Is Your Physician's Arrogance Impacting Your Care?

November 21, 2012 (Press-News.org) High salaries; respected status in society; life and death responsibilities; considering the unique attributes of their profession, it is not altogether surprising that some physicians tend toward arrogance.

A lack of humility in the medical profession may be seen by some as relatively harmless, an annoyance that at most affects the interpersonal relationships a doctor has with his or her patients. However, there is growing concern that physician arrogance may be causing medical malpractice, leading to real world patient health impacts.

Infections fall dramatically when nurses encouraged to question doctors

In treating patients, there is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence. Patients certainly trust their physicians to take good care of them and expect physicians to have the appropriate experience and competence to be able to recommend the correct treatment. Yet, when doctors are too assured in being right, patients can suffer.

Boastfulness, exaggeration of abilities, an unwillingness to be questioned and blaming others for mistakes or omissions are all hallmarks of a physician whose pride may be getting in the way of treatment. physician who do not listen to other medical staff and the patients themselves are more likely to overlook correctable mistakes.

Take a recent paper published by patient safety expert Dr. Peter Pronovost in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Central line-associated bloodstream infections kill over 30,000 Americans a year. But, according to Dr. Pronovost's research, they are largely preventable. By introducing a safety checklist and not only allowing but encouraging nurses to question doctors who had previously been beyond reproach, deadly line-associated bloodstream infections were virtually eliminated in the hospitals that consistently followed the protocols.

"It's unconscionable that so many people are dying because of these arrogance barriers," Dr. Pronovost said in a media statement. "You can't have arrogance in a model for accountability."

Best doctors are patient-focused, willing to listen to others

There are certainly many physicians who incorporate humility into their practice of medicine. But, if you or a family member winds up with a doctor who has a problem with arrogance, it could mean more than simply a lack of good manners.

Doctors should be willing and eager to accept corrections, answer questions and explore alternatives from other medical personnel and patients. When they make a mistake, they should own up to it and do what is best for the patient. A doctor's focus should always be what is best for the patient, even if that means putting his or her ego on hold.

If physician arrogance has led to a mistake that impacted your health or the health of a loved one, you may have a right to monetary compensation. Talk to a medical malpractice attorney today to learn more about the possibility of taking legal action.

Article provided by Ronald J. Bua & Associates
Visit us at www.ronaldbua.com