Survey Finds That Vast Number of Medical Errors Are Unreported

April 23, 2013 (Press-News.org) Survey Finds That Vast Number of Medical Errors Are Unreported

Article provided by Greene & Eisen, Co. L.P.A.
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A survey recently conducted by ProPublica (a nonprofit investigative journalism organization) concluded that the great majority of people who suffer harm at the hands of a physician, nurse, hospital or clinic do not file formal complaints about their injuries.

Injuries are probably coming at a rate far faster than any of us ever realized; data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that one in every seven Medicare patients hospitalized each month suffers some form of harm or injury, and nearly 15,000 eventually succumb to those injuries.

Why Aren't Patients Reporting Injuries and Errors?

It would be understandable if injured patients were (metaphorically) shouting from the rooftops to tell others about the harms they have suffered. That is not the case, though. Why? Well, there a number of reasons why patients are reluctant to discuss harm caused by a medical provider, including:
-Physical or emotional trauma associated with injuries;
-Disability associated with injuries;
-Patients being unsure about who they should complain to;
-Shame;
-Fear of reprisal from the doctors, nurses, hospitals, etc.;
-Lack of knowledge about what sort of result should have been expected versus what actually happened to them;
-Assumption that a caregiver will "fix" any issues resulting from a medical mistake; and
-Lack of understanding about the bureaucratic process involved in filing a complaint.

Why Does it Matter if Patients Don't Complain?

Some people may not understand the implications that arise when injured patients fail to report complaints. The ramifications go far beyond the individual patient.

For example, if a medical caregiver is performing a particular procedure incorrectly and causing harm, all future patients undergoing that procedure could possibly be injured as well. Also, some medical errors, like failing to properly supervise patients after surgery, could be indicative of a systemic issue of an entire medical organization. If injured patients do not make their injuries and complaints known, the errors may never be corrected.

Whatever the situation was when you were injured, if you have been hurt by the action (or inaction) of a medical professional, then you need to make sure that your voice is heard by someone who can make a difference. Having an experienced medical malpractice attorney on your side can help ensure that your complaints are properly addressed and that whoever caused your injuries is held accountable.