What the Olympics Can Teach Us About a New York Medical Malpractice Case

With the Winter Olympics presently on millions of television sets throughout the country, permeating through our daily newspapers, and injected into our daily lives, it is an important reminder of the good that remains in the world.  It is a reminder of how as a world we can set aside our differences and compete.  And it is a lesson to us in many other areas of our lives.

One area where the Olympics is a lesson for us is in a medical malpractice case such as a case in Kingston, Albany, Poughkeepsie, New York City, Buffalo, Westchester, or anywhere else in New York.  These Olympic lessons are important and can help us be successful in New York medical malpractice cases.  Some tips include the following:

Preparation is Key – Any Olympian will tell you that preparation is their key to success.  Before any medical malpractice case, or a part of it like a motion, deposition, or trial, both mental and physical preparation are important to success.

Get a Good Coach (Expert) – It is a lot easier to win an Olympic medal with a great touch who will push you, elevate your strengths, and work on your weaknesses.  The same is true of a good medical expert who will help highlight the best parts of the liability and medical malpractice, but also help prepare you for weakness to make them stronger.

If You Fall, Get Back Up Again – Look at some of these snowboarding runs the first few opening days.  Red Gerard, the young snowboarder from Colorado, fell and failed miserably on his first two runs putting him pretty close to dead last.  LAST!  Even doubling his score would not have put him in first!  But he listened to his coaches and prepared for his final run, which was FLAWLESS and he won gold but a few points!  If a motion gets granted against you, or a bad deposition occurs, maybe even an entire case fails at trial, keep working hard on the appeal or on the next case to improve—do not stay down, because you may be missing out on gold!

Don’t Cheat and Listen to the Officials – Russia was banned from competing due to doping.  Some fo their athletes that were not part of the scandal are allowed to participate under the Olympic Flag.  But one American not participating is Ashley Wagner, a figure skater who spoke out against officials in qualifiers which was found to be unacceptable to coaches and staff.  In medical malpractice cases, unethical behavior from the client or the lawyer is not tolerated—there should be no need to cheat or lie when we are talking about someone’s health and body!  Listen to the Judge as well.  Even if you disagree, that does not give you a license to speak against him or her, be rude, or aggressive.  The same is true of the jury.  You always preserve the right to move to reargue or appeal.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.