Medical negligence can be life-changing, whether you are left with a permanent impairment or not. Many people have to cope with long-term consequences, whether they are emotional or physical. While there are a variety of solutions available to address your individual solution, filing a medical negligence claim will not erase the emotional impact of medical negligence.
The Emotional Impact of Medical Negligence
Medical negligence can be the result of a variety of situations and it can happen in any number of ways, from a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis to a botched surgery or incorrect medication. No matter the reason, these mistakes are life-changing. For many, the physical impact is the most obvious, but emotional trauma can have a powerful impact on your life.
The effects of medical negligence on mental health include shock, bargaining, grief, denial, anxiety, depression, anger, aggression, guilt, social withdrawal, a sense of loss, mourning, fear of the future, feelings of self-loathing, and stress of managing the adjustment process.
Physically speaking, medical negligence can mean mental impairments, loss of limbs, chronic pain, disfigurement, and movement issues. Different physical impacts will also influence your mental health; the adjustment period or healing required for the physical impact will also be a determining factor in how you manage your mental health and emotional state.
Coping Strategies
- Embrace the Process
Grief and mourning are a natural part of the process, you shouldn’t shun them, you should embrace them as part of your healing journey. Repressing or stuffing down your emotions will extend the grieving process and fuel your anger. Let yourself feel all of it. Mindfulness is an excellent tool to use during this stage and can help you focus on the present and process your emotions.
- Practice Self-Care
It’s important to note that self-care is about more than just spa days, bubble baths, and treats. Eating well, drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, and following a healthy sleep schedule are all important acts of self-care. Do the fun stuff, but don’t forget about the basics that will support your mental and physical health equally. Just make sure whatever you do makes you laugh because it’s never been more important.
- Medication
Whether your physician recommends a particular therapy, a way to manage chronic pain, or an anti-depressant, you should be open to taking their advice. It’s particularly important to manage the big emotions in the early days following your trauma. Dealing with big emotions can be challenging when they wash over you constantly, so the process has to be managed well.
- Ask For Help
Whatever path you take, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you need it, whether it’s from your friends and family or an official source.
Seeking Support
While coping strategies are important, don’t underestimate the importance of seeking professional support, whether it’s time with a counsellor or assistance with daily life. A lot of people find it beneficial to join support groups where they can talk about their situation with people who have gone through similar situations. As much as your loved ones care, they can’t understand what you have been through and what you continue to go through. A support group is a safe place to offload and process your emotions.
Legal Considerations
Compensation can’t undo what happened, but it can provide you with support if you have treatment, care, and rehabilitation costs, and a loss of income. There are real financial effects of medical negligence, and compensation can help. It can also contribute to the purchase of mobility aids and home adaptions, whether it’s a wet room, chair lift, or a specialist bed or vehicle. It isn’t greed, the effects of medical negligence are far-reaching and you will need compensation money to heal.
You have to establish a duty of care on the part of the practitioner, that their standard of care deviated from best practice, that damages occurred, and that this practitioner or medical body was the direct cause. You should seek a second opinion as your first course of action. Once you have spoken to another doctor, you can then reach out to a medical negligence lawyer. You want to present all of the relevant facts and information to your legal expert. From there, the legal team taking your care can advise you.
If you want to involve medical negligence law and pursue compensation, you need to work with reputable and knowledgeable medical negligence lawyers who have the experience necessary to win your case. If you believe you are the victim of medical negligence Sydney, get in touch with AJB Stevens to determine the next steps.
