Hospitals are places where people in Washington go to get better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. If you have a loved one who went to the hospital, then experienced a worsened medical condition and died, it could be the result of a doctor mistake. At Miracle Pruzan & Pruzan we represent clients who have lost a loved one due to a preventable medical error.
According to U.S. News & World Report, there are more than 200,000 preventable deaths in hospitals each year. Up to 20 times more patients may suffer from non-fatal errors. There are steps you can take to help stop them from happening to your loved ones.
Mistakes regarding medications are one of the leading causes of medical errors, from the wrong dose and wrong medicine to patients receiving a drug to which they have an allergic reaction. Talk with the hospital staff to find out what is administered and how often. Ask your medical team about the medicine and dose too, then compare the results. If they are different, there may be a mistake occurring.
Doctors may request that babies born prematurely receive oxygen. While it can be beneficial, it is like a drug. Too much or too little can cause issues with long-term implications, including blindness. Confirming how much they are receiving and why can result in a mistake being caught before it becomes a health issue.
Infections from central lines and contaminated surfaces are among the most common preventable medical errors. Ask health care workers about when and how the equipment is sterilized and to wash their hands before providing routine treatment. It can be the impetus to take affirmative action.
If medical practitioners do not take action to prevent these oversights and a loved one dies, there may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Visit our webpage for more information on this topic.