In Boston medical malpractice cases, sometimes the term “never events” gets thrown around. It’s a reference to the types of medical errors that health professionals agree should never happen. And yet, they do. Some examples:
- Retained surgical instruments (surgical tools, sponges, etc. being left inside a patient after a procedure);
- Wrong surgery site (a surgeon performs surgery on the wrong limb, body part, person, etc.);
- Urinary tract infection from a catheter;
- Pressure ulcers (Stage III and IV);
- Falls and trauma;
- Surgical site infections;
- Medication error fatalities;
- Administration of incompatible blood;
- Air embolisms.
Now, a recent study by Castlight-Leapfrog reveals not only are these events occurring, they are happening with alarming frequency. Although there is always some risk a patient incurs with every type of medical treatment. And just because someone suffers a poor health outcome doesn’t necessarily mean medical malpractice is to blame. However, these “never events” are so egregious for the fact that they are deemed entirely preventable. We know what causes them. We know how to stop them. And hospitals should have procedures and policies in place that are strictly followed by staffers to ensure these kinds of things never happen. Continue reading
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