When you go to a medical office, you expect to be treated with the utmost standard of medical care. However, when doctors are tired, medical mistakes can happen. COVID-19 is harming the health of many, including the medical frontrunners working overtime during the pandemic.
When doctors and medical staff are overworked, tiredness can be the root cause of a medical injury. Forbes released a recent article detailing the dangers of medical professionals working when overtired. It stated, “late afternoon fatigue affects many physicians.”
The article followed up by saying “…primary care physicians… slip up and make mistakes in the afternoon that they wouldn’t have made earlier in the morning.” Mayo Clinic published a similar article recently validating these claims. Evidence suggest more than half of American doctors suffer from doctor fatigue.
What is Doctor Fatigue?
Doctor fatigue and tiredness is a work-related syndrome many medical professionals suffer with. Its symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Disassociation
- Emotional and physical exhaustion
- Depression
- Cynicism
- Feelings of reduced effectiveness
- Suicidal thoughts
- Feelings of worthlessness
Technical mistakes during medical procedures are more likely when a doctor is fatigued in addition to errors in medical judgment and diagnosing conditions and potential illnesses.
Common Medical Mistakes
Doctor fatigue and medical professional tiredness can lead to medical malpractice. Studies have been conducted and show doctor fatigue is positively correlated with:
- Lower patient satisfaction
- Reduced quality of care
- Lower patient safety
- Make mistakes on medical charts
- Surgical errors
- Higher turnover rates
Unfortunately, medical mistakes can lead to life-threatening situations, even death. Families of injured loved ones are then financially responsible to cover the debt and associated medical consequences. It is a doctor’s duty to provide the standard care to their patients whilst promoting the safety of their patients.
Who is Liable?
If you or a loved one is injured due to the negligence of a medical professional, you may have a claim. The medical facility and staff are liable if they are found negligent in providing safe care of their patients. Doctors can improperly prescribe medicines, cause death and not properly order and complete necessary tests all at the medical expense of their patients.
When a healthcare professional neglects to provide appropriate treatment, takes the improper action or provides less than standard treatment, medical malpractice has occurred. It is imperative to immediately contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one suffered at the hands of a medical professional, call Mr. David Klink, a top Arizona personal injury attorney. Mr. Klink has years of experience handling medical claims and helping his clients receive the compensation they deserve.
Mr. Klink has a long record of obtaining successful results from his clients in Arizona. He is also offering remote work during the novel coronavirus pandemic. He can be reached by phone or online to help investigate your case involving doctor fatigue and pursuing compensation for injuries.
