The 10 Ten Medical Mistakes

You might be surprised to find that, according to a Johns Hopkins research, Medical Errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Although most healthcare workers are competent, committed, and compassionate individuals, mistakes do happen. The United States' for-profit healthcare system, where the pursuit of ever-higher profits frequently conflicts with delivering high-quality care, makes their job more difficult. Understaffing, inadequate training, and other penny-pinching practises cause avoidable injuries and fatalities. Here are the top 10 instances.

1. Not ordering, carrying out, or responding to lab testing Essential laboratory test mistakes can have a significant impact on how treatment is provided, frequently with disastrous outcomes. On occasion, the right test is not requested. Sometimes the test is given incorrectly, or the findings are read incorrectly. Even when testing is done correctly, the logical course of action may not always be followed. Any one of these medical malpractice mistakes could cause the patient to suffer avoidable harm or even pass away.

2. Incorrectly treating patients The term WSPE, which stands for Wrong Side (or Site), Wrong Patient, or Wrong Procedure Error, has a set protocol in medical circles. Doctors may operate on the wrong side of the body, area of the body, or part of the spine, perform a scheduled procedure on the incorrect patient, or perform the incorrect procedure due to poor communication or haste. These are referred to as "never events," which denote that they ought to never occur and are always regarded as instances of medical malpractice.

3. Incorrect prescriptions for drugs A medical error is a contributing factor in one out of every nine cases of medical malpractice, according to a report by the CRICO insurance programme, a branch of the Harvard Medical Institutions, Inc. And to make matters worse, 38% of these mistakes result in death (as opposed to 18% of all other medical negligence). Medical mistakes can occur when the incorrect medication is prescribed, administered, or dosed. It can also happen when a prescription is ordered or administered without taking the patient's allergies or potential drug interactions into account. It may also refer to circumstances in which the patient is not informed about the negative effects of the medicine.

4. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis A delayed or incorrect diagnosis of a medical condition may lead to avoidable harm or death. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or hospital improperly diagnoses a problem that should have been identified and the patient's condition worsens as a result of improper treatment, delayed treatment, or no treatment at all. An illustration would be if a doctor found a lump and declared it benign when it was actually malignant, allowing a serious cancer to progress.

5. Releasing the patient too soon A case of medical negligence occurs when a patient is released before they are ready and runs into issues at home that can only be resolved in a hospital. Sometimes, when a patient is released from the hospital, the doctor misjudges how well they are recovering. In other instances, the hospital is releasing at-risk patients too soon because it is overloaded or merely attempting to boost revenue.

6. Faulty surgery During surgery, a lot of things can go wrong, and if the specified standard of care is not strictly followed, the patient could get a significant injury that could be fatal. Some injuries are purely cosmetic, such scarring, which can result in long-term disfigurement. Additionally, life-threatening complications from botched surgeries can include severe infection, organ damage, and nerve damage. Additionally, it may cause circulatory problems like internal bleeding, hematomas, and potentially fatal blood clots.

7. Unneeded operations A well-informed patient is frequently consulted by doctors as they assess the advantages vs the risks of any surgery. One of the most serious types of medical negligence is to subject a patient to the hazards of a procedure that is not advised given the circumstances. According to a USA Today article, "unnecessary surgeries might account for 10% to 20% of all operations in some specialties, including a wide range of cardiac procedures, including many spinal surgeries as well as stents, angioplasty, and pacemaker implants."

8. Surgical instruments left within the patient During surgery, it is possible to leave things inside the patient, which could prevent the original health problem from mending or lead to a new, more serious illness. In the medical field, "retained objects" are objects that are used to control bleeding. These objects have historically included clamps and other medical tools. One of the "never events" in the profession is retained objects, which means there is never a justification for it. Before and after surgery, every item, down to the smallest sponge, should be counted to prevent losing things and endangering the patient's health.

9. Not monitoring the patient Medical malpractice may occur if a patient is not followed up with. Of course, it is the patient's responsibility to attend appointments, take any prescribed drugs, and adhere to doctor's orders. If the doctor or healthcare facility (such as a hospital or doctor's office) does not promptly communicate with the patient about appointments, instructions, queries about the patient's health, test results, and other information, failure to follow up may be construed as negligence. This kind of failure to follow up can happen while the patient is still in the hospital or after they have been discharged.

10. Disregarding the signs or worries of the patient It is the responsibility of healthcare providers to hear their patients out. Despite the fact that it is typical for patients to report illnesses that are not as bad as they may seem, the doctor must take patient complaints seriously and look into the complaints and symptoms. Health problems can be ruled out according to a standard of care, but only if the doctor is paying attention to the patient.

Is the Treatment You Received Malpractice

Not every mistake a doctor makes is considered malpractice. Specific requirements must be met. Your treatment must have fallen short of the level of care that another physician practising in the same specialty would have given you in your circumstance.

Read More: What is Medical Errors? How can we Avoid it