When you go to the hospital for surgery or treatment, you likely imagine a calm setting and professional care.
Unfortunately, this may not be what you get. The hospital can be chaotic, with surgeons, doctors and other staff members under extreme pressure to treat and care for many patients with minimal breaks. Nurses are often exhausted due to staff shortages and long hours, and surgeons may be pulled in all directions as emergency cases come in. This begs the question – do distractions in the medical setting contribute to medical errors and injuries?
Unfortunately, the answer is often yes.
Understanding the impact of distractions in medical environments
Medical staff is constantly under pressure. Unfortunately, cases of shortages have increased this pressure immensely. Distractions, such as other patients, can greatly impact the care you receive.
For example, if you have a scheduled surgery, the surgeons and nurses may be encouraged to expedite the process because their services are needed for other patients. Unfortunately, this increases the potential for medical errors and injuries significantly.
Mistakes aren’t uncommon when the proper time and attention cannot be given to the treatment being given. Unfortunately, this mistake may result in serious injuries or even fatalities.
Your rights after a medical error
You have rights if you are injured or a loved one dies because of a medical error caused by negligence. One right is to file a medical malpractice or wrongful death claim to recover compensation for the losses you experienced. While no amount of money can compensate for what you have lost, it can help alleviate some of the financial burden caused by medical errors.