Wrong Site –Wrong Patient Errors Exist Despite Protocols
A recent study based on Colorado physicians indicates that despite the issuance of a “Universal Protocol” requiring clinicians to perform certain safeguarding measures, “wrong site” surgeries and “wrong-patient” medical errors continue.
As California medical malpractice attorneys we see too many “preventable” mistakes occurring throughout hospitals. More must be done to ensure that when patients seek treatment at a hospital, they don’t leave having suffering greater injury or harm.
Although not every unfavorable outcome following medical treatment constitutes medical malpractice, if you have concerns about your treatment consider the following:
• Is my condition significantly worse now than before treatment?
• Are my symptoms commonly associated with the treatment I received?
• Is the doctor able to give a satisfactory explanation for my symptoms?
Based on the Colorado study, researchers concluded:
• The main causes of wrong-patient procedures were errors in diagnosis and communication errors.
• The main causes of wrong-site procedure were errors in judgment and failure to perform a ‘time out’ prior to surgery.
• The largest single factor contributing to the medical mistakes is the inadequate planning of procedures.
The bottom line as noted by researchers, more must be done to achieve a “zero-tolerance philosophy for these preventable incidents.”
For more information, or if you believe you may have been harmed by medical malpractice, contact Bostwick, Peterson & Mitchell, LLP, dedicated to helping those injured by medical negligence.
