Reporting medical errors seems to be at a point where no one understands in actuality the extent of the truth being told. Thus creating an atmosphere of distrust between patient and doctor, which needs to be eliminated. Medical errors can be reported in several different ways. One way is by disclosure and another is by voluntary reporting. Disclosure is an act of telling a fact or secret know. However, disclosures can be evaluated by levels, full disclosure where doctor tells the patient everything there is to know about the error and the effect it can have on them. Then, partial disclosure were only part of the truth is told and maybe the doctor leaves out the consequences of the error to the person in the future and no disclosure. …show more content…
I will and am comfortable enough to report such medical errors as a patient or as a family member of a patient. I believe that safety procedures, protocols and even lapses in judgement can be a cause for a medical mistake, but for that mistake to cause an adverse or dire reaction for a patient without implementing a correctional procedure, I do not agree with. For example (and the is by far the least, but still made me extremely ill), I have Celiac disease. When you are admitted to the hospital, the same hospital that diagnosed you two years prior, you expect them to understand what disease you have and your reactions to in my case gluten. I was admitted with extremely high liver enzymes and vomiting bile. I am very strict with my diet gluten makes me very ill, very quickly. The doctors prescribed a medication containing gluten, the food from cafeteria was contaminated with gluten (unless it was raw fruit, which i wasn’t allowed). I tried explaining why I was getting more symptoms and getting sicker, when finally I got a nurse that took the time to read my chart to me. I was scanned in that I had Celiac not highlighted anywhere, once they changed medication and corrected foods, original symptoms were the only ones left. Which left me with a bile duct obstruction and four weeks in the hospital. If they had listed to me, chart had been correctly noted the obstruction could have been found and fixed within the first week. Their first mistake was not checking my chart properly when I told them I had Celiac, second mistake was hospital not offering dietary meals to cover gluten free
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported in 1999 that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die each year in the United States due to a preventable medical error. A report written by the National Quality Forum (NQF) found that over a decade after the IOM report the prevalence of medical errors remains very high (2010). In fact a study done by the Hearst Corporation found that the number of deaths due to medical error and post surgical infections has increased since the IOM first highlighted the problem and recommended actions to reduce the number of events (Dyess, 2009).
...iately discovered and the patient was fine, but had there been proper communication between the healthcare staff, such blunders could have been avoided altogether (Dolanksy, 2013).
Hospital medical errors can involve medicines (e.g., wrong drug, wrong dose, bad combination), an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis, equipment malfunction, surgical mistakes, or laboratory errors. High medical error rates with serious consequences occurs in intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments; but, serious errors that harmed patients may have prevented or minimized. Understand the nature of the error
According to Poorolajal, medical errors occur when health care providers choose inappropriate methods of care or improperly execute an appropriate method of care (Poorolajal, et al. para 5 -10), which could potentially lead to loss of life and severe or permanent trauma to the victim. Valiani et al. argues, “Committing an error is part of the human nature” (540). Valiani et al. insist that no health care practitioner is immune to committing an error event if they demonstrate mastery of their skills (540). However, error in health care systems is dependent on many causes and factors. Management of such factors is essential to reducing the occurrence of errors in a health care system. Therefore, what strategies can medical practitioners implement to reduce medical errors? Medical practitioners can implement strategies such as communication, verification, and eliminating extended work shifts. These strategies are most effective because they help medical providers fulfill their full potential in doing their job in the most effective
A few documented cases can be found in the literature that directly looks at the complex issue of medical error reporting. For example, Cleary & Duke, (2017) research demonstrates the nexus of ethical issues present in the case of Bundaberg Base Hospital (BBH) in Australia. In 2004, BBH which is a 136-bed hospital that provides emergency medicine, general medicine, general, to a population of 87,933 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. Director of Surgery, Dr. Jayant Patel, was employed at BBH April 2003 and April 2005, in which time saw 1457 patients, performed approximately 1000 operations, and 400 endoscopic procedures. From May 2003 until April 2005, nurses from several hospital departments reported and raised concerns about Patel's competence. Sighting evidence of post-operative complications, lack of infection control measures, and general decision-making process to perform complex surgeries instead of transferring patients to a more equipped hospitals and specialists. Nurses perused ever possible option available to them for reporting the errors in this situation continually from May 2003 through April 2005 (Cleary & Duke, 2017). The case represents nurses using verbal and written complaints, incident
The serrated edge of a blade cuts deeply into the unsuspecting victim. She lay unconsciousness while blood flowed into her abdomen. This was not part of the plan however. Unable to feel anything she gained consciousness and began to feel a strong pain in her stomach. She was unaware of the lethal puncture that was killing her with every breath she took. While she lay there, her stomach began to expand and her blood pressure plummeted. Just fourteen hours after the artery in Andrea’s spine was pierced, she died from internal bleeding.(hall) Got confused here While imagining Andrea Green’s situation did you envision a hospital? Oddly enough this was in a hospital, and the lethal laceration was a mistake made by English surgeon
For most people, medical facilities are considered to be safe and healing centers, where people visit to improve their wellbeing. But it is very unfortunate that lot deaths are caused by errors committed by medical teams in this facilities. Every year, almost 144000 people die as a result of medical errors (The Leapfrog Group2015), which also took the life of an eighteen months old Josie in 2001 at John Hopkins Hospital. Josie’s death is very painful and sad as it is a result of avoidable medical errors. Josie’s death would have been prevented if she was provided with adequate care and close attention while she was exhibiting some changes in her behavior. Also, listening to the concerned mother who knows her daughter better could have also help prevent Josie’s death. and likewise, effective communication among the care providers would have made a great difference in the outcome of Josie’s care.
