We often think of doctors and medical professionals as superheroes, and in some ways, they are. After all, they save thousands of lives every single day. However, medical professionals are not superheroes, they are only human. What this means is that they can get tired and irritable, they can lose focus and they can make mistakes and errors in judgment.  Some studies suggest that up to 1 in 10 doctors will develop a substance addiction at some point in their careers. Doctors in such a situation need to reach out for help, but they often do not. In fact, they may continue to practice, whic ..read more

You can experience negligence in any department of a hospital. A mistake can happen before or after you are treated, resulting in an injury. This is mainly referred to as administrative malpractice. So, how can it happen? Before interacting with a doctor Receptionists in hospitals have crucial duties. They collect patient information, answer calls from patients, help patients complete forms and documentation, schedule appointments and remind patients and doctors of the appointments, update patient records and so on.  If a receptionist makes a mistake while performing any of these duties ..read more

Patients sometimes feel like their doctor is ignoring them or not taking their symptoms seriously enough. They generally just feel dismissed or they may even think that the doctor doesn’t believe them. This is a significant problem because it can lead to a delayed diagnosis. But if you feel like your doctor isn’t really listening to you or taking your symptoms seriously, how can you change the situation? Here are a few tips that may help.  Ask questions To start with, ask your doctor follow-up questions. If they dismiss a certain symptom, for example, ask them what to do if that symptom g ..read more

Patients undergoing medical treatments rely on the expertise of their physicians. A doctor can connect certain symptoms with specific health challenges. They can also order testing that can either rule out or confirm the presence of specific medical issues. For example, imaging tests could identify early cancer growth or signs of a brain injury, while laboratory testing could affirm the presence of specific types of viruses or bacteria in someone’s body. Whenever possible, doctors should seek an affirmative diagnosis. Doctors reach an affirmative diagnosis when they conclusively establish the ..read more

Different mistakes can happen in an operation room (OR), including wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-patient surgery. These mistakes should never occur, yet they do. Here is what to know about them: Wrong-site surgery Wrong-site surgery is when a surgeon operates on the incorrect part of the body, such as operating on the wrong level of the spine.  This mistake also involves performing surgery on the wrong side, which is common with body parts that are on both sides, for example, when a surgeon removes the right kidney instead of the left one. Wrong-procedure surgery Some cases of pat ..read more

The possibility of a patient suffering an injury in a healthcare setting is one of the most concerning matters. If you experience this, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim But who should you take legal action against? The healthcare provider You can hold the healthcare professional who served you liable for your injuries. This can be the physician, nurse, pharmacist, anesthesiologist and so on. If you can prove their actions caused your injuries, you can hold them responsible. The hospital Some physicians who treat you in hospitals are independent contractors. This means th ..read more

A hospital’s emergency room is where people go when they require immediate medical care. They cannot wait for an appointment with their primary care physician because their condition puts them at immediate risk. They have pain or other concern symptoms that they need to address and may require admission to the hospital and emergency treatment.  Unfortunately, those who go to the emergency room for care don’t always receive the support they deserve. Millions of people experience diagnostic errors in emergency rooms every year. What causes the high error rate in emergency rooms?  Hospi ..read more

“Never events” in medicine refer to a category of entirely preventable mistakes – the kind of mistakes that are so serious that they can kill or leave patients with permanent injuries. The term “never event” is used to emphasize the fact that proper adherence to established safety protocols makes them extremely avoidable. When safety rules are followed, certain mistakes simply don’t happen. What sort of medical mistakes are never events? Exactly what might constitute a “never event” may vary according to location and circumstances, but here are some examples: Surgery on the wrong body part Sur ..read more

When you consider the symptoms of a heart attack, what is the first thing you think of? Odds are good that you think of chest pain. This is one of the most common symptoms, and it’s what a lot of people – and doctors – are looking for. But this focus can cause problems. Men do report chest pain frequently, but some studies have found that women who have heart attacks will report other symptoms first. These may not be quite as obvious. This can lead to a misdiagnosis where the doctor believes that the woman has another condition, which could cause significant or even fatal harm. What symptoms d ..read more

Surgery is dangerous for a variety of reasons. Some people have bad reactions to anesthesia. Any cut in the body increases someone’s risk of infection. People can have unusual side effects or struggle to physically heal from surgery. There is also the possibility that medical professionals could make a mistake during a routine operation. One of the most common and alarming surgical errors involves a medical professional leaving foreign objects behind in a patient. How often do surgeons leave scalpels, gauze or other tools behind inside a patient after surgery? There are dozens of such mistakes ..read more