A recent study from Health Affairs examined the attitudes of physicians toward communication with patients after a medical error. The researchers found that twenty percent of physicians did not disclose medical errors because they feared being sued. In addition, thirty-five percent of physicians did not agree on disclosing serious medical errors to patients. In light of these findings, honesty may be the best policy in dealing with medical errors.
Another study by the Yale School of Medicine shows that patients are more likely to accept medical mistakes when doctors are honest. According to Dr. Lisa I. Iezzoni, a professor of psychiatry and adjunct clinical professor of law, "If patients know their doctors are making mistakes, it can be difficult to give them bad news." Therefore, physicians may give patients rosier prognoses to minimize stress. Similarly, the more information a patient has, the better they will understand the severity of their condition."
In the United States, the top causes of medical mistakes are medication errors, anesthesia mistakes, and hospital-acquired infections. In hospitals, medical errors are responsible for one in four deaths in the country. In addition to these types of errors, patients often suffer from financial damage resulting from medical mistreatment. Even the top-rated hospitals have suffered from medical mistakes. But they don't have to happen. By making healthcare safer, medical professionals can increase their efficiency and improve the quality of care.
Medication errors also happen when the wrong drug is prescribed. It can be difficult to determine the dosage for a medication, so it's crucial that the doctor is very clear on what the patient should be taking. Many doctors simply use the wrong medication to treat a condition. Another common cause of medication errors is improper labeling of medications. A patient's medical record is an important part of a medical professional's training and expertise.