Medical errors can be scary, considering they may lead to harm and sometimes fatalities. A wide variety of incidents could arise from incorrect prescriptions, surgical mistakes, and inadequate health care practices. Still, many of these issues could be preventable, mainly those caused by misidentification.
Errors can occur because health care providers mix up the identities of multiple patients, resulting in inappropriate procedures. Although these mistakes can be unpredictable, systems are typically in place to control the risks.
The severity of wrong-patient errors
When these issues fall through the cracks, there can be many consequences. Sometimes, the aftermath requires little or no medical intervention to correct the mistake. Other times, the patient could develop worse health issues, causing their condition to deteriorate overall.
Data showed around 7,613 misidentified patients from January 2013 to August 2015 alone, some of which resulted in deaths. Around 1,752 patients had to undergo additional treatments and procedures to address the harm done because of the errors.
Aside from the devastating medical repercussions, the procedures to address them could incur considerable costs. Long-term care and rehabilitation may also be necessary for patients to recover fully.
Holding negligent parties accountable
Any medical malpractice incident can have catastrophic effects on the patients and their families. Sometimes, the cost of recovering from harm suffered because of errors is too much for an average patient, making it vital to pursue compensation.
Seeking legal advice in these scenarios could be crucial to understanding if negligence truly happened and determining appropriate legal options. While doing so might not guarantee a favorable outcome, it can help patients prepare effectively and address issues as they arise.
