Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Miscommunication and Malpractice
December 22, 2016Communication is a key element in any relationship, whether it is between a married couple or the members of a corporate board meeting. When the lines of communication break down, things can fall apart quickly. This is also true in the hospital setting. Poor communication between hospital staff members can lead to medical errors, hospital negligence, or prescription errors that can jeopardize the health and safety of the patients. Considering the fact that medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States, it is of the utmost importance to understand the causes of poor communication so that improvements can be made that will reduce the incidence of medical malpractice.
In the hospital setting, there is a hierarchy among the staff, which can cause communication problems. For example, if a nurse feels intimidated by a respected surgeon, he or she may hesitate to ask a question about a recommended course of treatment out of fear that the question is insignificant, or that he or she should know the answer. Clearly, this can result in significant errors.
Written vs. Verbal Orders
Oftentimes, a physician may write very detailed notes in a patient’s chart, but fail to verbally communicate those orders to the nurse. If the nurse does not read the patient’s chart right away, assuming the doctor would communicate important treatment orders verbally as well, this could put the patient at risk.
Dangers of Delayed Communication
When time-sensitive information is not shared when it should be, it can be just as dangerous as a complete lack of communication. When patients do not receive life-saving medication due to a communication error, it can have deadly consequences.
Another example of a communication breakdown is when a patient is released from the hospital before all necessary tests have been run. Effective communication is critical in providing the best medical care and avoiding dangerous medical errors.
Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Victims of Medical Errors
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a medical error, contact the Maryland medical malpractice lawyers at www. Our experienced, dedicated team will work closely with you to determine where the communication breakdown occurred and who is responsible for your injuries. Our goal is to obtain the maximum financial compensation that you deserve, while protecting your rights and reputation. For a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent victims of medical malpractice in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
