Miscommunication May Constitute Medical Malpractice
If you’ve ever played the “Telephone” game, you know how easy it is for messages to get lost in translation in the line of communication. Medical providers often work as a part of a team, which means there are several junctures at which a miscommunication or lack of communication can have grave consequences for a patient.
If you or a loved one has been adversely affected by poor communication in a medical setting, you shouldn’t have to carry the burden of that error alone. The medical malpractice lawyers of Shelly Law Offices can gauge whether you have grounds for a lawsuit and pursue your compensation.
How Do Communication Errors Happen In Medicine?
There are many ways that the chain of communication can fail in a medical setting. Sometimes, the one-on-one interaction between doctor and patient is the problem. For example, a doctor may explain a diagnosis to a patient using language the patient doesn’t understand. Other times, an administrative error like swapping records for two patients with similar names can lead to an unwanted result. Other examples of faulty communication include:
- Nurses failing to relay important information to the doctor
- Hospital staff failing to communicate important information about patients during shift changes
- Miscommunication between lab technicians and physicians
- Radiology errors (misreading X-rays or MRI scans)
- Pharmacy errors or mistakes in administering medication
- Premature discharge from the ER or hospital
- Failure to inform patients of test results or a serious diagnosis
- Failure to obtain the patient’s informed consent before surgery or treatment
Miscommunication itself is not actionable. But communication errors can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis of cancer, unnecessary surgery and other serious harm. Regardless of where the communication broke down in your case, your health shouldn’t have to suffer for it. If it has, it’s time to call a lawyer.
Explore Your Legal Options If You Suspect Malpractice
You will know more about where you stand after speaking with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. To schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer at our Doylestown office, call 267-454-6594 local or 866-214-3323 toll-free, or write to us online.