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Protect
Yourself from Medical Mistakes |
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The
Institute of Medicine estimated that as many as 98,000 Americans
die each year as the result of medical mistakes. Safeguards
are continually being enacted for prevention, but there is
much you can do to protect yourself. The following tips for
protection offered by patient advocates and medical experts
are not fail-safe, but they may greatly reduce your chances
of becoming a victim of a medical error. |
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| AT
THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE |
| Ask
questions politely and pleasantly until you feel informed.
After all, it's your body. |
Learn
about your ailment and treatment options. You'll
be better able to participate in your care, increasing the
odds of detecting any mistakes. |
Have
an advocate with you at important doctor appointments.
The advocate (a relative or close friend) can help ask questions,
remember answers, and raise concerns you might not think of
while under stress. It’s a good idea to have a notebook
handy to write down important information. |
| Call
for test results within a week. Don’t assume
that because your doctor hasn’t phoned, everything is
okay. |
Mention
all medications you take and any allergies you have
to medicines. Even if you've written these down on a form,
remind your doctor, especially at the time he or she prescribes
new medications. |
| If
your doctor prescribes a medication, learn its name,
purpose, dose, possible side effects, and what it looks like.
Write it all down; keep your own up-to-date medications record.
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| If
you can't read your doctor's prescription, ask him
or her to write it again. It should be legible to anyone. |
| Get
a second opinion on any diagnosis or proposed treatment
of major consequence. |
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| AT
THE HOPITAL |
| For
special procedures, choose a hospital that performs
that procedure frequently. |
| Write
your name on a piece of paper and tape it above your
bed, helping prevent busy nurses from giving you a medicine
or procedure intended for someone else. If you have a drug allergy,
include a sign that reads “DO NOT GIVE ME ______.” |
| When
a nurse brings a medication make sure she checks your
hospital ID bracelet and medical chart. |
| Know
your regular medications’ names, purposes, what
they look like (pink pill, etc.), and your dose. Then if a nurse
hands you a yellow pill, you can say, "I don't take a yellow
pill." |
| Make
sure your provider wears gloves or has washed his/her hands
before coming in contact with your or before handling your IV,
catheter, etc. |
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| BEFORE
SURGERY |
| Learn
as much as possible about the operation. |
| If
you're having surgery on a limb write "Wrong leg"
or "Wrong arm" on the limb that is not supposed to
have the operation. |
| Pay
attention to whether you're allowed to eat or drink
anything before surgery. |
| In
the pre-surgery interview with your anesthesia professional,
mention all health conditions you have, medications you take,
and allergic reactions or other problems you or a blood relative
have had with an anesthetic. |
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