Dealing With Mistakes From Doctors, Essay Example

Dealing with Mistakes from Doctors and Health Facilities during Medical Operations

The medical sector is the most sensitive sector in any country. This is because it is mostly designed to promote effective and quality health care of individuals in the country. Furthermore, most medical providers are usually professionally trained. In other words, doctors and medical practices are usually expected to offer professional, legal and moral services to the society. Furthermore, the majority of patients highly trust health facilities and medical practitioners. However, it is of concern to note that medical providers occasionally make mistakes, just like other individuals in other professions. There are various challenges and problems that have been linked with doctors and health facilities. This includes treatment of the wrong patient, loss of patients, operation of the wrong body part, and waking up during surgery. In conformity to these aspects, this paper seeks to identify and discuss some of the effective ways of dealing with the common mistakes involved in health care facilities and surgery practices.

According to Parker-Pope there is need for the provision of positive relationship between the patient and the doctor (Parker-Pope 1).  However, recent medical research indicates that many patients do not trust their doctors. In addition according to John Hopkins medical studies it is true that many patients usually feel that their doctors and other medical providers usually expose their life to risky situations and conditions (Parker-Pope 2).  Effective patient medication is usually achieved through provision of trust between the patient and the doctor. There are various conditions and factors that promote high distrust and frustrations among various medical providers in the society including low interaction between the doctor and the patient. This usually promotes medical errors in the health care industry.  There are also those who argue that medical practices should also cover provision of psychological well-being of the patient and proper communication between the patient and the doctor. Furthermore, patients should be more open with their doctors in order to improve sharing of their medical information (Parker-Pope 3).

In addition, according Seizer the art of surgery is usually complex, involves various practices as well as tools and doctors should employ professionalism while in the process of conducting surgery operations in order to reduce medical mistakes (Seizer 1).

There is also the need to ensure proper counterchecks prior to undergoing any procedure in the hospital. In most cases, a patient should provide their essential details such as; full names, date of birth, residence, and even the barcode on the wrist hand. In addition, one needs to speak up in case of questions and concerns. This is because effective communication will ensure that the person is the right patient. This way, problems emanating from the treatment of wrong patients will be solved.

Another strategy for coping with the medical problem is having a serious discussion with the doctor before a major surgical procedure. In such sessions, the patient and the doctor should reach an agreement on exactly what will be done in the theater room. In addition, there ought to be a consensus on the exact part of the body to be operated on. According to various medical reports and publications it is usually advisable to have a post surgery chat sessions. This is essential for sorting out problems associated with surgical souvenirs, which are mostly characterized by sudden pains, swellings, and fever. These concerns mainly result from the existence of surgical instruments in the body.

Patients can also ask doctors to wash their hands before a surgical procedure on then. This arises from the fact that medical practitioners do not always wash their hands. This is usually very imperative since it prevents the infestations of infections, which may lead to death. Moreover, doctors should be allowed to choose a health facility that they feel comfortable to use. This is critical in advancing their experience.

The other coping strategy is launching an inquiry into the nature of anesthesia that will be used. This is vital in tackling concerns on waking up during major operations, whose causal agent is an under-dosed anesthesia. Besides, persons can always consult their personal physicians in cases of emergency. Consequently, the physician should contact the doctors expected to be involved so as to provide a firsthand medical history of the patient. This is based on the notion that doctors take note of information from their counterparts. Other strategies include; affirming the validity of physicians’ licenses online, and informing doctors about your supplements and drugs frequently used.

In a nutshell, this paper has effectively offered a number of strategies for dealing with the mistake from doctors and health facilities during treatment. These are; ensuring thorough checks of identity details, having a discussion before and after surgical procedures, reminding nurses and doctors on hygienic practices like hand washing, and making inquiries pertaining the required anesthesia.  Provision f positive relationship, good communication as well as provision of psychological well being of the patients are some of the factors than can be employed in order to reduce medical mistakes by medical providers in the medical industry.

In addition, the paper also reviews the repercussions of absent mindedness during major medical operations. Some of these include; issues of mistaken identity distrust between doctors and patients, wrong operations as well as the complexity of surgery operations. In general terms, this paper is a perfect reference for guidelines prior to and after major operations like surgery.

Works Cited

Parker-Pope, Tara. “Doctor and Patient, Now at Odds” (2008): 1-3.

Seizer, Richard. “The Knife”.  Art of Surgery (1996): 1