Tips To Avoid Hospital Malpractice

A government study several years ago stated that as many as 98,000 deaths per year are caused by hospital errors in the United States. Another study listed medical malpractice as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

There was an article in our February 2004 newsletter about ways to protect yourself from medical malpractice in general.

Here are a few new tips to help you reduce the risk of becoming a medical malpractice victim if you are hospitalized:

1. The first step in reducing the risk of hospital malpractice is to choose the right hospital. If you're having surgery, choose a hospital where that surgical procedure is done frequently. You want the doctor and all the staff to have plenty of experience with your particular medical problem.

2. Make sure that everyone who assists you checks your hospital identification bracelet every time they give you medication, food, or therapy of any kind.

3. Don't take any medication without first asking the reason it is being given to you. Also ask the doctor or nurse to double-check the drug and the dosage before you take the medicine.

4. As obvious as this suggestion may be, ask all nurses and aides to wash their hands before assisting you. Also, wash your own hands as often as possible. If you are confined to bed, get a liquid hand sanitizer you can use.

5. Check to be sure any drug allergies are noted prominently in your chart, and mention them to everyone who attends you. Also, make sure your chart shows every medication you are currently taking, including over-the-counter medicines and vitamin supplements.

6. Have a friend or family member with you as much as possible. They will be able to make notes about your treatment or diagnosis even when you're unable to do so. They will also be able to summon help if you have a serious  and urgent problem in your hospital room.

7. If you are having surgery, make sure your doctor marks the proper surgical site clearly -- and initials it. Wrong-site surgery is a surprisingly common cause of malpractice, and it is an error that you can easily avoid by taking this action.

8. Ask your doctor to specifically explain the treatment he or she wants you to follow at home. Get details. Don't assume the doctor does or doesn't want you to do anything unless the doctor tells you so. If possible, get the doctor or a nurse to write out the instructions.

9. If you should ever feel that your doctor isn't sufficiently knowledgeable or experienced, ask that another doctor consult with you. This applies to nurses and aides also.