Archive for 'Medical Errors' Category

Coping with Failure as a Medical Student

It is part of our profession that we will never stop trying to be perfect and – just as true – that we will always fall short. As a student, it tends to be about the tests you are taking and the feeling that you will never study enough. As a resident, it’s the feeling [...]

Malpractice Suits – What Medical Students Can Expect

Data from the American Medical Association’s 2007-2008 Physician Practice Information survey: 42.2 percent of physicians surveyed over the 2007 to 2008 field period had a medical liability claim filed against them at some point in their career. 15% of the physicians under age 40 and 60.5% of physicians over age 55 reported claims. Before they [...]

TV's Interference in Medical Education

Tom Blackwell: Intubation is the insertion of a tube down the windpipe, usually so a patient can be hooked up to a mechanical ventilator when they are unable to breathe properly on their own. The first step is to position the head properly so the tube can be quickly and easily installed. Dr. Brindley said [...]

Managing the Stress of a Medical Career – Talking to Eachother

George Hossfeld, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago, on is medical malpractice experience: It felt very personal when they asked for an award far more than my policy limits, and I, as the sole defendant, had to imagine the possibility of losing my house, retirement savings, and kids’ college fund. [...]

How to Correct Medical Errors

Megan Fix, MD: When medical errors occur, it is our duty to disclose them. Truthful disclosure is good for patients. Recent evidence shows us that most patients actually prefer to know about medical errors that have happened to them. Furthermore, surveyed patients said they would be less likely to sue if they were informed of [...]

How do Doctors Heal?

One of my friends lost a patient some time ago… It was the kind of case every anesthesiologist hopes never to have to face. Unfortunately, it’s also the kind of situation that comes to every anesthesiologist’s table sooner or later, regardless of his or her skill and experience. My anesthesiologist friend asked me a very [...]

How to Avoid Clinical Errors

Ted R. Melnick, MD… 1. A common disease presenting in a common way (horses); 2. A common disease presenting in an uncommon way; 3. An uncommon disease presenting in a common way; and 4. An uncommon disease presenting in an uncommon way (zebras). After seeing horse after horse, we develop pattern recognition and must be [...]

Medical Errors

Every attending has at least one or two areas where they have previously “gotten burned.” No matter how hard we try to be perfect, we will represent, and later resent, our humanity, our imperfection. We will do something that will greatly harm a patient. I’m sadly starting to learn something that may explain doctor behavior: [...]