What exactly is medical negligence?
Posted on 02. Nov, 2009 by admin in Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is an act by a healthcare worker that differs from standards of care in the medical area and causes injury or death to the patient. Causes of medical negligence can range from improper cleaning of equipment, preventable medical errors, misdiagnosis and improper care. The majority of cases of medical negligence involve nursing home abuse, surgical mistakes, diagnosis and medication errors. The Department of Health sets and evaluates facility care guidelines. They also monitor and regulate medical licensure and complaints. You can ask for information as to what policies are protecting patient rights at any facility. You have the right to ask for policies and written standards of care. You also have the right to have all medications and procedures explained in non-medical or plain English. You also have the right to request copies of your records, or those of a family member if you are their medical power of attorney. Do not be afraid to ask questions. The healthcare worker may be busy, but it is their job to help. It is also beneficial to know that more facilities require a pass code or HIPPA code to access information. HIPPA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects your information from being given to anyone who is not granted access by you.