A simple communication error can have devastating consequences for a patient’s health. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a physician’s communication error, you need to speak to a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how to represent victims who have been harmed by medical malpractice. Time is of the essence in these cases, so it is important to act quickly if you suspect malpractice could have played a role in your harm.
Sadly, medical mistakes are the third-leading cause of preventable injuries and death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer. One mistake that is all too common is the failure of health care professionals to properly communicate with either each other or the patient. This often happens when multiple doctors are involved in a patient’s care. What happens is a doctor will hand a patient off to the next doctor when their shift ends, the nurses who administer care also change shifts, and sometimes clinical information about the patient does not get communicated from the departing medical professional to the new one.
An estimated 80 percent of serious medical mistakes involve some form of miscommunication. In fact, communication failures in health care settings can be linked to 1,744 deaths in five years, according to Malpractice Risks in Communication Failures. The study also found that medical errors could be reduced by about 30 percent if communication improved between medical professionals and patients. Communication errors can include but are not limited to:
- Failing to communicate test results to a patient or relevant health care professional;
- Failing to listen to the patient and then misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a patient;
- Communicating findings in a vague manner so that they are overlooked;
- Critical information being buried deep in a file and becoming inaccessible; or
- Failing to read or interpret lab results properly.
Victims who have been injured due to communication errors can typically file a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault medical professional. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injuries or death by failing to adhere to the standard of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. It is important to note that the standard of care will vary based on the details of the case, including the patient’s specific age, condition, and medical history. For example, a physician who fails to communicate a patient’s disease to him or her would likely be liable for any resulting harm.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries due to a failure to communicate, you may be able to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our reputable Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers are well versed in reviewing cases that potentially involve communication errors by medical professionals. We will work closely with doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to get to the bottom of what happened in your case. For a free case evaluation, do not wait to call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us through our website.
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