Suffering from an injury or worsened illness as a result of a physician’s negligence can have an emotional toll on a victim. It can be easy to feel frightened, isolated, and even feel like you cannot trust the very people you trusted most – your doctor and other healthcare providers – to protect you from harm.

For a lot of medical malpractice victims, talking with other victims is a way to find comfort and empowerment. There are support groups across the country that connect victims and their loved ones for exactly this purpose. Some meet in person and others are completely online, allowing individuals from across the world to connect with each other. If you feel like you need to talk to somebody who knows exactly what you are experiencing, consider joining a support group for medical malpractice victims.

Where to Find Support Groups

One of the easiest ways to find medical malpractice support groups in your area is to use an online search engine. Simply put in a few keywords, like “medical malpractice victim support group” and your city and state to find groups near you. Consider using social media to find support groups as well.

Your lawyer might also be able to connect you with support groups in your area and online. Because your lawyer has experience working with medical malpractice victims, he or she may very likely know the support groups past clients joined.

If you are working with a counselor to overcome the emotional trauma of your injury, ask him or her about support groups near you. Like your lawyer, your counselor’s experience working with victims like you can make it easy for him or her to recommend a support group.

What to Look for in a Support Group

Remember, not every support group will be a good fit for you. If you find you just are not connecting with a certain group, know that it is not your fault. Keep trying groups until you find one where you can feel comfortable speaking openly about your experience and providing support for others.

When researching potential support groups, keep the following in mind:

• Which type of environment is best for you? Some support groups are solely on the internet, which makes it easy for housebound individuals to participate while others meet in homes, community centers, and other public spaces;

• Do you want a faith-based support group? If so, consider looking for one at your church or other religious organization;

• Can you feel comfortable in a group open to victims and their families, or would you prefer a group strictly for the victims themselves? And

• Would you prefer an open group, which allows new members to join at any time and stay as long as they need, or a closed group, which starts with one specific group of people who remain for a specified period of time?

Work with an Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you are suffering from economic or non-economic damages as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence, consider seeking compensation for these damages through a medical malpractice claim. To learn more, speak with a member of our team at Baizer Kolar, P.C. Contact our firm today to set up your initial consultation in our Chicago office. We are a close-knit, collaborative firm dedicated to securing fair compensation packages for our clients.