Have you ever come out of a therapy session feeling worse than when you went in? What if it happens all the time? You may be the victim of clinical negligence. Here are the warning signs you should be watching for. Learn more at https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/mental-health/legal-rights/clinical-negligence/
Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone, but at the very least, it shouldn’t make you feel worse about yourself than you already do. But if you got the impression that your therapist was belittling you, judging you, or otherwise making the entire experience feel terrible, that’s a clear sign of mistreatment. If you’re currently undergoing treatment for a mental disorder or considering starting therapy, make sure to keep an eye out for these red flags to ensure you’re not the victim of this kind of clinical negligence.
First, let’s define what clinical negligence actually is. Clinical negligence is a failure by healthcare professionals or institutions to provide an acceptable standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. This occurs when a duty of care has been established and a breach of duty results in physical, emotional, or financial harm to the patient; a direct link between provider negligence and patient harm can serve as grounds for legal action, but it can also act as a warning sign for mistreatment.
In mental healthcare, clinical negligence can happen in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Of course, negligence doesn’t refer to every instance you feel less than satisfied with your treatment; if your therapist is having an off day or is too busy to give you the attention you really need, that’s not necessarily a sign of mistreatment, especially if you don’t normally have problems with them.
Some better examples of mistreatment would be misdiagnoses or the failure to diagnose, where the therapist doesn’t correctly identify the client’s condition; medication errors, where the client is prescribed the wrong drug or an incorrect dosage; failing to obtain informed consent, respect confidentiality, or assess risks and monitor them appropriately; and abuse of any form. If you notice these signs, then it’s definitely time to find a new therapist.
Although mistreatment can be difficult to recognize when you’re already vulnerable, experts say that one major red flag is a lack of respect or compassion - if a mental health provider seems dismissive of your issues or makes you feel like you are being judged, that is a sign of clinical negligence.
Therapists who do not provide you with informed consent or take retaliatory action against you for asking questions also violate your right to both confidentiality and a second opinion, and they should be avoided.
Additionally, if you don’t receive a clear treatment plan, you have grounds to be concerned about mistreatment, as healthcare providers are bound by the duty of care to ensure their patients are provided with the correct therapy and medication.
To avoid mistreatment, you can seek mental health services at treatment centers known for compassionate care, such as Mission Connection. Such facilities employ licensed professionals who are trained to provide services in a non-judgmental fashion, ensuring patients have a positive experience and individualized treatment plans adjusted to their needs.
If you’re still not sure about what you should watch out for, the right mental health professional will be able to answer your questions. And don’t worry, these ones definitely are experts you can trust.
Click on the link in the description! Mission Connection City: San Juan Capistrano Address: 30310 Rancho Viejo Rd. Website: https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/