What Are the Most Common Fatal Medical Errors?

Introduction

Over 250,000 Americans lose their lives every year due to preventable medical mistakes. You are not alone if you or a loved one has been the victim of a medical error.

This blog post will discuss some of the most common medical mistakes that kill people and what you can do to avoid them. From medication errors to wrong-site surgery, we will cover medical mistakes that can have tragic consequences.

Types of medical errors

There are many medical errors, but some are more common than others. One type of error is called a diagnostic error, which occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose a patient's condition correctly.

This can happen when a doctor doesn't order the proper tests or misinterprets test results. Another type of error is medication error, which occurs when a patient is given the wrong medication or dose.

This can happen if a doctor prescribes the wrong medication or if a pharmacist dispenses the wrong medication. Other medical errors include surgical errors, birth injuries, and hospital-acquired infections.

The most common fatal medical errors

Among the major causes of death in the United States, medical mistakes rank third, per research conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The most common fatal medical errors include:

• Medication errors can occur when a patient has been prescribed the wrong medication or given the wrong dosage.

• Diagnostic errors happen when a patient is misdiagnosed, or their condition is not diagnosed correctly.
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• Surgical errors can occur during surgery due to anesthesia mistakes, incorrect incisions, and leaving objects inside the body.
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• Infections can happen in any healthcare setting, and if they aren't treated quickly and correctly, they can be deadly.
  

To lower the number of fatal medical mistakes, doctors, patients, and parents will all have to work together. Education is critical to prevention, so everyone must understand the risks involved in medical care.

How to avoid fatal medical errors

Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. To help avoid becoming a statistic, here are five tips on how to prevent fatal medical errors:

1. Be an active participant in your care.
   This means asking questions, being involved in decisions about your care, and knowing what medications you are taking and why.
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2. Know who is responsible for your care.
   Ensure you know the credentials of the doctor or other health care provider treating you. If you have any doubts, get a second opinion.
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3. Pay attention to communication breakdowns.
   Medical errors often happen because of poor communication between healthcare providers. If you feel like something needs to be communicated clearly, speak up.
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4. Be bold and get a second opinion.
   If you have doubts about your diagnosis or treatment plan, get a second opinion from another doctor or provider.
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5. Keep a personal medical record.
   Keeping track of your medical information helps you catch errors that go unnoticed. Keep copies of actual tests, lab results, and a list of all the medications you take (including over-the-counter drugs and supplements).
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Conclusion

The most common fatal medical errors are preventable and often stem from communication breakdowns between doctors and patients. By being aware of the most common mistakes that lead to death, we can all take steps to avoid them.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a medical error, don't hesitate to contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.