One thing that can sometimes lead to medical malpractice is if a doctor is distracted. This can cause them to overlook key information, not ask the right questions or make other fundamental errors. For instance, a doctor who is distracted may administer a medication to the wrong patient without realizing they’ve made a mistake. If that patient is taking other medications, they could have a fatal interaction.
But distraction may only be growing more common. Like drivers, many doctors face distraction from smartphones and other devices. Many of these devices can be useful and even necessary. Doctors will use devices to access electronic medical records, for instance, or to text colleagues to seek advice or confirmation. Some of them may even use clinical reference tools on these devices in an effort to provide better care.
In other words, the doctors may not be getting distracted or offering poor care intentionally, but just trying to use all the tools at their disposal to provide excellent care. Unfortunately, even with good intentions, this can lead to high levels of distraction that may undermine their efforts and actually lead to a larger number of mistakes.
What options do people have?
It’s true that doctors do make mistakes because they’re human, just like anyone working in any industry. But they are supposed to strive to uphold a certain standard of care. When a doctor acts negligently, it’s about more than just an adverse outcome. That outcome could’ve theoretically been avoided if the person had been given the proper level of care.
As a result, patients who have suffered harm may have legal options to seek compensation. They must know what steps to take after such an event occurs.