You are probably aware that distraction among drivers leads to many people getting injured. If you or a loved one is injured when receiving medical treatment, it’s wise to consider whether distraction might be the cause of that, too.
Doctors, like drivers, need to concentrate intently on what they are doing. Yet, just like most people, they can easily get distracted. The problem is that the consequences can be much worse than if the average person gets distracted. If their mind wanders away from the patient they are treating – particularly during a procedure — it could lead to serious harm.
Even if their mind drifts when a patient is recounting their symptoms, the doctor may not pick up on something vital to helping them diagnose a serious illness before it spreads. If the doctor is distracted when writing a prescription, they might write the wrong drug or dosage. This could do direct harm, such as if they prescribe something the patient has a bad reaction to. Even if that doesn’t happen, it could fail to bring the improvements the correct drug would, leading to the patient deteriorating rather than stabilizing or improving.
Multiple forms of distraction
Hospitals are easy places to get distracted, as there is so much going on. Doctors may catch snippets of conversation between colleagues, patients or visitors that cause them to lose focus. They might have someone purposely distracting them, such a colleague who needs their opinion or a patient who wants information or more pain relief.
Just because distraction is common, that does not make it excusable. Hospitals and medical staff need to stay aware of the dangers of distraction and have safeguards in place to catch errors caused by distraction before they result in harm. Those who suffer treatment may want to investigate whether distraction was to blame. Proving negligence will be crucial to any attempt to claim compensation. Getting experienced legal guidance is a good place to start.