In general, healthcare professionals are dedicated, skilled, and caring. Unfortunately, human error is inevitable, no matter how skilled a professional is. It may surprise you that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Healthcare issues like understaffing and under-training contribute to the growing number of medical errors. To help you stay aware, here are the top medical errors that affect patients and their families.
Medication Errors
Medication errors are some of the most commonly committed medical errors in hospitals today. Medication errors occur when a doctor prescribes the wrong medicine or dosage. Failing to consider allergies, contraindications, and side effects also falls under this category. While prescriptions are supposed to treat patients, errors can lead to hospitalization, disabilities, and even death.
Misdiagnosis
A misdiagnosis can lead to delayed or incorrect treatment. Patients might not even receive any treatment at all. That will cause the patient’s condition to worsen, possibly leading to injury or death that could have been preventable.
Lab Test Errors
Many kinds of errors can happen with lab testing. Doctors may fail to order a lab test when it’s necessary. Sometimes, they’ll ask for one, but the test administration or interpretation of results may be incorrect. Even if there was proper testing, the doctor might not prescribe the correct course of treatment. All of these are malpractice cases that can have disastrous outcomes.
Wrong Treatment
Doctors must get through long lines of patients daily, causing them to rush through their appointments. Haste and poor communication are the usual culprits behind these errors.
Premature Discharge
Hospitals might release patients too early in order to accommodate more people and increase profit. In other cases, doctors might order premature discharge because they’ve misjudged their patient’s condition. Either way, releasing patients when they’re not ready can worsen their condition. People might not know how to handle the situation at home and could suffer further harm.
Follow-Up Failure
It’s malpractice when a doctor or hospital fails to communicate follow-up appointments, instructions, and test results to patients. The lack of follow-ups can prevent patients from receiving the correct medications and treatment. It can also lead to a delayed diagnosis, causing the patient’s condition to worsen. The consequences can be disastrous for illnesses like cancer and dementia.
Surgical Errors
Mistakes can happen during surgery. Doctors can botch the procedure or leave foreign objects inside their patients. They might even perform surgeries that aren’t necessary. These errors can lead to permanent disfiguration, infections, nerve or organ damage, internal bleeding, and blood clots. They might even prove fatal.
Get a Professional on Your Side
If you or a loved one is suffering the consequences of a medical error, get the help of an experienced lawyer. They’ll communicate with insurance companies, speed up the claims process, and get you the best possible settlement. For more information, contact Friedman Law Offices at +1 800-876-1093.