Medical accidents can ruin lives or even cost the lives of victims and can tarnish the name of respected medical institutions. We literally place our lives in the hands of medical professionals assuming that their training and qualifications make them dependable. However, medical professionals are of course human and as a result they can make mistakes.
Preventing medical accidents
There are simple ways for medical professionals to minimise both the likelihood and the possible impact of mistakes. Indeed, preventing medical accidents need not be complicated and below are some of the most basic ways of keeping medical accidents to a minimum:
• Thoroughly and regularly record and analyse patients’ medical notes
• Obtain training to become as competent as possible
• Prioritise those with the most serious conditions
• Search notes for unusual results and take appropriate action
• Give all patients post-treatment advice and document this
• Use software to keep records which is of recognised quality
• Apologise as soon as any mistake is made
Equally, patients and their family or friends can take simple steps which can help to prevent them becoming victims of medical negligence. Indeed, if you are proactive in your care, you can avoid pain and suffering. You do not want to find out that there are things you could have done only after you’ve made a negligence compensation claim.
• Be inquisitive: if you are concerned about something or believe that an error is about to be made or is being made, ask questions; your health is at stake.
• Familiarise yourself with common forms of medical negligence so that your are better prepared to avoid them
• Do not simply agree to a procedure without first asking what all the alternatives are and why that is deemed the most appropriate
• Seek a second opinion on your diagnosis to ensure that it is correct
• Tell staff your medical history. Don’t assume that they’re aware of it
• Research your medication and check the labels. If you start to suffer problems because of the medication, inform a doctor immediately.
• Ask if your procedure can be performed in a hospital with a high success rate for the particular operation
Finally, write down your experiences during treatment so that if you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of medical accident, you can provide your negligence solicitor with important information which will be central to your medical negligence claim.
Contact us for advice on how to claim compensation following a medical accident
Medical negligence is a complex area of law, so it is crucial that the solicitor you instruct to manage your case is an expert. Our lawyers have vast experience and specialist knowledge of both private and NHS compensation claims, so:
- Call us today on 0800 1404544, or
- Complete the contact form below.
