When you need to go to the hospital, especially the emergency room, you do so because you or a loved one need help. You expect that the staff there will treat you with the highest standard of care. Unfortunately, that may not always happen.
We already knew that studies have shown going to the hospital in July or over the weekend is more dangerous. Now we are learning that the holidays can be just as dangerous. During those times, patients are more likely to experience medical errors, encounter understaffed facilities, and be subjected to fatigued healthcare workers.
Now, some of the problems with going to the hospital during the holidays fall back on the patient’s failure to follow up with their doctor, but many times the hospital staff is to blame. Do you know what to do if you are harmed due to the negligence of a healthcare professional?
At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, we will work with you to recover the compensation you deserve in the aftermath of an incident. When you need a Hawaii medical malpractice attorney, call us today.
When It Happens
Fatigue in healthcare professionals is dangerous. So is an understaffed hospital. If mistakes are made because a hospital has poor planning over holidays or weekends, they should be held accountable for the harm that mistakes cause to their patients.
Did you know that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the US? Some estimates say that an average of 250,000 people loses their lives due to medical errors each year, but that number could be as high as 440,000 people.
How do these medical errors occur? In a variety of ways, some of which we want to go over with you today. This is not a complete list of mistakes healthcare professionals can make, so please speak with a qualified attorney about your particular case.
- Medication Mistakes: When it comes to dispensing medications, doctors need to ensure they know a patient’s full medical history to avoid negative interactions with the med. Many medication errors occur when they are being given, particularly if the wrong dosage is given.
- Infections: You may not think of infections as being a big problem, especially inside of a medical facility. They are actually the number one killer in the hospital and are often caused due to healthcare provider negligence.
- Diagnostic Errors: Errors when diagnosing affect 12 million people a year. They can lead to treatment that is delayed or that never occurs at all.
- Surgical Mistakes: Perhaps the scariest of all medical mistakes is an error made in surgery. Some of these mistakes are “never events,” but much more common are more “minor” surgical errors that cause major patient harm.
What Can You Do?
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a healthcare professional’s mistake, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt –Hawaii personal injury law firm, we know that these cases can become difficult but we want to help. Our qualified and experienced team understands the laws that surround medical malpractice cases and will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. When you need a Hawaii medical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 808-736-5035.