9 Ways to Prevent Medical Negligence
Three years ago, today. My eldest died. It was Medical Negligence. A nurse was too busy talking on her cell-phone to notice that she had increased the drip rate too high for a 14month old to tolerate it. Zuzu had cardiac arrest within minutes and died.
What happened could have been prevented. There were a series of negligent behaviour prior to that fatal drip that had led her to be hospitalised in the first place. As parents, we try our best to protect our children but sometimes we fail. None of us fail deliberately. We are human and we are always working in God’s hands. Death, life, events. Everything is according to his wish. We are mere players. It isn’t exactly that we don’t have control over our actions and behaviour. We do.
In three years, this is what I have said and continue to preach to everyone around me. If you are a mom or a dad or a grandparent or if you have niece and nephews or friends who have kids or if you care about children, pass this message on.
- Always educate yourself. None of us come trained as parents. We don’t always know how to bring up a child well but we can learn. Read books, learn to google information well, talk to your doctor, talk to those who know, listen to those who advice you and learn to apply your knowledge where and when needed.
- Don’t be blind to negligence. If you feel like someone isn’t ‘caring’ enough about what you say or what you do or giving you the right treatment then, tell them so. Find that ‘someone’ who will listen, who will hear you out. Who will give that ‘right treatment’.
- Never forgive negligence. It isn’t enough to tell the person that he or she is not performing their duty well. Tell the authority over them. Punish them. I know how hard I sound but being forgiving may take someone’s life the next time they make a mistake.
- Never ignore your gut feeling. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. Don’t wait around to see yourself proven wrong.
- Please remove your rose tinted glasses. A bigger hospital and a doctor with more letters in front of his name does not guarantee health. No, it isn’t enough if you have medical insurance either. Bigger hospitals don’t necessarily give better treatment. Infact, they are better at covering up their negligence and avoiding law suits. If you have insurance, some hospitals will misuse it. Doctors with special degrees will only consider ailments in their area of specialization. Polyclinics, private doctors and smaller hospitals provide good services too.
- When you have an emergency go to ER . But, always remember that the ER is the ER and they provide emergency treatment only. You must go see a specialist or consultant later until you are fully cured.
- A doctor is either a specialist or a consultant. Specialist don’t have a right to admit patients in most hospitals. They cannot over look an in-patient. If, for some reason, you need to be admitted or you need a surgery, you will need to see a consultant. It is always better to find your consultant yourself than to wait for someone to assign one for you.
- Doctors, nurses and care givers: Please do your duty. When a patient comes to you, treat them well. It is because they are in pain or sick and are really in need of your service. It may be nothing more than a cold but if someone is sick, they are sick. Tell them what is ailing them, tell them how to get well. Talk to them. They did not come to you to be given a tablet and a syrup and shooed away.
- Doctors, nurses and hospitals: Turn off your mobile phones when attending a patient. Need I say more?
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If you are a mom or a dad or a grandparent or if you have niece and nephews or friends who have kids or if you care about children, pass this message on.
I am very sorry for your loss. There are no words that can bring comfort, but pinning this to my Create Awareness board in hopes it saves a child. You are in my prayers because of the hole left in your heart.
Amee
So sorry for your loss. I think we expect professionals to do the right thing and feel out of place speaking up, but you are so right that we need to pay attention and say something. (((hugs)))
This is definitely a poignant message. I appreciate your sharing your story. Even if you can reach one person that can pay more attention and speak up if they have the slightest suspicion, then you have done a great service.
Hugs to you. But these are some great tips that should be passed along. Prayers to you and your family.
Thanks for all the hugs and support ladies. Thank you so much for sharing my Cause. The more people we can reach the more lives we can save. Be happy and safe.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I cannot even imagine what you must have felt/are feeling.
Thank you for sharing your story and offering this advice
I have seen medical negligence and I now keep myself very informed. I always ask questions and look up the side effects and risks on my own. So sorry for your loss.
I am so so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story and raising awareness.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I totally agree that you have to speak up when you know something is wrong. I also think when anyone is in the hospital they should have an advocate there with them. My brother almost died after a bad reaction to anesthesia, and if my mom hadn't been in the room with him he would have. So scary.
Your comment "Never ignore your gut feeling. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. Don't wait around to see yourself proven wrong." is the most important thing that I think all parents need to learn.
If I had truly listened to my gut feelings and not waited for proof, my son would be alive today. He was the victim of someone's deliberate negligence.