When you go to the doctor to get something checked out, you rightfully expect a correct and timely diagnosis of your condition. Unfortunately, doctors can often make a misdiagnosis or miss the symptoms of a serious disease completely. Any sort of a delay in getting a correct diagnosis can put you in a terrible position. Over time, cancer, for example, can metastasize, worsening your chances of making a complete recovery.
Industry admits patients safety barriers are blocking progress
If knowledge is indeed power, then the healthcare industry now has more power within its grasp to inspire meaningful change. A recently released study commissioned by insurance giant American International Group (AIG) indicates that healthcare administrators are well aware that certain patient safety barriers are blocking cultural progress on this issue.
Medical errors and the value of physician apologies: Part II
Earlier this week, we began a discussion about disclosures of medical mistakes and subsequent apologies made by physicians. Both are currently rare in the medical field. Thankfully, the culture of medicine is beginning to change and this code of silence is starting to lift.
Medical errors and the value of physician apologies: Part I
Last month, we asked a question that has been posed countless times by patients around the country: why do doctors so seldom apologize to patients when they have made a medical error? The pessimistic answer is that many doctors are worried that an apology will be viewed as an admission of guilt and the patient will try to use their own words against them in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Why won't doctors apologize when they make mistakes?
We are taught as children to apologize when we make mistakes that harm someone. Unfortunately, not all adults follow the lessons they were taught before they grew up. In particular, doctors in various states fail to apologize for making egregious mistakes out of fear that in doing so, they will fuel a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Can surgeons improve patient safety by playing video games?
Many of today’s young surgeons grew up in the 1980s. They were almost certainly scolded at some point for playing too many video games and not reading enough books. However, now that they are surgeons it may be video games and not books that will help them reduce rates of surgical errors. A recently released study indicates that certain video games can provide more beneficial training for laparoscopic surgery than simulators can. In addition, improved training inspires reduced error rates.
Prominent politician has risky weight loss surgery with risky doc
Over the past decade or so, bariatric (weight loss) surgery has become one of the most popular elective surgeries in the Country. An increasing number of overweight and obese individuals in Ohio and around the country have turned to bariatric surgery as a way to shed weight, get fit and control weight-related medical conditions such as high blood pressure and type II diabetes.
Diagnostic errors are among the most frequent medical mistakes
There are many things that can go wrong during the process of delivering healthcare. The types of medical malpractice that often make the news are egregious errors such as wrong-site surgery or medication errors. But far more prevalent (and often far more harmful) are diagnostic errors.
Med mal payouts make up only a tiny fraction of healthcare costs
Ohio is one of many states to have adopted "tort reform" measures in recent years. In most cases, states have passed laws putting caps on the amount of money a plaintiff can collect in damages. Some states have gone so far as to amend their state constitutions to make it much harder to sue for personal injury, medical malpractice or other harms.
Patient ID photos may help to reduce error rates
Drivers’ licenses serve many purposes. In addition to proving that one has been deemed fit by the state to operate a vehicle, they serve to identify adult Americans who have been involved in accidents, who wish to purchase certain substances and who want to travel by airplane. Identification measures help to ensure that Americans in a variety of situations remain safe and behave legally.
