How to protect yourself from medical errors?

Only in the U.S. because of them die from 44 to 98 thousand people annually. It's more than from cancer, AIDS or car accidents. The whole blame for mistakes of doctors.

Errors in diagnosis, prescription drugs, or during surgery can lead to the death of the patient. At admission the patient who needs a strict diet, fed normal diet. Due to illegible handwriting of a doctor in the recipe gives the pharmacist is not a cure. The surgeon makes an operation on a healthy footing. Many are afraid to go to the hospital and go to the doctor because of these mistakes.

Solution to this problem exists and it is in your hands. A patient who seeks information about his condition, has a better chance of recovery. Modern health care system is quite complicated, and good communication between doctor and patient is very important for effective treatment.

Insufficiently informed about their disease the patient is unlikely to be actively involved in treatment. Such a patient probably will not be accurately implement the recommendations of a physician. It is therefore essential to find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable - which you can ask the right questions and obtain clarification. Patients perceive the way they are treated, much less the victims of medical errors.

How to prevent errors?

* Be active and interested. Try to understand all that concerns your health or treatment. Only a conscious, informed decisions yield good results.
* Be sure to call your doctor all medications (including OTC medications and dietary supplements) that you are taking. This will avoid the wrong destination. Some drugs do not mix with each other and may reduce or increase the effects of other drugs.
* Tell your doctor about all cases of allergy to medications that you have. Ask about your medications. Specify the method and duration of its use, side effects and possible interactions with other drugs.
* When buying a medicine, double-check that this is precisely the medicine that doctors prescribe. 88% of errors due to the fact that the pharmacy did not issue a medication or need medication in the wrong dosage.
* If you need hospitalization, try to find a specialized hospital. The more experienced doctors, the more likely to receive quality treatment. This is particularly true of surgical intervention.
* Do not hesitate to point to the need for health care workers to wash their hands. Unfortunately, doctors and nurses do it regularly. Vigilance patients makes health-care workers to wash their hands more frequently and more thoroughly.
* If you are recommended to do an operation, make sure that you yourself, a surgeon and your doctor are convinced of its necessity and a clear idea of what will be done. Alas, the operation of healthy limbs and organs still occur. While you are not given anesthesia, ask your doctors that they are going to operate.
* Do not be afraid to say that you are interested and care about. Do you have a right to know everything that relates to your health.
* While in the hospital, make sure that the attending physician on duty, or follow the progress of your treatment. This is especially important if you have not one but several diseases.
* Ask a family member or friend to represent your interests. It is necessary in those cases when you are not able to do so.
* Remember that "more" does not mean "better". Appointment of additional examinations or drugs does not mean that they'll really need. Be sure to ask the doctor why he had appointed them.
* Do not believe that the lack of news - good news. If you have done some analysis, find out its result.
* Gather information about their disease and its treatment methods. Talk to your doctor and use other available sources. Indicate whether the designated course of treatment with the most modern and efficient.

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