When you get sick and require medical care, you expect everything to go accordingly. You are hospitalized, you go through surgery if needed, take medication and go home once you’re better. However, in certain situations, things don’t go according to the plan and unwanted incidents happen.

Although the health care system tries to ensure the patients’ well-being, mistakes can always happen, and they can really affect you. Here are 5 facts you need to know about medical mistakes and how they can affect you.

You Can Get More Sick at the Hospital

There are times when hospitals are not cleaned and disinfected properly. As a consequence, when you go there to treat your illness, you may end up acquiring an infection, thus becoming worse than you were when you arrived.

Some of these infections may include urinary infections, bloodstream infections, infections around the surgery site and pneumonias. Whereas some can be treated, there are some infections with bacteria that resists to antibiotics. They can be deadly, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

Misdiagnosis Can Be Deadly

In various situations, some doctors may not be able to give you a diagnosis, saying you are not ill, or you may get a total wrong diagnosis. It doesn’t only happen when it comes to rare conditions – cancer, pneumonia and congestive heart failure may be things the doctor fails to catch.

Not only a wrong diagnosis may delay the treatment, but it can be deadly too, just as not receiving a diagnosis at all.

The Wrong Treatment May End Badly

Imagine that you are told you need to undergo brain surgery when you actually don’t. As a result, you are left unable to speak, and partially paralyzed. This could all happen if the doctor gives you the wrong treatment, as it may have a tragic turn. It all sounds scary, but in some rare situations, it’s not impossible.

Moreover, you may receive the wrong medicine, which not only has no effect on your illness, but your condition ends up getting worse.

Not All Doctors Know Everything

Knowledge gaps are possible, and there are things some doctors have no idea that they don’t know. There is always new information, and it may be hard to keep up with the new ideas. Consequently, they may not know what to do with a patient, or may give the patient the wrong medication or treatment, which can end in tragic ways.

The Wrong Drug Dosage Can Be Life-Threatening

Taking the wrong drug dosage can happen, such as a child getting an adult dose, for instance. It can happen when the personnel stocks medication in the wrong places, which leads to either the wrong drug being administered, or the incorrect dosage. It can lead to a number of complications.

Final Thoughts

Mistakes are bound to happen, even when it comes to medical care. It’s essential to be aware of the possible risks, so you know what may be the cause if something goes wrong.

However, if you think you’re the victim of medical malpractice, you should seek the help of medical malpractice attorneys.

Author's Bio: 

Author, Freelance writer