Medical Negligence - The Facts
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by: Stebee
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Word Count: 422
Less than 1% of doctors actually ever commit medical negligence but it is a serious problem that can affect anyone regardless of age, race, or gender. “Between 44,000 and 98,000 people die in hospitals annually each year due to preventable medical errors, the Institute of Medicine found,” says MedicalMalpractice.com. It is apparent that this is a serious and widespread problem. Medical negligence is committed when a healthcare professional fails to provide adequate healthcare by a purposeful act or exclusion which results in injury to the patient. Some common types of medical negligence include, but are not limited to; misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, and nursing home abuse.
Medical negligence is illegal in the United States and there are laws against it. Even though you can report medical negligence, many victims find nothing can be done about it. In the majority of malpractice cases the defense wins. Medical negligence is widespread and deadly, but there are steps you can take to prevent it. Ten things you can do to prevent medical negligence.
1. Be active and involved in your healthcare. Know what is going on and ask a lot of questions.
2. Make sure your healthcare providers are always aware of the medications you are taking.
3. If you are given a new medication, know how to take it. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
4. If you are going to a hospital, make sure the hospital you are going to has had many patients with your same healthcare needs.
5. Ask the healthcare workers who are in contact with you if they have washed their hands and are using clean instruments.
6. Do not be afraid to speak up when you are unsure of something.
7. If surgery is being done, make sure to know exactly what is going to happen. Confirm with your doctor that you are on the same page.
8. Ask your healthcare providers about the status of your condition and the results.
9. If you have a loved one in the nursing home be sure to make frequent visits and monitor your loved one’s condition.
10. Before you are admitted to a nursing home or admit a loved one there, make sure to thoroughly research the nursing home. Talk to staff and people that have had experience at that particular nursing home.
Remember, doing some of these steps may be uncomfortable but it is good preventative action against medical negligence!
About the Author
With medical negligence claims often going the way of the defence (the offending medical professional) prevention really is better than the cure so be sure to follow these 10 steps which should help you to avoid any medical accidents.
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