How to Be an Advocate for Your Child’s Healthcare

How to Be an Advocate for Your Child’s Healthcare

Medical malpractice can cause severe life altering injuries and ailments for people of all ages, including children, as they’re among the most vulnerable groups wading through the healthcare system. If you’re a parent, you can take actions to protect your children from the negligence of others. In honor of October being National Children’s Health Month, Pegalis Law Group, LLC presents helpful tips for how parents can become advocates for their children’s healthcare.

Keep Up-to-Date With Preventive Check-Ups & Vaccinations

One of the most critical things you can do as a proactive parent is to keep up-to-date with your child’s preventive check-ups and vaccinations. Vaccines protect children and teens from many infectious diseases, including chickenpox, measles, and polio. Ask your child’s pediatrician for a vaccine schedule, so you know which vaccines are recommended and at which ages. Taking your children to the doctor for preventive check-ups even when nothing seems wrong is also par for parenthood.

During routine visits, your child’s pediatrician can monitor their health, growth, and development. Discovering issues early makes them more treatable, often leading to a better outlook. Other ways to keep your kids healthy: ensure they eat a well-balanced diet (despite their picky eating habits), get enough rest, and get enough physical exercise throughout the week by enrolling them in dance, gymnastics, team sports, and other hobbies to get them moving.

Stay Informed About Diagnoses, Treatment Plans, & Follow-Ups

Staying informed about medical diagnoses, proposed treatment plans, and follow-up care expectations can help you avoid medical errors and misdiagnoses. Always ask what’s being prescribed and why. If your child is given a prescription, pay attention to the dosage and be aware of common side effects to help prevent medication errors. Immediately note any reactions your child may have to medications so that you can seek the appropriate follow-up care, as adverse reactions can be life-threatening. If you can’t read the prescription, ask the doctor to print it in legible block letters. Pharmacists sometimes make mistakes too. Double-check that you’ve received the correct medicine(s) from the pharmacy.

Ask for Additional Testing to Confirm Diagnoses & Surgeries

If your child has been diagnosed with a severe illness or medical condition, don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion or additional testing to confirm the diagnosis. Many illnesses and diseases mimic others, often making it difficult for doctors to diagnose patients correctly. For example, testicular torsion and appendicitis are two conditions commonly overlooked and attributed to stomachaches, constipation, and other less severe issues. Surgical errors are one of the most common types of medical malpractice. If your child needs surgery, go over expectations with your child’s surgeon to ensure you’re on the same page about the procedure, incision sites, anesthesia, and recovery to help prevent surgical errors.

If Something Doesn’t Feel Right, Speak Up and Ask Questions

Does something not feel right or make sense during your child’s doctor’s appointment? Always listen to your maternal or paternal instincts. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask the pediatrician questions about your child’s medications or treatments. You have the right to be involved in your child’s healthcare.

Know Your Rights for Filing Pediatric Medical Malpractice Claims

As a proactive parent or guardian, you should know your rights when filing pediatric medical malpractice claims, including the statute of limitations in your specific state. Should you reside in the New York area, Pegalis Law Group, LLC is a personal injury and medical malpractice law firm with nearly 50 years of experience. Our dedicated law firm has made it our mission to spread public awareness to create more proactive patients of all ages. Please visit our website and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to receive additional insights to remain proactive about your child’s healthcare.