All doctors can make medical mistakes

Arizona hospitals and health care professionals may work to avert medical mistakes that could result in damage to their patients. However, there are still incidences of errors, even from reputable professionals and facilities. Studies indicate that misdiagnosis is an issue in connection with approximately 15 percent of medical problems, making it important for both providers and patients to guard against such occurrences.

Misdiagnostic errors are especially common with some serious conditions. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections and cancer, for example, could be missed at first, leading to worsening conditions before an accurate diagnosis is obtained. If there is a failure to identify such conditions during a hospital stay, the implications could be even more serious. Surgery errors have been declining due to intensive efforts, but in spite of strategic actions to avoid these issues, there are still incidences of wrong site surgery, operating on the wrong patient and leaving foreign materials in patients.

Treating the wrong patients can also occur in some hospital settings due to similar names or carelessness in identifying details prior to testing, administering medications or other treatments. Poor hygiene in a clinical setting can expose a patient to excessive germ levels. Long waits can also result in poor medical outcomes, especially in emergency situations. A lack of coordination in care can lead to problems, and medication errors can also have serious consequences. Overuse of some testing options can affect patients’ health as well.

Although many medical errors by good doctors are not intentional, there may be cases in which medical negligence could be an issue. A patient dealing with a serious medication or surgery error, for example, might suffer profound physical injuries due to the impact of that error. In such cases, litigation may be appropriate for seeking financial compensation for damages suffered.