Taking a Proactive Stand Against Medical Error

At some point in everyone’s life, they or a loved one will be hospitalized. Compounding the stress of a hospital stay is the dangerous reality of medical errors. Approximately 195,000 people in the United States die each year due to hospital medical errors. Hospitals have the unfortunate effect of placing vulnerable people in vulnerable situations. A person who has been admitted to the hospital is rarely equipped to monitor the care they are receiving. However, there are proactive ways to minimize the chance you or a loved one may fall victim to medical error.

Advocating for Better Care

An effective way to prevent medical error is to have someone advocate for you, or for you to act as an advocate for a loved one. An advocate focuses on monitoring and overseeing the patient’s medical care and watching for potential errors. An advocate’s most important roles include monitoring medication, being present for rounds and doctors’ visits, maintaining up to date treatment records, establishing relationships with care providers, and insisting on good hygiene practices by visitors and care professionals. The advocate should prepare for face-to-face meetings with doctors by writing down questions and concerns ahead of time. An advocate should be comfortable asking questions, doing outside research, speaking up when an instruction or action is not clear, and requesting second opinions. The ideal patient advocate is pro-active, polite, articulate, involved, detail oriented and organized. While the advocate is focused on keeping a watchful eye in the hospital, the patient can focus on getting out.

Knowing Your Rights as a Patient

Patients in any health care setting have certain rights provided by law. In Massachusetts, General Law chapter 111, section 70E sets forth the Patients’ Bill of Rights. As a patient or patient advocate, you should know and assert your patient rights. Health care facilities should be able to provide a list of patients’ rights and also have a mechanism for addressing violations of those rights. Here is a list of some of the major rights you should be aware of:

• You have the right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.
• You have a right upon request to inspect your medical records, request a change to, or receive an accounting of disclosures regarding personal health information, and for a reasonable fee, receive a copy of your record.
• You have a right to refuse to be observed, examined or treated by students or any other staff without jeopardizing your access to care.
• You have a right to refuse to participate as a research subject.
• You have a right to personal dignity and, to the extent reasonably possible, to privacy during medical treatment and other care.
• You have the right to have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected.
• You have a right to informed consent.
• You have the right to file a grievance with the hospital and several government agencies if you have concerns regarding your care and treatment.

Most people want to avoid hospitalization. However, preparing for a hospital stay can minimize the stress of a health crisis, and contribute to a safe and healthy experience. Setting up an advocate system, understanding an advocate’s responsibilities and being aware of your rights as a patient are key to taking a proactive stand against medical error.