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RECENT CASES |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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| Patient Guidelines
to Prevent Hospital Errors and Medical Malpractice |
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| Hospitals
and medical centers are busy places, with few health
care providers and many patients. To help prevent
critical healthcare errors, patients can take some
steps and participate actively in their own health
care. The following information was prepared by
the Consumer Attorneys of California. |
| If you have questions or concerns or do not understand a procedure or treatment that you are undergoing, don't be afraid to speak up and ask your doctor or other healthcare provider to explain things to you. If a doctor or nurse seems to have you confused with another patient, speak up. |
| Research your illness and the treatments out there. Find out if your doctor is specialized in that particular treatment, if possible. Take notes on what your doctor tells you, so that you can look for additional information on your own. Do not sign forms unless you have actually read them. |
| When you are under the stress of medical treatment, you may not be always capable of overseeing your own care. Have someone you can trust keep an eye on your medication and be there to ask questions when you cannot. After a hospital stay or doctor's visit, your advocate should know what to expect during your recovery. |
| You and your doctor should agree on the course of action of your treatment. You should understand the different types of tests your are taking and what your doctor expects to learn from the results. Consider a second opinion. |
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| Medication errors are the most common medical mistake. Take the time to learn the indications and the generic and brand names of any drug you have been prescribed. Ask your healthcare provider the name of the medication before he/she administers it. It is also important to inform your provider of any drug allergies or other drugs or dietary supplements you are taking (for potential drug interactions) before taking new medication. When a doctors gives you a prescription to fill, ensure that you can read the doctor's handwriting. |
| Before the surgery, make sure your surgeon adheres to the Universal Protocol, which is endorsed by 50 medical organizations. (Find out more at www.qualitycheck.org) Talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking and if you need to abstain from food or drink before an operation. Pre-arrange your transportation to and from the surgery. Ask someone to be your advocate (see above). Shower, wash your hair and remove all make-up and nail polish before leaving for the hospital. |
| At the hospital,
be sure to read the hospital's consent form thoroughly
and ask questions before you sign. The staff should
ask you who you are, the procedure you will be
undergoing and the body part that is being operated
upon. |
| Ensure that each staff
member is checking that information with what is
on your chart and x-rays. The doctor should mark
the site of the operation on your body before
you are sedated. Make sure there are no stray markings
on your body. Before you enter
the operating area, remove all accessories, eyeglasses
or dentures to ensure foreign objects do not get
in they way during the operation. |
| In the recovery room:
Your doctor or nurse should evaulate
your pain and provide appropriate medication or
other pain relief methods. If given medication,
ask for the name and the drugs potential side effects.
If you are on an IV, ask the provider how long
it should last and keep track of its progress. |
| If you or a loved one
has been injured as a result of a hospital or
medical error, please click
here to contact an experienced personal injury
attorney at the national law firm of Lieff
Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. |
| Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP is an over fifty attorney
law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. For the last five years,
the National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser
as one of the top 20 plaintiffs’ law firms in America. |
| For our personal injury cases, we bring a team of experienced
lawyers. Each client is assigned an individual lawyer. In addition, we have
on staff multiple nurses, legal assistants, scientific analysts and case
clerks to assist the attorneys. To learn more about our firm, click
here. |
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| Trademark
Notice: Personal Injury Lawyer America is an electronic newsletter
from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. Lieff Cabraser
represents clients in a wide range of cases, including personal
injury and wrongful
death lawsuits. Our personal injury attorneys
| lawyers are committed to providing the very best representation
and support possible for our clients. This website provides information
on the legal rights of the injured and the latest news on product
defects and related lawsuits. |
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About Lieff Cabraser: We have
offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. Our lawyers have
represented clients in personal injury, wrongful death and
rollover crashes and product defect lawsuits across America, including
residents of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,
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Among the cases our personal injury
attorneys are prosecuting are the Medtronic heart lead recall, the
AMO contact lens solution recall, the Peter Pan peanut butter recall, Guidant
pacemaker defects, SUV
rollover accidents, popcorn
workers lung injuries, and Ford
switch fires.
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| Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP |
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