Problems with technological advancements may be drastically adding to the amount of medical errors that affect up to 16 percent of patients admitted to hospitals, according to a recent Medical Daily article.
In a comparison of 28 studies regarding medical mistakes, researchers found that 70 percent of errors are related to equipment available in operating rooms, 44 percent are due to accessibility, configuration and settings of equipment in the room, and 34 percent are related to direct malfunctioning of equipment during use. Between 12 and 18 percent of malpractice claims are made and approved based on equipment and technology failures.
Close to 50 percent of all adverse events in hospitals are attributable to surgical procedures. While it is true that many emergency procedures are performed without any pre-planning and without much notice, the results of these studies are alarmingly based on all procedures.
A checklist created by the World Health Organization must now be consulted before and during a procedure in all operating rooms and is meant to ensure than an operating room has all the possible equipment needed in working order. Checklists, and similar interventions, reduced equipment error by an average of 49 percent. Read the full details here:
Suing For Malpractice?: 70% Of Medical Errors Can Be Blamed On Technology And Equipment Failures
Malpractice, negligence and wrongful death occur thousands of times a month in the U.S. A cause not commonly recognized is the equipment in the OR or the hospital which causes these issues. Sometimes modern machinery, computers and new equipment do more harm than good for the patients they are designed to help.
If you or a family member believe you have a medical malpractice case, contact Crandall & Pera Law today for a free case evaluation. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.