Better Communication Could Prevent Ohio Medical Errors
Medical errors occur for a variety of reasons, but several studies and reports indicate that many medical errors are caused by poor communication. The failure of the doctor to listen to the patient or to carefully explain follow-up treatment to other medical staff often leads to preventable and serious medical errors.
In a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, researchers found that most medical errors were set in motion by communication errors between doctors, and between doctors and patients. According to this study, 47 of the 75 incidents reported began with errors in communication. Furthermore, the study indicated that the majority of the errors in communication could have been prevented by using computers or other electronic systems.
Other studies indicate that the communication gap between doctors and patients is vast. In a study that appeared on the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog, only 57 percent of patients knew their diagnosis and only 58 percent thought their doctors explained things in a way they understood. Patients have reported that they felt that doctors were hurried, unavailable, and disregarded either the patient's or the family's values and perspectives.
Patients Feel the Pain of Poor Communication
Medical malpractice has financial costs, but there are emotional and psychological costs as well. Medical errors harm the patient and impact the patient's family.
If improved communication between a doctor and patient, or between a doctor and other medical personnel, could lessen the frequency of misdiagnosis, prevent a patient from receiving the wrong medication, or stop any other medical error, then everyone involved in the medical system has a duty to communicate better and more frequently. In particular, policies and procedures need to be established and utilized to ensure that doctors communicate effectively with patients and other staff.
As healthcare attorneys, Mishkind Law Firm has extensive experience in handling and litigating medical error cases that could have and should have been avoided if better communication had taken place. The extra time that doctors need to take to explain their diagnosis and the treatment recommended could potentially save a life and avoid a medical malpractice claim.
If you or a family member have been harmed by a medical error or mistake, contact an experienced Ohio medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your legal options.
