Medical malpractice is more common than you may think. According to Medical News Today, surgical errors occur more than 4,000 times per year in the United States. Many of these mistakes could be avoided with proper patient-doctor communication. Learn how to be an advocate for your own health care. If you are a victim, seek advice from a New York medical malpractice attorney.
Ways You Can Reduce Medical Malpractice When You Go in for Surgery
Many surgical errors occur when surgeons operate on the wrong body part, on the wrong side of the body or even on the wrong patient. Therefore, as a patient, you have the right to know how the medical staff plans to prevent wrong-site surgery. You may feel like you’re being too pushy, but it’s your health at risk, not the doctor’s.
Review your name and birthdate with all the doctors and nurses you come into contact with both on your surgery day and prior to that. It might feel annoying, but harried hospital staff is just one cause of medical malpractice, and this is how you can ensure it doesn’t happen to you.
Take it a step further and ask your surgeon to initial the body part that is to be operated on. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons encourages surgeons to do this anyway, but it is not mandatory.
Sometimes infections can occur because of surgery. Because hospitals harbor large amounts of bacteria, it is a good idea to ask the medical staff if they have recently washed their hands. Studies show that when asked, doctors are more likely to wash their hands more often and with more soap.
Contact a New York Medical Malpractice Attorney
No matter how hard you try to avoid them, surgical errors still can happen. If you are a victim, get legal help from Gacovino, Lake & Associates. They will review your case and determine your rights to compensation. Call them for a free consultation at (800) 246-4878.
