Physician Patient Communication is Critical

Paul Grieco

Contributor

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Many clients contact our office on a regular basis to discuss medical care they or a loved one received which resulted in some type of problem. Many of these clients believe that just because a complication occurred that the doctor or hospital must have done something wrong and therefore there must be a viable medical malpractice lawsuit. In discussing the issue with the clients and counseling them on their rights, frequently it s determined that the real problem is not always medical malpractice, but a lack of good communication between the physician and the patient.

Many times clients will say the doctor never told us what happened or fully discussed the problems or complications. While negligent medical care does happen, failure to properly communicate with a patient does not always lead to a malpractice case. Patients should try and create an open dialogue with their physician and ask as many questions as you can. If you need to schedule a further meeting with the doctor try to do so. In this day of managed healthcare it is often difficult, but most doctors take their patients and their jobs seriously and will be open and honest and will do the right thing. If you are not sure what to do, ask your attorney for insight as the job of a good attorney is to counsel clients and be open and honest.