7 Medical Errors That Can Lead to Injury or Death

People place a lot of trust in health care providers, but things can go wrong. In particular, errors may happen at any stage during the diagnosis and treatment process. These errors may lead to serious medical problems and can even cause death.

Discover more about common medical errors.

1. Medication Errors

Medication errors cause personal injuries to about 1.5 million patients each year. These errors may happen when the physician offers an incorrect prescription or the nurse gives out the wrong medication to the patient. Even administering the wrong dosage of the correct medication counts as a medication error.

2. Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors happen when the physician doesn't diagnose a medical problem at all. The errors can also occur if the doctor comes up with the wrong diagnosis or takes too long to diagnose the condition.

Failure to request medical tests may also amount to a diagnostic error. For instance, a diagnostic error would occur if the physician fails to order a necessary blood test after learning of your symptoms. In addition, misinterpreting test results may cause problems for the patient. 

3. Deadly Procedures and Unnecessary Tests

Unnecessary treatments and medical tests cause a yearly loss of $700 billion. Not only do these procedures lead to money losses, but they can also cause medical complications.

For instance, you have a greater chance of getting cancer after undergoing a CT scan. Also, the probability of kidney failure is higher after exposure to MRI dyes. Even a seemingly harmless blood test can introduce infectious materials into your body.

4. Uncoordinated Care

The days of relying on a single physician for all your medical care may be long gone. Today, patients are likely to deal with multiple healthcare providers throughout the treatment journey. Ideally, the providers should coordinate their care so that you get consistent medical attention.

Unfortunately, some specialists may fail to coordinate with other specialists handling your medical case. Lack of coordination can lead to conflicting prescriptions and multiple tests for the same condition. The result may be a treatment regimen that interferes with the body's normal operations.

5. Excess Blood Transfusions

Blood transfusions are a common feature in many medical facilities. Nevertheless, many blood transfusions don't happen correctly. Inappropriate transfusions can introduce excessive blood cells into the body and increase the chances of infection. In some cases, blood transfusions can increase the effects of certain diseases and even cause death.

6. Excess or Insufficient Oxygen for Premature Babies

Failure to provide the right amount of oxygen for premature babies is deadly. An insufficient supply of oxygen leads to low energy in the body. The lack of enough energy interferes with cell function and may hinder body growth. In some cases, insufficient energy generation can cause injury to the heart and brain.

On the other hand, excessive oxygen may lead to lung problems. Premature babies may also develop heart problems if too much oxygen is in their bloodstream.

7. Birth Injuries

Birth injuries are widespread, with about 28,000 birth injuries happening every year in the US. These injuries happen during or immediately after delivery.

The injuries can lead to insufficient oxygen intake. Others can affect the function of the brain and cause internal bleeding.

Errors by health professionals may cause these birth injuries. Unfortunately, some birth injuries go undetected and may result in lifelong problems.

Medical errors can negatively affect your physical and mental health. The errors can also lead to unnecessary medical expenses. In some instances, medical malpractice can be fatal. Therefore, contact Smith Morgan LLP to get compensation and justice for any medical errors that cause harm to you or your loved ones.