How Do Electronic Errors Cause Medical Malpractice Suits?

Electronic Errors Lead to Rise in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Shapiro Law Group

Medical mistakes caused by healthcare technology have become a major cause of injury lawsuits. According to The Doctors Company, a medical malpractice insurance company, electronic errors accounted for only 1 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits in the years from 2007 to 2013.

However, because medical malpractice lawsuits can take a while to close, existing statistics on litigation can be deceptive. The review from The Doctors Company shows that the cases of medical malpractice lawsuits caused by electronic errors have doubled from 2013 to 2014.

How Can Electronic Errors Harm Patients?

Electronic errors can cause a range of problems, from misdiagnosis to medication errors. Several of the lawsuits allege that both machines and the healthcare providers operating them are responsible for the medical mistakes.

For example, typos from pharmacists can lead to medication errors. As readers of our blog know, medication errors can have fatal consequences for patients.

In other cases, the machines used to treat patients are responsible for mistakes, and not the people operating them. If patients have a serious condition but computer records list them as healthy, they could be misdiagnosed.

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine recommended that additional institutions be created to help reduce the risk of electronic errors in hospitals.

If the review of these lawsuits is true, then patients harmed by negligent medical care might have even more legal options available. Faulty equipment and medical care would mean more than one party is responsible.

Our readers can learn more about how medical malpractice attorneys select cases by visiting our YouTube page.

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