Patient care often disrupted by bullying, study shows

March 26, 2014

Patient care often disrupted by bullying, study shows

Article provided by Breslin & Breslin, P.A.
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Bullying has recently become an issue of national attention as more people speak up about the problem and its potentially devastating consequences. Although these conversations often focus on school children, bullying also occurs in many adult environments -- including the doctor's office.

In some cases, a recent study shows, medical bullying can negatively affect patient care, potentially increasing the risk of serious problems like delayed diagnosis or surgical error.

Doctors say bullying can lead to diminished care

According to a survey released recently by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, medical professionals frequently experience bullying in the workplace, and many say the problem is severe enough that it negatively affects patient care. One in four doctors surveyed said they have been bullied into doing things that were bad for patient care; among nurses, the rate was even higher at one in three.

Although the CIPD survey was conducted in the United Kingdom, the findings could hint at similar problems in American medical establishments. Previous research has shown that many nurses employed in U.S. hospitals experience verbal abuse, most often from doctors and other nurses.

A study of approximately 1,300 U.S. nurses showed that about half experienced moderate levels of on-the-job verbal abuse, while about 5 percent said they had experienced high levels of abuse. That study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship in April 2013. Although it did not specifically address the relationship between bullying and patient care in U.S. hospitals, it stands to reason that bullying of nurses could negatively affect patient care in some cases.

How bullying affects patient care

Although bullying can take many different forms, verbal abuse is one of the most common forms of bullying experienced by doctors, nurses and other medical professionals -- often at the hands of higher-ranking doctors who go out of their way to shame and intimidate their subordinates. While this can be psychologically damaging to those on the receiving end of the abuse, the negative consequences of the bullying behavior do not necessarily stop there.

In an article published by Aeon Magazine, third-year Harvard Medical student Ilana Yurkiewicz explains that verbal abuse in the medical setting discourages open communication between providers about patients and their care. Not only can poor communication allow problems to go undetected, giving them time to worsen, but it may also discourage less experienced providers from asking for help when they need it or pointing out potential errors made by their supervisors.

Negligent doctors can be held liable

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are held to a high standard of care for their patients. Patients who are harmed when medical professionals fail to live up to that standard of care have a right to seek monetary compensation by pursuing a medical malpractice claim.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical negligence, discuss your situation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer with a background representing victims of medical negligence can help you understand your options and can be a powerful advocate on behalf of your interests if you decide to move forward with your case.