Communication and Hospital Errors
Communication has a vital impact on the quality of medical care that a patient receives. This is especially true in a hospital setting, where a busy environment and shared care responsibilities can easily lead to written or verbal communication errors.
If communication and hospital errors lead to physical, emotional, or financial damages for the patient, they should consider filing a medical malpractice claim to pursue compensation for related losses. Here, medical malpractice lawyer Daniel D. Moody, who serves Lakeland, FL, Winter Haven, FL, and surrounding areas, discusses the most common types of communication hospital errors and how they can negatively impact a patient.
Common Types of Communication and Hospital Errors
Medical errors can occur in any type of setting, but they are especially common in the hospital. Often, hospital patients are cared for by a team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and surgical staff. If medical personnel do not maintain an open line of communication, errors can occur. Some of the most common types of communication and hospital errors include:
- Medication errors related to the type and amount of medicine prescribed or administered
- Anesthesia errors
- Surgical errors
- Delayed or missed diagnosis related to a failure to communicate test results
- Mislabeling of lab samples or specimens
- Failure to properly fill out transfer or discharge paperwork
- Misreading or miscommunication of fetal distress signals during childbirth
How Can Communication Errors Impact a Patient?
Communication errors can have a significant impact on the type of care that a patient receives and their ultimate well-being. Communication and hospital errors can lead to the onset of a new injury or illness, prolonged or worsened symptoms or severity of a current illness or injury, the need for more advanced or invasive medical treatment, and even death. A recent study by Johns Hopkins analyzing medical death rate data over an eight-year period found that more than 250,000 deaths in the United States are due to medical errors each year, making it the third leading cause of death in the country.
When To File a Medical Malpractice Claim
The physical impact of communication and hospital errors are only one aspect of patient damages. Negligent medical care can also lead to emotional trauma, financial losses related to medical expenses, lost wages, or a loss of wage-earning capacity. If a medical error is the result of negligent or subpar medical care, individuals should consider filing a medical malpractice claim.
Daniel D. Moody works on behalf of his Lakeland clients to gather the evidence necessary to establish the key aspects of a medical malpractice claim:
- A doctor/patient relationship existed
- The doctor failed to deliver care that met up to the accepted standard (i.e. a similarly trained medical professional presented with the same set of circumstances would not have made the same error)
- The patient suffered illness or injury directly related to substandard medical care
- The patient suffered financial losses related to the medical error
Contact Us
If you have suffered physical, emotional, or financial damages related to communication and a hospital error, you should consider filing a medical malpractice claim. Daniel D. Moody would be happy to advise you on the best course of legal action based on the details of your case. To schedule a personal consultation, contact our law firm online or call us at (863) 284-9090.