Even the best doctors in the world are only human, and humans make mistakes. Fatigue, sickness, even just a distraction can all spell serious malpractice for any doctor, experienced or not, so it pays to get to know the common causes of medical errors.
Download our Medical Complaint Survival Guide to learn how to avoid the worst of medical malpractice complaints.
Doctors often have to make quick decisions in the heat of the moment to keep their patients happy, healthy and, in some cases, to save their life. But many of these decisions need to be made with the consent of the patient, and it is all too easy to cross that blurry line.
Your patient Emma goes into surgery and there is a complication that requires an additional procedure to be performed; one that she did not consent to. Without this additional procedure, Emma might not have the most ideal outcome, so you decide to perform it. When she comes to, she is less than pleased to discover that she has received (or lost) more than she bargained for, despite the risk you averted, and she lays a complaint.
In some cases, additional treatment is necessary to save a life or ensure healthy living. That’s a fact. But it’s also a fact that in all cases, the patient needs to be warned of the possibility of complications that may require additional treatment. In other words, where possible, always get consent or at least communicate the possibilities.
Doctors are just one part of a long line of health professionals that patients work with to get healthy. Once a patient comes to you, far down the line, they may already have accumulated a slew of diagnoses and other medical history. You’d be forgiven for assuming that the most recent information is not only accurate, but still reflects the current situation. But assumptions can result in serious medical errors, especially if the patient’s outlook has changed since their last touchpoint.
Michael, fed up with frequent severe migraines that his current GP is unable to resolve, comes to you for a second opinion. Reading through his medical history, you note a long history of headaches which have, in the past, been brought on by workplace stress and relieved by mindfulness exercises and relaxation techniques. You assume this is still the case, prescribing him the treatment you think most appropriate. A few days later, the headaches have gotten worse, and after a scan, it is found that Michael has a tumour that was unrelated to the original headaches and was undiscovered due to assumptions of previous medical history accuracy.
Always note the circumstances under which the previous diagnoses occurred, and check with your patient to see if there have been any significant changes to those circumstances. In Michael’s case, he might have been able to inform you he has changed to a somewhat stress-free job, clueing you in that the cause of his recent migraines might be something more serious than workplace stress.
Remember, this also counts for your own diagnoses as well. If circumstances have changed, and the problem remains, then it’s time to check for something new.
From written notes to emails to charts to conversations, there are many ways that healthcare professionals communicate the needs of their patients to one another. But considering the sheer number of people involved in a patient’s care, getting clear communication across a dozen or more people is easier said than done. A missed lab result, an illegible medication or just an unheard risk factor can be enough to put a patient at risk.
Omar, a patient in your hospital, is handed over to you by the doctor on the previous shift. She mentions that Omar had extremely high blood pressure when he first arrived, but that she had treated him and reduced it to normal levels. She leaves for the day, leaving you with Omar’s chart. But she doesn’t realise that in her tired state, she misspelled the treatment she gave him. Worse still, the nurses assisting her misheard the treatment as well, creating confusion over what medication Omar has already received.
Clarify, clarify, clarify, and not just with your healthcare peers. The people who have been taking care of your patient should be able to clearly and consistently tell you, in multiple forms (verbal and chart are most common), what they have done so far with that patient—but the patient may be able to shine light on the situation as well. Doctors, particularly young doctors, are often fearful of asking for clarification of something from their patient, worried about looking stupid. But you won’t, and even if you did, would you prefer to look stupid, or for your patient to suffer under your care?
Being a doctor is busy enough, so why would you try to do everyone else’s job as well? It’s more common than you might think, particularly with new doctors who are still growing into their role. The issue is that trying to do everything yourself results in more mistakes and missed problems than it would if you had assistance. Doing more is great, but doing more while reducing quality and increasing risk isn’t.
Saavi arrives in your hospital’s care for ongoing neck pain. After some scans, it is found that she has experienced damage to the vertebrae, which can be resolved with treatment and anaesthetic. You do some imaging to get the right entry point, as well as providing the anaesthetic and treatment. While trying to concentrate on these three tasks all at once, you make a mistake during the treatment and make the situation worse. Thankfully, the problem is rectified with the help of your colleague, but Saavi still lays a complaint against your treatment.
The solution is simple: rely on others to assist. Concentrate on one job at a time, and take the time to do it well, rather than trying to play first, second, third and fourth fiddle all at the same time.
Learn these causes, and be vigilant against them in your workday, but remember: mistakes happen. When they do, make sure your medical indemnity insurance is up to standard and call your insurer.
To find out more about medical indemnity insurance and how it affects you, download our free ebook below.