Avoiding doctors errors

A typical visit to a doctor in New York consists of reviewing the patient's medical records and continuation of treatment. It is important to disclose any pertinent information about the family history. Withholding this type of information may lead to improper diagnosis, incorrect prescriptions and inappropriate treatment. It is also vital to ask questions and become better educated about the entire process.

There are several things the patient should be aware of when being treated for various medical conditions. If scheduled for an elective surgery, it is better to have it performed early in the week as typically all required staff including doctors and support crew are there to monitor the procedure and progress. If the surgery is scheduled for a late Friday afternoon, the critical post-op care occurs during the night and is monitored by the covering physicians who may not know the patient's history. Higher mortality rates have been noted during the weekends.

Another vital data pertains to the time of the year. The number of fatal medical errors increases during the month of July when new residents join the hospital program and begin taking care of patients while learning their new craft. Although they are supervised by an attending doctor, they are more prone to make mistakes and prescribe improper medication. Finally, every medical treatment carries emotional, physical and financial costs. It also comes with certain risks such as side-effects or allergic reactions. It is essential to learn how any prescribed treatment can improve the patient's life and cure any existing conditions.

Doctor errors often happen unknowingly. However, the patients are the ones who suffer the consequences of those mistakes. A medical malpractice lawyer may be able to help with the impact by thoroughly reviewing all documented events and evidence and suggesting an appropriate course of action.

Source: Care2, "5 Things Your Doctor Won’t Tell You Unless You Ask ", Ann Pietrangelo, August 04, 2014