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Health care professionals are entrusted to take care of people in their hour of need. Thus, no one expects to be seriously harmed while being tended to by medical personnel. Unfortunately, negligent errors made by doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff occur more often than many realize, resulting in a number of medical malpractice claims every year. Delayed or misdiagnosis, childbirth injuries, medication mistakes, and surgical errors are some of the most common reasons malpractice lawsuits are filed.

According to Bernard M. Tully Attorney at Law in Pittsburgh, PA, the number of cases involving surgical errors could be reduced if there was a more consistent implementation of checklists in the operating room. Below, he explains why  checklists help improve patient safety.

What Impact Do Checklists Have on Surgical Errors & Medical Malpractice Claims?

World Health Organization Checklist Study

In a study conducted by the World Health Organization, several hospitals committed to using a checklist to help ensure proper operating protocol was followed before, during, and after surgery. The study showed a 22% difference in mortality rates between the hospitals that used the checklist and those that did not. The idea behind enforcing checklists is to make sure medical teams remember each important step of the surgical process without having to rely on memory alone. Regardless of education and experience, health care experts are still human and vulnerable to making mistakes in high stress and complex situations such as surgery. This is why medical malpractice frequently takes place.

Surgical Safety Checklist

medical malpractice

The surgical safety checklist put together by the World Health Organization is broken up into three parts, covering everything before the induction of anesthesia, before the skin incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. It includes key tasks that must be performed in each of these stages. With a checklist present, surgical teams are encouraged to slow down, consciously take their time following every step, and communicate with one another about patient safety concerns.

It’s not uncommon for investigations into medical malpractice claims to reveal that patients were harmed because of simple errors. Much of this could be prevented with the adoption of checklists. Even the slightest misstep during surgery could lead to substantial injury or even death. If this has happened to you or a loved one, it’s important to seek legal advice from a personal injury attorney right away. Contact Bernard M. Tully Attorney at Law at (412) 281-8700 to discuss your rights and options, or visit him online for additional information. You can also connect with him on Facebook.

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