Medical malpractice is an issue of grave concern that demands rigorous examination and inspection. It is now one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and Ohio is not immune to this serious problem. Professional misconduct and negligence can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. Healthcare professionals are not the only parties liable. In fact, the healthcare system has continued to prioritize profit over quality patient care. Below are some of the reasons medical malpractice is still so prevalent.
Human error and professional negligence
Doctors and registered nurses must undergo extensive training and accumulate a breadth of experience before receiving their licenses. Their job demands a medical standard of care. The problem is because they are human, they also make mistakes.
When they fail to provide their patients with that standard, they can make surgical, procedural, medication, and diagnostic errors. If a patient dies or suffers because the medical professional deviated from the medical standard, the patient or their surviving loved ones can pursue legal action.
Systemic and financial problems
Healthcare institutions and facilities cut corners to lessen costs and save money: inadequate staffing and poor training result in high workloads and insufficient safety protocols. Consequently, the overworked, undertrained and underpaid staff provide subpar-quality patient care. Furthermore, the healthcare facility may also incentivize more economical healthcare methods, meaning they could intentionally limit necessary medical tests and attention. A single overlooked medical examination could be pivotal in allowing a patient to receive the proper treatment.
Lack of initiative and fear of lawsuits
Medicine is an ever-evolving field of practice, and it is incredibly complex, which is why medical professionals need to study and train for so long. But they must also continue reading journals and looking for ways to improve to give their patients the best care available. Instead, they may stick to traditional, outdated methods.
Because they want to avoid lawsuits, they order unnecessary tests and procedures that can expose patients to preventable harm. New symptoms and illnesses continue to manifest in the world, and doctors should keep themselves informed.
Today, only people with money or influence can get the best quality of care. But that should not be the case. Every patient deserves the same care any other reasonable doctor or hospital can provide under the same circumstances. Once a patient does not receive that standard, they should know legal options are available, and they do not need to go through it alone.
