Doctors are not obligated to diagnose every disease immediately. Some delays will happen. However, doctors do have an obligation to avoid negligence and to avoid unreasonable delays. Patients deserve a certain standard of care, and that standard should be upheld. For...
Why do patient mortality rates go up with the doctor’s age?
When looking at patient mortality rates, there is an interesting correlation between those rates and the physician's age. Mortality rates tend to increase on a fairly consistent basis, as doctors get older. For example, when looking at physicians who are under 40...
The issue with doctors interrupting their own patients
Ideally, when someone goes to the doctor, they should feel like they are participating in the conversation. They are providing the doctor with an account of what happened to them and the symptoms they have been experiencing. In return, the doctor is considering their...
What is behind medical mistakes known as “never events?”
In a hospital, there are certain things that should never happen. There are often many safeguards in place to prevent them. These are known as “never events.” They do still happen, of course. For example, wrong-site surgery is a never event. The surgeon should never...
Common reasons for delayed diagnosis
For many health conditions, timing is everything. When you see a doctor, you want them to not only make an accurate diagnosis but to identify the condition as efficiently as possible. A delayed diagnosis can have serious consequences, such as worsening the condition,...
Did your surgeon commit a wrong-site error?
Patients often experience anxiety before surgical operations. You certainly don't want to dwell on the possibility of your surgeon making a life-altering mistake while you're under anesthesia, especially after you've come to terms with the fact that the surgery is...
Can a medication contraindication lead to medical malpractice?
Millions of adults in the United States have a chronic illness and are taking prescription medications to manage their condition. Unfortunately, having one chronic illness can sometimes increase the risk of getting another one, along with the medications to treat it....
Is that skin condition cancer or not?
Skin cancer is incredibly common in America. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, it is the most common type of cancer people experience. They estimate that it will affect roughly 20% of Americans or one out of every five people. Every day,...
What are the dangers of a delayed ovarian cancer diagnosis?
Ovarian cancer is known as the "silent killer" for a reason. Its symptoms can be subtle and easily mistaken for other conditions. This may lead to delayed diagnosis and potentially devastating consequences. The dangers of delayed detection When ovarian cancer goes...
Is medical gaslighting a sign of medical malpractice?
Physicians have to complete a rigorous education, pass a state test and maintain a license to practice medicine. While they work as medical doctors, they must adhere to best practices and uphold their Hippocratic Oath. That oath includes a promise to do no harm....