to go to if you are very unhappy with your diagnosis and the reaction to your concerns. Don’t be afraid to do this if you feel you aren’t being listened to.
Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence. If you know that something isn’t right, even if you aren’t sure what, remember that nobody knows your body better than you, and you should feel able to pursue and get the treatment that you need.
Complain About Your Treatment
Another important action that you can take if you aren’t happy with the diagnosis from your doctor, or the way you have been treated, is to complain. You can write a letter of complaint. You can address your complaint directly to the service provider, whether it’s your GP, your dentist surgery, or a hospital, or you can write to whoever commission these services.
If you want to complain about a secondary healthcare provider, such as mental health services or out of hours services, you should contact the commissioner of these services.
When you write your complaint, state clearly what happened, and try to provide as much information as you can, with dates of appointments. If you aren’t happy with your doctor, it can help to take notes immediately after your appointment, when you can clearly remember what was said and what happened. All this will help your complaint.
Take Legal Action
If you make an official complaint, this will act as evidence if you decide to pursue legal action, with help from a medical malpractice attorney, against the doctor that you aren’t happy with. If you have suffered some significant health issues as a result of incorrect treatment, then taking legal action might be the most appropriate response.
If you have suffered from medical negligence, you could be entitled to compensation to help you to recover from any ill effects. If you aren’t sure if you have a case, get advice from an attorney with experience in medical lawsuits.
Thank you for reading!
