For many people, the first reaction to either receiving or witnessing a severe injury, such as a head injury, is to contact their local emergency hotline. Within minutes, an ambulance arrives and shuttles the injured individual to the nearest hospital, where emergency doctors stand ready to give appropriate treatment as fast as possible. Hospitals provide an irreplaceable service to American citizens.
That said, many Americans mistakenly believe that hospitals are perfect. In truth, hospitals are operated and controlled by men and women--who, like all humans, make mistakes from time to time. Therefore, you should be aware of common hospital mistakes. Even the smallest slip-up by a doctor can increase the intensity of a current condition, create new symptoms, or even cause death.
Operating Errors
Many emergency situations require doctors to operate on the patient and perform surgery. Surgery is a highly complex and precise procedure, and mistakes can result in as little as a slight slip of the hand. Doctors have been known to suffer from fatigue, which can cause them to operate on the wrong area of the patient’s body, use equipment improperly, or cut somewhere too deep. Small errors such as these can have life-changing effects on the patient.
Infection and Unsanitary Environment
Germs and bacteria lurk in all corners of a hospital, and infections spread.. Many patients visit a hospital with the hope that they’ll be treated, only to catch an infection during their visit. Infection usually comes from improper management: failing to properly sanitize a patient’s room, failing to properly clean bathrooms, failing to thoroughly clean operating equipment, or failure of staff to wash their hands. Patients who catch hospital infections may face worsened conditions or even death.
Misdiagnosis
Sometimes the root of all of the hospital’s mistakes are within the doctor’s initial diagnosis. Whether through ignorance, laziness, or by a simple mistake, a doctor that gives a misdiagnosis can lead to further problems. For example, the doctor may give the patient an operation he or she does not necessarily need, or the doctor may prescribe the wrong medicine for the patient’s condition. Both of these can worsen a patient’s symptoms or even lead to death.
Overcharging
Most people realize that hospitals charge exuberant rates for their services, especially those found in the emergency room. That said, many hospitals have been known to sneak items that have been incredibly overcharged into the patient’s medical bill--items that the patients sometimes overlook in the midst of their medical stress.
What should you do?
Contact Colley & Colley immediately. As experts in personal injury litigation, we can review your case and find out if your hospital is overcharging you or if you have suffered as a result of medical malpractice. With years of knowledge and experience, we will fight for the compensation you deserve. To get started, contact an experienced attorney in Tyler, Texas today.
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Austin, TX 78738
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