Medical Self-Advocacy: How to Advocate for Your Medical Needs

A medical misdiagnosis can be devastating, especially when it comes to an illness like cancer. With cancer, the earlier it’s caught, the more likely it is that treatment will be effective – and that the treatment will be less invasive.

For example, with something like breast cancer, earlier detection may mean a woman only needs a lumpectomy or radiation instead of a full mastectomy or chemotherapy. Unfortunately, women, especially visible minorities, often don’t have their health concerns taken seriously by medical professionals.

We’ll explain:

• Why it’s so important to advocate for your medical needs.
• What some of the best ways to advocate for your medical needs are.
• Why you may want to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit if you were misdiagnosed or subject to a delayed diagnosis.

If you have breast cancer and your doctor did not correctly diagnose it, you can file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit. At Sommers, Roth and Elmaleh, we have extensive experience with medical misdiagnosis lawsuits, including breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuits.

Why is it important to advocate for my medical needs?

It’s important to advocate for your medical needs because you’re the person who will suffer the consequences if a doctor misdiagnoses you or subjects you to a delayed diagnosis.

Doctors are often busy and their focus might be on getting you in and out of their office as fast as possible. You are far more invested in your health than your doctor, so you must advocate for yourself.

If you’re female, it’s even more important to advocate for yourself. Women’s concerns, especially those of visible minorities, are often downplayed or outright dismissed by their doctors. Women tend to be reluctant to stand up for themselves for fear they’ll be labelled “emotional,” but you must advocate for yourself regarding your health.

How can I advocate for myself when it comes to my medical needs?

There are several ways you can advocate for yourself when it comes to your medical needs:

• Don’t rush through your appointment. Mention all the symptoms you’re experiencing, even if they don’t seem important. Making a list beforehand can be very helpful, so you don’t have to rely on memory.
• Ask your doctor for details about any proposed course of treatment and alternatives. Knowing things like side effects from drugs or expected recovery time from surgery is essential.
• Take notes and confirm the next steps you should take with your doctor. Don’t just assume that you’ll both remember exactly what you discussed and agreed upon! Repeat back to them what they’ve said, and confirm with their front-line staff about the next steps to be taken – whether that’s giving you a prescription or sending a referral to a specialist.
• Consider bringing someone with you to help advocate for you and to help you ask questions or take notes.

Why would I want to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit?

The primary purpose of any medical misdiagnosis lawsuit, including a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit, is to help the victim of the misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis receive compensation for various things, including pain and suffering and lost wages. Treatment for later stages of breast cancer is far more time-consuming and invasive than earlier stages, which can have a massive effect on a patient’s physical and mental health.

In addition, the purpose of a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit is to ensure that medical professionals are held accountable for their actions. A successful medical misdiagnosis lawsuit can lead a doctor or a hospital to implement new protocols to ensure that patients receive better treatment and diagnoses in the future.

How can Sommers Roth and Elmaleh help me if I want to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit?

At Sommers Roth and Elmaleh, we can provide you with the support and guidance you need if you want to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit. We can discuss with you:

• Why it’s essential to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit with the help of a professional medical misdiagnosis lawyer if you’ve been the victim of a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
• Who you can sue as part of your breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit. You can sue a variety of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and even entire medical clinics.
• How we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Due to your breast cancer misdiagnosis, you may have been unable to work, suffered physically and mentally and lost out on time with loved ones. We’ll explain how much compensation you may be eligible for and how we can help you fight your breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit.

Advocating for Your Medical Needs Is Vital

We’ve explained why it’s so important to advocate for yourself when it comes to your medical needs and some ways you can do so. Speaking up for yourself can be challenging, but you deserve to live a healthy life and have your doctor take your questions and concerns seriously!

At Somers Roth and Elmaleh, we can help if your doctor’s dismissal of your concerns has led to a breast cancer misdiagnosis. We can explain what’s involved in filing a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit and what kind of compensation you may be eligible for.

Contact Us to Learn More About Filing a Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuit

We can help you if you want to file a breast cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit or any other kind of medical misdiagnosis lawsuit. To arrange a free consultation, call us at 1-888-940-2386 or contact us online.