A routine trip to the doctor’s office sometimes comes with a little nervousness. Concerns may exist about the doctor finding something seriously wrong with the patient, but not every patient in New Jersey thinks that bad news may connect to malpractice. However, medical malpractice cases do occur with alarming frequency.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study revealing that one-fifth of patients who read ambulatory care notes discovered mistakes. A significant percentage of the mistakes were serious ones.
Mistakes ranged from wrong diagnoses to discussions about the wrong patient, and such errors can prove disastrous. For example, a patient might be given medication that he or she is allergic to. An adverse reaction may unavoidably occur.
Malpractice-oriented mistakes could even lead to fatalities. A medical professional reading a report intended for a different patient could have catastrophic consequences depending on the particulars of the case.
The sheer volume of mistakes made in ambulatory reports is alarming, and not every patient reads the notes. Many might never realize that there are mistakes connected to their care and treatment, and not everyone who finds a mistake will report the finding. The percentage of those who spot problems but look the other way might be forever unknown. The unfortunate aspect of withholding the discovery of mistakes may make the frequency of committing mistakes worse.
Anyone who suffers further injury due to medical negligence might want to contact an attorney to discuss pending litigation. If additional medical care becomes necessary, an attorney may seek an award to cover medical costs. The attorney may even seek punitive damages if warranted. An attorney may be able to name the hospital, doctor and others involved in a lawsuit. A potential malpractice insurance settlement might be sought as well.