The human face of medical mistakes

Medical Error Medical Error There are many cases in hospitals where medical errors lead to deaths or worse conditions on patients due inaccuracy in diagnosis or treatment for such cases like injuries, diseases, infection or syndrome. Medical error occurs as a result of incomplete or inaccurate or when a healthcare provider executes the treatment or diagnosis improperly. Medical errors are referred as human errors that are experienced in health care. More than 100, 000 preventable deaths in US are reported annually owing to medical errors that occur in healthcare centers. This study will attempt on outlining the various implications that occur as a result of inaccuracy or poorly executed diagnosis or treatment.
Before this study, I had very limited information about medical errors that existed before. Though I always felt that doctors might be engaged in situations where they execute treatments and diagnosis improperly, I didn’t realize that it could be so serious that so many people die owing to medical errors. The IOM statistical analysis reveals that almost over 100, 000 patients die annually owing to medical errors. It means that many deaths which are preventable occur owing to inaccuracy in the treatment and diagnosis process (Gibson and Singh, 2003).
According to Part 1 of Gibson and Singh, there are various cases of patients who suffered from the fate of medical error. A medical error case is reported about a patient who was misdiagnosed by his doctor and improper treatment led to loss of life. Justin, who was nineteen years old, was taken to an emergency room where his physician misdiagnosed him with an extensive infection as pinched nerve. The physician sent him home as his blood pressure was reading low and he had very rapid pulse. His mother claimed that the doctors didn’t think outside the box since they would not have misdiagnosed the boy (Gibson and Singh, 2003).
After reading the case about misdiagnosis on Justin, I felt that he was left to die owing to inaccuracy in diagnosis. Misdiagnosis may seem like injustice to someone since one is prescribed the wrong drugs that do not help to solve the problem he suffers from. The error that occurred in the case is that there was inaccuracy in diagnosis and thus the treatment on the patient was wrong. The patient was released to go home when the reading of blood pressure was low and he had a rapid pulse. Owing to wrong treatment, the patient died. The safety initiatives that could have prevented the situation is that physician should have undertaken a serious study of the patient or he could have involved another physician to ensure that there is no misdiagnosis that occurs. The case is so compelling to me because it involves a young freshman student who was left to die owing to wrong treatment. His mother claims that they did not think outside the box and thus she also understands that the problem could have been prevented (Gibson and Singh, 2003).
In conclusion, medical error is a common problem that leads to deaths or worse conditions. Medical error is preventable and doctors need to be more diligent when undertaking diagnosis. If medical error could be reduced, deaths could decrease.
Reference
Gibson, R., & Singh, J. P. (2003). Wallofsilence: The untold story of the medical mistakes that kill and injure millions of Americans. Washington, D. C: LifeLine Press.