Complications from medical errors are the 3rd most common cause of fatalities in medical care. Hospital administration, doctors and nurses have an interdependent role to ensure patient safety and swift recovery. At times things are bound to take a wrong turn and this is where society’s moral fiber is put under scrutiny.
Remedy is allowed upon wrongful actions from medical errors. This system is prone to abuse and malicious action rather than the aim of streamlining safe practice and proper health standards. Is the medical professional capacity solid enough to stand unchallenged in spite of the pitfalls? Where do we draw the line?
Causes of medical errors
Many Medical errors occur either in isolation or from a combination of circumstances. The leading factors are:
- · Personal neglect.
- · Overwhelming workload.
- · Sleep deprivation.
- · Inexperience.
- · Impact of adverse drugs.
Categories of medical errors
- · Administration errors
These contribute close to a 1/3 of the total mistakes. The laid down procedures are at times severed at the execution stage. This may stem from a communication barrier or simply a poor organizational system flow.
- · Doctor errors
These fall under a sensitive area where most fatalities occur. Legal redress is most likely to be pursued.
- · Nurses blunder
Nurse’s mistakes come about especially when administering medication. Orientation is the most common basis where the new sign up simply isn’t skilled enough yet.
Remedy for medical errors
1) Full disclosure
Standard procedure requires a comprehensive report on the occurrences leading to the medical errors. The incident should then be revealed to the patient’s family as it occurred. This reduces any grey areas and also provides grounds for major decision making as to the next course of action.
2) Apologies
The involved practitioners have a moral obligation to make a candid plea to the affected patient or their family once they have come to terms with the situation. It is a show of goodwill.
Acting in this manner has resulted in amicable results.
3) Disciplinary action
The gravity of the situation may compel the hospital administration or the regulatory body to take measures stipulated in the respective code of conduct. Courses of action may include,
- · Suspension.
- · Paying fines.
- · Deregulation.
- · Filed Caution report.
4) Lawsuits.
The case can be brought to the court to determine the responsibility and guilt. Settlements can be awarded to deserving cases.
Medical errors prevention
Every practitioner has the responsibility to counter check the diagnosis and special care instruction to ensure that they are proper. This will greatly reduce medical errors.
It is inhuman to punish a professional who is already apologetic for the events and indeed was in a situation where little could be done. Underground reporting is bound to take root when the practitioner fears the outcome from accidental happenings.
Punishing medical errors does not take way the pain or harm. It also does not prevent the occurrence of other similar incidents in the future. The health care givers should regularly review the procedures, learn the risk factors and consequently make the relevant adjustments to their systems.
Only outright risky disregard of laid down practice should be pursued.