Even with the best medical staff and technology, hospitals and clinics still make mistakes. In fact, 1 in 10 patients will suffer harm due to unsafe care and mistakes. In less developed countries, these figures are even worse, with 4 out of 100 patients dying due to errors.
Besides causing public uproar, these cases deteriorate trust in healthcare institutions. Even if a patient survives, the person might be permanently emotionally scarred by the experience. The only good thing about these medical errors is that many of them are preventable. Through cooperation between doctors and patients, they can be significantly reduced, increasing the quality of medical care.
What Are Medical Errors?
Medical errors include various omissions, mistakes, and failures to deliver appropriate care. They can occur at any point of medical procedure, whether we’re talking about the initial exam, tests, procedure, or drug use. These errors commonly occur due to miscommunication, technological issues, lack of expertise, or system flaws.
Here are all the medical errors and what they entail:
- Communication Errors: Caused by poor communication between different entities involved in the medical treatment (most commonly the doctor and the patient).
- Diagnostic Errors: The majority of errors are caused by diagnostic mistakes. By treating the wrong condition, doctors may cause the disease to progress and cause irreparable damage.
- Drug Errors: The medical professional might recommend the wrong drugs for a particular case. Alternatively, medication errors can be caused by unexpected interactions and incorrect dosage.
- Surgical Errors: Perhaps the most damaging category is the surgical errors. These can cause irreparable, immediate damage to your organs. They are caused by complications, wrong-site surgery, and retained instruments.
- Patient Misidentification: Although this is one of the less common issues, patient misidentification may cause a doctor or nurse to administer treatment to the wrong person.
- Hospital Errors: Hospital errors are less common in the developed world, but they might still occur. Due to poor sterilization or hygiene, patients might suffer infection during their stay.
- Unsafe Transfusions: During transfusions, nurses and technicians might use the wrong blood group or make other mistakes. Patients might also cause issues by tampering with the tubing, chamber, or piercer.
If you’re facing a complex procedure or if you have any other uncertainties, you should hire a patient advocate. By working with the right person, you can prevent common issues and maximize your outcomes.
7 Ways to Reduce Risks
These are some of the precautionary measures you can take to avoid negative results:
1. Actively Participate
Patients who are actively involved in exams, tests, and treatments are less likely to suffer harm. Get acquainted with the procedure, alternative treatments, the nature of the disease, and the medication you’re given.
If you’re uncertain about something, you can ask the doctor for additional clarification. Share your medical history prior to any procedure so that the medical staff can make better decisions. Most importantly, avoid receiving care if anything seems off.
2. Monitor Drugs
Although a licensed medical professional knows much better about drugs and their potential interactions, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t monitor the administration. First and foremost, you should keep track of prescriptions corroborating your name, dosage, and purpose of use.
You should also notify your GP about other drugs, supplements, and substances that you’re currently using and which might interfere with the treatment. Ask the medical professional about potential side effects and how to behave if something bad were to happen.
3. Prioritize Communication
As mentioned, many medical errors occur due to poor communication between a patient and a doctor. Take your time talking to the doctor and repeat everything that has been said during your appointments. If necessary, you can even call the person once you get home and start therapy.
If necessary, you can also bring a family member to help you out. In the worst-case scenario, they can provide another set of ears to memorize the instructions. Write down everything, keep your test results, and make additional appointments if there’s any issue.
4. Seek a Second Opinion
Even if everything seems on point, you shouldn’t be reluctant to seek a second opinion, especially if you’re facing a tough diagnosis. While a second doctor might not change the initial predictions, they might offer alternative treatments. The right professional might even spot errors that their colleague overlooked.
Having a second opinion gives you peace of mind. You’ll be able to focus on the treatment without wondering if the doctor made a mistake or if you should try something different.
5. Confirm the Process
One of the best ways to prevent serious errors is to inform the medical staff of your diagnosis and the expected surgery. For example, you can identify yourself, tell them more about when and what procedure you need to perform, and give them the surgeon’s name.
This is a simple yet effective check that would prevent patient misidentification and other issues caused by hospital scheduling.
6. Avoid Infections
Suffering an infection in a hospital or clinic is much more common than most people realize. While you can’t control others’ cleanliness, you can help prevent the spread of disease by practicing good hygiene yourself.
Wash your hands, especially after touching something that you might perceive as dirty. In fact, we recommend you be extra cautious compared to your regular routine.
7. Learn Your Rights
There are several incredible laws that protect patients’ rights. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of this legislation. For example, patients have the right to informed consent and can refuse proposed treatments.
Knowing what you can and can’t do helps you choose a procedure that aligns with your beliefs and goals. If you’re not sure about the extent of your rights, ask a patient advocate or another trustworthy medical professional for assistance.
Minimizing Medical Errors
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to rush anything. Even if you’re suffering from a debilitating condition, it is much better to take your time understanding the problem and consulting another expert. Only then can you ensure the best possible outcomes and speedy recovery.
