All medical professionals are human. They become tired, frustrated, and even angry, sometimes while on the job. Although these feelings are understandable, it is wholly unacceptable when they interfere with an individual’s medical care. All too often, fatigued, inattentive, and reckless doctors and nurses fail to live up to the standard of care they owe to their patients, resulting in serious harm and death. When this happens, a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed in hopes of recovering compensation for damages such as lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
Yet, winning on one of these claims isn’t easy. To strengthen one’s case, a victim needs to understand how medical professionals try to avoid medical malpractice. They do this by adhering to a reasonable standard of care. This post will provide guidance as to where to look for evidence that the standard of care may have been breached, which can support a malpractice claim.
One way reasonable medical professionals act is by communicating with their patients. If a doctor fails to do this, then he or she may fail to obtain important medical history, obtain consent for a procedure, or adequately explain a course of treatment. Another way doctors and nurses generally provide reasonable care is by double-checking their records with those in any kind of electronic system. When entering an order into an electronic system, it can be easy to make mistakes like entering the wrong medication to be administered or the wrong dosage. These seemingly minor slipups can leave patients with a worsened medical condition, the onset of new harm, and, in some instances, death.
Massachusetts residents who believe they have been the victim of medical malpractice can consider obtaining hospital records and witness testimony to see if their healthcare provider adhered to these safeguards. If the evidence indicates that they did not, then a victim’s claim for compensation may be made stronger.
Source: fiercehealthcare.com, “3 ways to avoid a medical malpractice lawsuit,” Joanne Finnegan, June 20, 2017
