We hope and expect that at each hospital in the Covington and Cincinnati area, there are regular conversations about how to prevent medical malpractice. As we all know, medical negligence by doctors, nurses, and hospitals leads to an unknown number of deaths each year in our nation. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said physician and hospital negligence is the third leading cause of death in the country.
A recent article by Business Review USA said an astounding 12,000 Americans die annually because of unneeded surgeries, and another 7,000 are caused by medication mistakes. The article lays out some suggestions for hospitals on ways to prevent any more medical malpractice.
The publication suggests that in order to prevent unnecessary surgeries, patients should be visited after any operation by a neutral third party to be asked about their experience. It might seem backwards to ask patients afterward, but the publication says worsening conditions can be spotted in this way, and the information gathered can be used in investigations by hospitals and others.
Medication errors can be reduced by creating an oversight department, Business Review USA says. The department would not watch where drugs are going but instead focus on the hours worked by doctors and nurses. In this way, medical personnel would be sent home if they approached the maximum number of allowed hours of work, and medication errors by fatigued doctors and nurses would drop.
A patient injured by a doctor prescribing too much or too little medication or by a nurse administrating more or less of a potent drug than safe can speak with an attorney experienced in medical malpractice cases. A Northern Kentucky medical malpractice lawyer with a track record of protecting patients and their families can help you pursue compensation for your damages.