In the United States we tend to give the practice of medicine a great
degree of value and respect, and with good reason. Doctors have the
ability to help us feel better, stay better, and prevent future
illness. Sometimes however, we take our faith in the medical
profession a bit too far; believing that doctors do not make
mistakes; that they know everything and can fix anything. We often
forget that doctor mistakes can and do happen. Most doctor mistakes
are not intentional, but many are preventable.
Doctor mistakes are the product of medical malpractice when a
physician fails to exercise the level of care, skill and prudence
necessary to prevent patient injury. While we as a society tend to
exonerate medical professionals, doctors must be held to a higher
standard of accountability than other professionals because doctor
mistakes carry far more serious consequences. Inexperienced,
overworked, under-qualified, and careless physicians put the lives
and safety of their patients on the line when doctor mistakes are
made.
In a shocking survey recently released, one news source discovered
that nearly 80 percent of all doctors and 50 percent of the nurses
surveyed has witnessed a colleague make a mistake or take a
dangerous short cut in the course of their professional
responsibilities. Of those respondents, only ten percent reported
the medical malpractice to a superior. In an environment like this,
patients are left to fend for themselves and suffer the devastating
financial, emotional, and physical consequences of doctor mistakes.
There are several types of doctor mistakes that are common in
medical malpractice cases. Failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis of a
patient's condition are common doctor mistakes that have the
potential to cause serious harm and suffering. Diagnosis-related
doctor mistakes are more common with some conditions, such as
infant, rare, asymptomatic, digestive, and emotional conditions.
Doctor mistakes in diagnosing cancer can also prove extremely
injurious to a patient's health.
Doctor mistakes may involve surgical errors. Surgical errors that
have the potential to result in serious patient injury include: poor
surgical planning, use of unsanitary instruments, punctures or
lacerations to surrounding organs, leaving sponges and instruments
in a patient, anesthesia mistakes, wrong site surgery, and more.
Medication errors may also be injurious doctor mistakes. Medication
errors may be caused by illegible doctor handwriting, or the failure
of the doctor to take allergies and concurrent medications into
account when prescribing a medication. Doctor mistakes may involve
administrating an unsafe and/or defective medication.
Doctor mistakes can occur any time a physician fails to follow
proper protocol; to act with care, skill and prudence; and or to
protect patients from additional harm. If you or a loved one has
suffered illness or injury as a result of doctor mistakes, you may
wish to learn more about your legal rights and options. To learn
more about doctor mistakes, please contact us to speak with a
qualified and experienced medical malpractice attorney in your area.
Contact us by
Email or call us today at (401) 788-0600 to speak with a
someone from our firm..
|