Medical malpractice occurs when patients do not receive a professional standard of care and are harmed as a result. Many different factors can contribute to malpractice. Poor equipment maintenance could be a concern. Gaps in professional training can also contribute to malpractice.
In many cases, medical malpractice can result from an individual physician making questionable decisions. The circumstances in which that professional works can potentially contribute to the risk of patients experiencing serious malpractice in a hospital or similar setting.
Doctors receive competitive pay in most cases, but they have to deal with intense employer demands and challenging work schedules. The demands placed on physicians can contribute to the likelihood of malpractice occurring.
Inadequate time for charting
Medical charts play a crucial role in the current treatment and future diagnosis of a patient. The more information health care providers have, the easier it is for them to determine the underlying cause of certain symptoms. The high number of patients a doctor sees can make it difficult for them to include adequate details in every patient chart. Particularly when doctors rush from one patient room to the next, they might forget information that they likely need to include in medical records.
Professional burnout
Physicians sometimes have to make life-or-death decisions about the care of their patients. They deal with people experiencing pain, which may mean that they are not necessarily on their best behavior. The intense daily pressure a physician faces at work can slowly add up and affect how the doctor performs their job. Many physicians eventually experience concerning burnout symptoms that lead to them overlooking information or rushing through patient encounters without adequately investigating. They may reach the wrong diagnostic conclusion or may not provide their best efforts when treating a patient.
Constant distractions
No matter how intelligent an individual is, they likely aren’t capable of actually multitasking. The human brain can truly only focus on one task at a time. Doctors often face sudden demands on their attention while charting or reviewing test results. Someone asks them a question, interrupting their thought process. They can miss crucial information or fail to reach a reasonable conclusion because they have to redirect their attention and split their focus.
Malpractice is often a result of unsustainable and stressful working conditions rather than malicious intentions on the part of the healthcare professional. Their employers may essentially set them up for failure by scheduling long shifts, requiring large patient loads and mandating a minimum number of patient visits.
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit when a doctor makes a major mistake or oversight due to burnout, communication issues or distraction might eventually lead to better working conditions and better patient outcomes. Legal action is often the only way to hold health care businesses accountable for putting profits ahead of worker well-being and patient outcomes.