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Understanding your patient rights when seeking medical care in South Carolina helps you stay prepared to protect yourself from below-standard treatment. Thousands of Americans die each year from birth injuries, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), misdiagnoses, and other medical errors, and when these events result from treatment that falls below the standard of care, the provider’s omission or action may qualify as malpractice.
Understanding Patient Rights in South Carolina
Most medical facilities in South Carolina establish Bills of Rights for patient care. For other health centers, including nursing homes and mental health facilities, patient rights are mandated by the South Carolina Code of Laws. All medical care providers must communicate care policies and conduct requirements to patients at the time of admittance.
5 Ways To Protect Your Patient Rights
South Carolina laws offer some protection for sick or injured people to access ethical, safe, high-quality medical services, but people shouldn’t rely on regulations alone. Understanding how to exercise your patient rights at medical care facilities can make a difference when you’re facing a complex situation. Follow these five methods to empower yourself to take control of your medical care and protect yourself during an adverse event.
1. Be a Proactive Patient
When patients actively participate in their appointments, they often get better results. While you may fear being labeled as a ‘difficult patient,’ your patient rights entitle you to ask questions and understand your diagnoses and treatment options. You also have the right to seek second opinions and switch medical providers. Likewise, most South Carolina healthcare facilities also include responsibilities for you within the organization’s patient rights documents. When providers and patients abide by these policies, everyone has the transparency and understanding they need to find an adequate solution.
2. Keep a Personal Health Record
Digital patient portals can make accessing medical information easier, but it is within a patient’s rights to take notes during appointments and consultations. Comparing personal notes to medical records is one way to protect the integrity of the information in your file and confirm that important details were not omitted. If a discrepancy is found in your patient records, you have the right to request corrections or clarification. Keeping your files accurate and up to date is essential for directing care, and if a medical mistake occurs, these documents are critical evidence for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
3. Double-Check Medications
Most adverse drug reactions are preventable medical errors patients can help avoid with extra diligence. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that nearly 72% of physician office visits involve drug therapy which may have led to complacency for providers and patients. Double-checking that prescriptions are written correctly and that the pharmacist or physician has filled and administered the drug as you’d expect can help prevent harmful errors. As a patient, you can also opt to speak to the pharmacist upon picking up a new prescription to ensure you understand the dosing, side effects, and indications of a negative reaction.
4. Seek Advocacy
Any patient can encounter a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare worker whose efforts do not meet the standard of care. When you are sick or heavily medicated, you may not have the wherewithal to inquire about treatment options or notice discrepancies in your treatment plan. It is every patient’s right to invite a support person to medical appointments, procedures, and hospital stays. If a personal contact is not available, consult with a professional patient advocate who is trained to help you understand care options and next steps.
5. Get Legal Help
Common medical malpractice cases in South Carolina include surgical errors, medication issues, adverse drug reactions, and birth injuries. If you’ve been harmed by the negligence or mistake of a healthcare worker, nurse, or doctor, it is your right as a patient to explore options for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Experienced legal counsel can help you determine whether a medical mistake qualifies as malpractice and offer options to pursue to get on a path to recovery.