The Rise of Telehealth and Potential Malpractice Concerns

As every industry becomes increasingly digitized, the benefits can lead to immense advancements. In the health care industry, there may be some rising concerns that you should be aware of to stay safe, and these mainly involve the introduction of telehealth.

The increase of telehealth in many hospitals and health care facilities has allowed health care providers to communicate easily with their patients. However, due to the rise of telehealth, there could be a potential concern for malpractice. When you need help understanding your available legal options, contact the experienced attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams.

What Is Medical Malpractice and Telehealth?

When a person seeks medical treatment, they are putting their health in the hands of professionals. Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider fails to deliver the standard of care to their patient. This can happen in the event of a misdiagnosis, mistreatment, or failure to treat relevant symptoms, which can ultimately lead to injury and harm to the patient.

Telehealth allows anyone to see their health care provider without having to leave their home. This can be through video, phone, and even text messaging. Telehealth has the capability now to track health care through technology like your heart rate and blood pressure and immediately send it to a health care provider. Many people enjoy the benefits of telehealth as it is seen as convenient and quick rather than seeing a doctor in person.

What Are the Potential Malpractice Concerns?

With telehealth, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment are the most common malpractice concerns. When everything is done virtually, the risk of misdiagnosis is highly increased because the health care provider may fail to recognize symptoms and will not be able to do a full comprehensive exam. In-person, a health care provider can see physical symptoms that the patient overlooked, and this is the biggest concern for telehealth, as you cannot rely on virtual consultations to make a completely informed diagnosis.

Delayed treatment is also a concern that is often overlooked. Virtual consultation can be done quickly, but there can be a lack of urgency, which may lead to delayed treatment. When health care providers see their patients, they quickly assess the severity of the situation. However, everything is treated similarly in the telehealth space, risking the sense of urgency.

Speak To a Skilled Attorney About Your Potential Telehealth Malpractice Concerns Today

Telehealth has the potential to blur the lines of adequate health care. If you have concerns that your health care provider did not treat you with the utmost professionalism, contact an experienced lawyer for help.

The legal team at Lowenthal & Abrams can assess your situation and determine whether you experienced medical malpractice. Call today for a consultation regarding your situation.