What Are Medical Errors?

Medical errors happen when something that was planned as a part of medical care doesn’t work out, or when the wrong plan was used in the first place. Medical errors can occur anywhere in the health care system:

• Hospitals;
• Clinics;
• Outpatient Surgery Centers;
• Doctors’ Offices;
• Nursing Homes;
• Pharmacies;
• Patients’ Homes. Errors can involve: – Medicines;
• Surgery;
• Diagnosis;
• Equipment;
• Lab reports.

Most errors result from problems created by today’s complex health care system. But errors also happen when doctors and their patients have problems communicating. For example, a recent study supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that doctors often do not do enough to help their patients make informed decisions. Uninvolved and uninformed patients are less likely to accept the doctor’s choice of treatment and less likely to do what they need to do to make the treatment work.

Below in other FAQ’s you will find reprinted some steps prepared by the federal government that you can take to reduce or help prevent medical errors in your medical care and treatment.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or loss caused by medical malpractice, medical negligence, or medical mistake, please contact our Medical Malpractice Law Group to arrange a free and confidential consultation.

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