How To Help Protect Yourself From Medical Mistakes
As a Delaware malpractice lawyer, I've seen all kinds of medical mistakes that could have been avoided. Here are just a few:
Missed diagnosis
Delayed diagnosis
Lack of informed consent
Birth injuries
Doctor errors
Nursing error
Hospital errors
Anesthesia errors
Surgical errors
Pharmaceutical errors
Medical device errors
Misread x-ray, slides, and ultrasounds
HMO misconduct
Adverse drug reactions
Labor and delivery
surgical injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Improperly prescribed, dispensed or filled medication
Dental injuries
So what can you as the patient do to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of medical malpractice? The most important thing you can do is to take an active role in your care. So how do you do this? Let's take a look at medication errors.
You're at the drug store to pick up your medication.
1. Open the bag . Make sure they gave you what you're supposed to get.
2. Don't sign too quickly. The cashier asks you to sign a paper or an electronic screen that says you agree that you've received the information you need. Most of us sign it without even thinking about it. Don't sign it without checking first.
3. Read every word on the label. Check for the name of the drug, and if the name isn't the name your doctor told you he was prescribing, don't assume they're giving you the generic substitute. Ask the pharmacist.
4. If the pharmacist or the cashier asks if you need counseling on the medication, say "yes."
5. When you're at the doctor's office, write down the medicine that's being prescribed. Take your notes to the pharmacy and compare the name you wrote down with the name on the bottle.