However, the reasons regarding these errors can be improved the truth is that errors do occur, and that is tragic although solutions can be made. Some factors contributing to these errors include polypharmacy, constant interruptions while medication preparation or administration is being conducted, along with under reporting incident slips which lead to future errors of the same nature since correction did not occur (Anderson, 2011). The nurse has a responsibility to progress improvements in risks that could impact patient safety by reporting any and all ineffective protocol that has been applied. However, this may not be completely followed through by the nurse due to fear of disciplinary action, guilt, liability of lawsuits, along with having lack of recognizing a medication error or an anonymous error-reporting system (Anderson, 2011). As many more safety and quality problems have surfaced over time some improvements have been created to secure patient safety, yet these improvements are also constant analysis to fine tune any future breaks in the
In Chapter 9, Author discusses the effect and boundaries of self-disclosure in healthcare communications. Self-disclosure by healthcare provider classifies as unavoidable, accidental or purposeful. It can also be categorized as present experience disclosure or historic disclosure. Based on intent and level of intimacy it can be classified as Meta disclosures, irresponsible or accidental disclosures, disclosure in service of aggression or manipulation, and Competitive or attention getting disclosures. Patient’s disclosure helps to conduct assessment and provide care. Jourard (1971) studied the therapeutic value of self-disclosure in healthcare setting.
Medical errors are serious public health problem that threatens patients safety, these errors were considered to be the price for modern diagnosis and therapy. But over the ensuring decades, medical errors have currently are the third leading causes of death in the united States.
Keeping patients safe is essential in today’s health care system, but patient safety events that violate that safety are increasing each year. It was only recently, that the focus on patient safety was reinforced by a report prepared by Institute of medicine (IOM) entitled ” To err is human, building a safer health system”(Wakefield & Iliffe,2002).This report found that approx-imately 44,000 to 98,000 deaths occur each year due to medical errors and that the majority was preventable. Deaths due to medical errors exceed deaths due to many other causes such as like HIV infections, breast cancer and even traffic accidents (Wakefield & Iliffe, 2002). After this IOM reports, President Clinton established quality interagency coordination task force with the help of government agencies. These government agencies are responsible for making health pol-icies regarding patient safety to which every HCO must follow (Schulman & Kim, 2000).
Medical errors can happen in the healthcare system such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, patients’ homes and anywhere in the healthcare system where patients are being treated. These errors consist of diagnostic, treatment, medicine, surgical, equipment calibration, and lab report error. Furthermore, communication problems between doctors and patients, miscommunication among healthcare staff and complex health care systems are playing important role in medical errors. We need to look for a solution which starts changes from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, patients, hospitals, and government agencies. In this paper I will discuss how does the problem of medical errors affect our healthcare delivery system? Also how can these medical errors be prevented and reduced?
According to Hughes and Beglen (2008), “A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer” (p. 398). As stated above, medication errors can lead to patient harm, however, this type of errors are preventable. As an example, I would like to share a personal experience related to medication errors. A few months ago, one of my family members had a bad experience with one of his child’s, when the wrong dosage of medication was prescribed. After finishing a school day, my sister in law noticed that one of my nieces was not feeling well and decided to take her to her regular pediatrician. When my sister in law and my niece arrive at their doctor’s office, a nurse told them that the doctor was out of town,
Each day, people are admitted into hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings in hope for a cure or treatment for their illness. During these times, patients are usually at their most vulnerable state and need the best care possible from healthcare providers. Some patients end up recovering after several dreadful days or even months in hospital care, while others do not get another chance at life and take their last breath on a hospital bed. What is shocking here is that patients are not only losing their lives because of their bodies not having the strength to combat illnesses, but also because of mistakes made on behalf of medical staff members. Medical errors in places like hospitals, dental offices, and even doctors offices account
Medical doctors should be able to admit their errors. Nobody is close to perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. Whether they are on a small scale or a big scale, they happen every day. This is true for doctors as well. So why do we not allow doctors to admit their mistakes? Why is the pressure of making mistakes higher on doctors versus the rest of us? Doctors should be able to admit their mistakes without having the fear of backlash and shame because mistakes are made in every profession.