Mistakes Doctors Don’t Want You to Know Happen in US Hospitals

Hospitals serve as beacons of healing within our communities, but they are hardly free of the burden of human error. Even as the field of medicine continues to advance and evolve, research suggests that medical errors are currently the third leading cause of death in the United States.

These errors come at great personal and economic cost. Over 200,000 patients die each year as a result of medical errors, and it is estimated that these adverse medical events cost the healthcare system as much as $20 billion annually. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common medical mistakes plaguing the U.S. healthcare system and discuss what patients can do if they have been directly impacted by a medical error.

What are some common medical mistakes in the U.S.?

Doctors are humans, and as such, they are prone to making mistakes just like the rest of us. The difference, of course, is that the mistakes made by medical professionals can have life-altering consequences for patients from all walks of life. This is why it is so important for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to exercise extreme caution when working with patients.

While there is certainly no shortage of potential errors within healthcare settings, many common mistakes fall into one of the following categories:

Misdiagnosis/delayed diagnosis

A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition. Misdiagnosis often leads to improper or even contraindicated treatments that can have long-term ramifications for a patient’s health. In some cases, misdiagnosis can result in providers offering no care at all to patients, which may result in the patient’s condition worsening over time. Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can directly impact patient outcomes and comprise the quality of care a patient receives.

Medication errors

Medication-related mistakes are among the most frequently reported hospital errors. These errors often involve incorrect timing or dosage, but in more severe cases, healthcare providers may mistakenly administer the wrong medication entirely or even administer a drug to the wrong person! Medication errors can also arise as a result of a healthcare professional failing to check for drug allergies or other contraindications before administering medication to a patient. Any of these mistakes can result in costly medical consequences and pose significant risks to patient safety both immediately and in the long term.

Surgical errors

Errors in the operating room are surprisingly common and can be catastrophic for patients and their families. Some common surgical mistakes may include things like wrong-site procedures, Incorrect surgical procedures/techniques, retained surgical bodies (items left behind during surgery), and anesthesia errors. These errors can result in severe complications ranging from pain and discomfort to serious infections or even death.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)

Despite strict sanitation protocols, hospitals remain hotspots for infections. It is extremely common for patients to acquire infections during surgeries, as well as during standard post-operative and other procedures. The longer a patient stays in a healthcare facility, the more likely they are to develop one of these infections:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Sepsis

Patients may also catch communicable diseases during a hospital stay, which can further complicate their recovery process. COVID-19, the flu, and other viruses run rampant in healthcare settings and may put patients at risk of developing additional health problems.

While many of these infections stem from inadequate hygiene practices, overuse of antibiotics, or unsanitary hospital conditions, completely eliminating these risks is challenging — even in ideal circumstances. As hospitals serve as temporary homes for many individuals with infectious diseases and other conditions in close proximity to one another, infection control remains inherently difficult in today’s healthcare settings.

What are the major consequences of medical mistakes?

It’s easy to see how medical mistakes could have a serious impact on patients, families, and providers alike. Here is an overview of how medical errors can take a toll physically, emotionally, and financially:

• Physical harm: Medical errors like medication mistakes and surgical missteps pose serious physical health risks to patients. At best, these mistakes can result in the need for additional operations and treatment protocols being undertaken, and at worst, these mistakes can result in long-term physical injury and even patient death.
• Emotional suffering: Medical mistakes can not only cause physical harm to patients but also contribute to significant psychological distress for both patients and their families. Many individuals affected by medical negligence experience conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder – all of which can be exacerbated by the long-term effects of medical malpractice, such as increased financial strain and decreased quality of life.
• Financial challenges: Medical errors can come at a steep cost for patients from all walks of life. Victims of these errors often incur substantial medical bills and, in some cases, may become too disabled to return to their previous professions. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity can place significant financial strain on patients and their families. In the most tragic cases, medical malpractice incidents can result in wrongful patient death, leaving loved ones to bear additional expenses like funeral and end-of-life costs.

The combined burden of all of these consequences can be too much for many families to bear in the aftermath of a medical malpractice incident. This is why patients impacted by medical errors should take full advantage of the legal options available to them to help them recover physically, emotionally, and financially.

What legal options are available to victims of medical errors?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider’s negligence causes harm to a patient. There are many different options available to patients affected by medical malpractice, assuming a few conditions are met:

1. The victim must prove that a doctor-patient relationship existed and that the doctor had a legal duty to provide care to the patient.
2. The victim must be able to demonstrate that he or she suffered actual harm as the result of a medical error.
3. The victim must show that the medical mistake that caused them harm was the direct result of the doctor’s actions or inactions.

If all of the above statements are true, a patient may be entitled to seek compensation for damages related to their adverse medical event. Patients who find themselves in this position are encouraged to partner with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to help maximize the chances of obtaining a favorable case outcome.

Attorneys like the professionals at Nace Law Group are trained to help victims of medical malpractice build an effective case against a healthcare provider or facility that caused them harm. With help from the Nace Law Group team, victims of medical malpractice can seek compensation for economic damages like medical expenses, as well as non-economic damages to account for the emotional pain and suffering they may have experienced as the result of a healthcare provider’s negligence.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm as the result of a medical mistake, do not hesitate to contact a professional malpractice attorney to help you seek the compensation you deserve. Nace Law Group has experienced team members in both Washington, D.C. and West Virginia who can help clients from all walks of life navigate the legal process with greater ease. Reach out today to schedule a consultation with a member of our team, and let’s talk about how we can best support you in your recovery efforts.