Questions to Ask

Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor 

• Are you Board Certified?
• How long have you been in private practice?

Regarding Proposed Treatment

• Are there alternatives to this treatment?
• What are the risks of this treatment?

Regarding Proposed Medications

• Are there alternatives to this medication?
• What are the risks of this medication?
• What are the contraindications for this medication?

Regarding Proposed Surgery

• How many times have you performed this surgery?
• What are the alternatives to this surgery?
• What are the risks of this surgery?
• From whom should I seek a second opinion?

Regarding Your Personal Profile - age, sex, race, family history and lifestyle

• Are there any screening or baseline tests that I should have? (mammogram, chest x-ray, colonoscopy, biopsy)
• Are there any diseases for which I am at increased risk?
• Is there a doctor who specializes in this area?
• Should I see such a doctor?

Regarding Any Testing

• What were the results of the testing?
• What do the results mean?
• Are further tests necessary?

Questions You Should Ask Your Lawyer 

• How long have you been in practice?
• What experience do you have with medical malpractice/professional negligence cases?
• What experience do you have with my particular medical problem: failure to diagnose; late diagnosis of cancer; surgical mistakes; child birth errors; medication interactions, etc.
• Do you concentrate your practice in any one (1) area of the law?
• What is your present case load?
• What resources are available to you?
• How many support personnel are employed in your office?
• Will you be available to answer my questions?
• How many cases have you tried successfully?
• Is there a charge for your services if there is no recovery?
• Who is responsible for the "costs" of a lawsuit?
• What do the "costs" of a lawsuit involve?
• Do I have to go to trial?
• What are my chances for an early settlement?
• Will you be trying my case at trial or will it be tried by someone else?

Questions You Should Ask Yourself

• Was I injured by someone in the last year?
• A worker?
• A doctor?
• A nurse?
• A neighbor?
• An accident?
• Was the injury not my fault? Whose fault was it?
• Did I complain about feeling ill for a long time to my doctor before I was diagnosed with a disease?
• Did I need a consultation much earlier to another doctor?
• Did my cancer go undiagnosed for over one year?
• Has my child suffered traumatic brain injury in an accident, fall or other trauma, like a birth injury?
• Was my baby diagnosed with cerebral palsy or other brain injury which could be related to an accident or birth trauma?