Medical malpractice among health professions: What it is and how to protect yourself
Do you know there are several acts of medical malpractice among health professionals that can affect them as well as you as a patient? Know what they are and what you must do as you read this post.
Medical malpractice is a legal term that describes when a healthcare professional or medical institution fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent practitioner would have provided in similar circumstances, and that failure results in injury or death to the patient.
What Are The Types Of Medical Malpractice?
- Misdiagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare professional incorrectly diagnoses a patient’s condition. Misdiagnosis can lead to delays in treatment, which can worsen the patient’s condition.
- Delayed diagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare professional correctly diagnoses a patient’s condition but delays in providing treatment. Delayed diagnosis can also lead to a worsening of the patient’s condition.
- Failure to diagnose: This occurs when a healthcare professional fails to diagnose a patient’s condition altogether. Failure to diagnose can lead to serious complications, including death.
- Failure to order or interpret tests properly: This occurs when a healthcare professional fails to order the appropriate tests for a patient or fails to interpret the results of tests correctly. Failure to order or interpret tests properly can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
- Surgical errors: This occurs when a surgeon makes a mistake during surgery. Surgical errors can include things like cutting the wrong organ or nerve, leaving a foreign object in the patient’s body, or causing an infection.
- Medication errors: This occurs when a healthcare professional makes a mistake with a patient’s medication. Medication errors can include things like giving the patient the wrong medication, giving the patient the wrong dosage, or failing to monitor the patient for side effects.
- Anesthesia errors: This occurs when an anesthesiologist makes a mistake with a patient’s anesthesia. Anesthesia errors can lead to things like the patient waking up during surgery, the patient’s heart-stopping, or the patient’s brain being damaged.
- Nursing home abuse: This occurs when a nursing home employee neglects or abuses a patient. Nursing home abuse can lead to things like bedsores, malnutrition, and dehydration.
Medical malpractice can have a devastating impact on patients and their families. It can lead to serious injuries, permanent disability, and even death. It can also cause financial hardship, as patients may have to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to their injury.
Implications of medical malpractice in the medical profession
Medical malpractice can have a number of implications for the medical profession. It can lead to:
- Increased costs: Medical malpractice lawsuits can be very costly for healthcare providers and medical institutions. This can lead to higher healthcare costs for patients.
- Defensive medicine: Healthcare providers may practice defensive medicine in order to reduce their risk of being sued. This can involve ordering unnecessary tests or procedures, which can increase the cost of healthcare and lead to patient harm.
- Physician burnout: Medical malpractice lawsuits can be very stressful for healthcare providers. This can lead to physician burnout, which can have a negative impact on the quality of patient care.
- Reduced access to care: Healthcare providers may be less likely to practice in high-risk areas, such as obstetrics and neurosurgery, due to the fear of being sued. This can lead to reduced access to care for patients.
How to Prevent Medical Malpractice
There are a number of things that healthcare providers and medical institutions can do to prevent medical malpractice, including:
- Following evidence-based guidelines: Healthcare providers should follow evidence-based guidelines when making decisions about patient care. This can help to reduce the risk of mistakes.
- Communicating effectively: Healthcare providers should communicate effectively with each other and with their patients. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that any potential problems are identified early on.
- Using technology: Healthcare providers can use technology to help them avoid mistakes. For example, they can use electronic health records to keep track of patient information and to order and interpret tests.
- Creating a culture of safety: Healthcare institutions should create a culture of safety where healthcare providers feel comfortable reporting mistakes and near misses. This can help to identify and address potential problems before they lead to patient harm.
Medical malpractice can have a devastating impact on patients and their families. It can lead to serious injuries, permanent disability, and even death. It can also cause financial hardship, as patients may have to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to their injury.
If you believe that you have been the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to take action. You should contact a medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your case. A lawyer can help you to determine whether you have a valid claim and can help you to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Tips for protecting yourself as a patient
- Be informed about your treatment. Ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis, treatment options, and risks.
- Get everything in writing. Get your doctor’s orders and other important information in writing.
- Keep a record of your medical care. Keep track of your appointments, symptoms, and medications.
- Be your own advocate. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have concerns about your care.
- If you have been injured, seek medical attention immediately.
- Choose your healthcare providers carefully. Do your research and choose providers who are qualified and experienced.
- Make sure your providers are communicating with each other. If you see multiple providers, make sure they are all communicating with each other about your care.
- Get a second opinion if you are unsure about your diagnosis or treatment plan.
- Be aware of the risks of your treatment. Ask your doctor about the potential risks and benefits of any treatment before you agree to it.
READ: Boil and drink Pineapple crown (leaves) to treat these health conditions
Medical malpractice is a serious problem, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By being informed about your treatment, choosing your healthcare providers carefully, and being your own advocate, you can reduce your risk of being the victim of medical malpractice.
Send Stories | Social Media | Disclaimer
Send Stories and Articles for publication to [email protected]
We Are Active On Social Media
WhatsApp Channel: JOIN HERE
2024 BECE and WASSCE Channel - JOIN HERE
Facebook: JOIN HERE
Telegram: JOIN HERE
Twitter: FOLLOW US HERE
Instagram: FOLLOW US HERE
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post on Ghana Education News is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.