Active involvement with patients is the first step to avoiding medical malpractice.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 7,000 people die each year from medication errors in hospitals. Avoiding these serious mistakes starts with you, the health care professional.

Medical errors often occur during the performance of routine tasks, such as providing the wrong meal to a patient on a low-sodium diet. While some mistakes can be blamed on the complexities of today’s health care system, many are due to poor provider-patient communication.

Where Errors Happen

Errors occur when medical care is executed incorrectly, or the wrong plan is initiated altogether. This care is typically provided in the following:

  • Clinics
  • Doctors’ offices
  • Emergency rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Operating rooms
  • Outpatient surgery centers
  • Patients’ homes
  • Pharmacies

These errors can involve the following:

  • Diagnosis equipment
  • Lab reports
  • Medicines
  • Surgery

Preventing Errors

The most important thing you can do to avoid errors—and a medical malpractice lawsuit—is to remain informed of every aspect of your patient’s health care.

Medication Mistakes

Approximately 88 percent of medication errors involve the wrong dose or the wrong drug. Here are some tips to avoid medication mistakes:

  • Making sure you are aware of every prescription and over-the-counter medication your patient is taking
  • Staying up to date on your patient’s known allergies to medications
  • Making sure your handwriting on the prescription is legible
  • Explaining directions in a patient-friendly fashion

These directions should include volume, frequency, foods, beverages and activities to avoid, total length of time, and any side effects that could occur.

Hospital Stays and Surgeries

  • Before surgery, make sure you, the patient and the surgeon have reached a consensus on what will take place.
  • Upon discharge, carefully explain the home treatment plan to your patient. Research shows that at discharge time, doctors think their patients understand more than they actually do.

For more ways to prevent medical malpractice, contact INSURICA today.

This is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2022 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

INSURICA
INSURICA

Share This Story

Stay Updated

Subscribe to the INSURICA blog and receive the latest news direct to your inbox.

Related Blogs

OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2025

October 8th, 2025|Blog, Risk Management, Trending|

OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2025 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance programs.

Cyber Hygiene for Schools: Teaching Digital Safety to Students

October 7th, 2025|Blog, Education|

Cyber hygiene for schools is more important than ever in today’s digital learning environment. Teaching digital safety to students not only protects their personal information but also strengthens overall school cybersecurity. With increasing online access in classrooms, cyber hygiene for schools must become a routine part of curriculum planning and student behavior expectations.

Mental Health Benefits Go Mainstream: What Employers Need to Know

October 6th, 2025|Blog, Employee Benefits|

Once considered a niche offering or a reactive add-on, mental health benefits have now moved to the center of the employee experience. In 2025, nearly half of U.S. employers offer some form of mental health support beyond traditional EAPs—a sharp rise from just 30% in 2023. This shift isn’t just cultural; it’s strategic.

Go to Top