As a patient, you trust that the facility treating you has the resources and knowledge to provide outstanding care. However, this is not always the case. There are several ways that medical errors can occur, and not all of them are due to the negligence of the providers. Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities can be the root cause of mistakes. If you’re the victim of a medical error, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Keep reading to learn how these errors happen and how a Harris County, Texas medical malpractice lawyer can help you receive the justice you deserve.
Understaffing Is One of the Leading Causes of Medical Errors
One of the significant reasons that many errors occur is due to understaffing. Unfortunately, many doctors, nurses, and providers are stretched to their limits because there aren’t enough providers to adequately care for the number of patients they treat. Because they are forced to manage an overwhelming amount of patients, they are more likely to make errors or miss a diagnosis.
Understaffing also leads to providers being less likely to get adequate rest, meaning doctors, nurses, and other staff are not getting enough sleep or breaks on their shifts. This means they are more likely to make mistakes because they don’t have enough rest.
Miscommunication Can Cause Injury
Another way that errors occur is through miscommunication. Because there are a number of providers caring for you, information needs to be exchanged effectively and efficiently. However, something as seemingly minuscule as forgetting to make a note in a chart could impact the care you receive.
Similarly, if you are transferred to another facility or under the care of a different department, it’s essential for the providers to send over all your patient information. If they do not do this, errors can occur as they may provide care that directly conflicts with your treatment plan.
Contact a Lawyer Today
While these aren’t the only causes of medical errors, these are two of the most common reasons these issues occur. However, the hospital or facility where the error occurred can be held liable for the injuries you’ve sustained as a result of their negligence. Similarly, if a communication error is the root cause, your providers can be held responsible for your injuries.
If you’ve suffered the consequences of medical errors due to negligence from the facility or your provider, you have ten years to file a claim in Texas. However, waiting too long can make it challenging to remember all the details or find the proper records.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to contact a competent medical malpractice attorney. Davis & Davis, Attorneys at Law, are ready to help ensure you receive justice for the injuries you sustained. We understand how these errors occur and can use them to help prove how negligence was the cause of damages.
