Accurate and complete medical records are critical to providing safe and proper medical care to patients. If you suspect that your medical injury was the result of an error or omission in your medical record, you need to contact a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney as quickly as possible. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we will critically evaluate the circumstances of your case to determine if malpractice occurred as well as your eligibility for compensation.
Errors in Medical Records
When an elderly couple moved to the other side of the country, they brought their medical files with them in a few cardboard folders. Within two days after the move, the man fell and went to a hospital for an assessment. While waiting to see a doctor, the man looked through the folder and realized that there were extensive notes on another patient with the same name. That patient to whom the file rightfully belonged had much more serious and complex health problems than the man who had possession of the file.
Sadly, errors relating to medical records are not uncommon. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, almost 1 in 10 people who retrieve records online ultimately have to ask that they be fixed for a number of reasons. Common examples of errors that can adversely impact a patient’s health include:
- Transcription errors;
- Omissions from medical records;
- Incorrect information (i.e., a diagnosis, scan or lab result) being placed in a patient’s file;
- Inadequate information on patient history;
- Wrong or inadequate information regarding medications or allergies.
Mistakes in Medical Records Leading to Medical Malpractice
Any patient who suffers physical, psychological or financial harm due to a medical professional’s error has the right to pursue damages from the at-fault party. In the context of mistakes in medical records, when preventable errors in medical records or medical records being mixed up are the cause of patient harm the injured patient will likely be able to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim.
In New York, medical professionals are required to treat their patients with the same degree of knowledge, skill and ability as an ordinarily competent medical professional would under the same or similar circumstances. When medical professionals fail to uphold their legal duty by being careless or making preventable errors, they can and should be held responsible for the resulting harm. It is important to note that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to show that the medical professional’s error or substandard care was the direct cause of his or her injury.
Diligent Syracuse Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to an error in your medical file, you may be able to recover compensation through a medical malpractice claim. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced and hard-working Syracuse malpractice attorneys are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause. You can rest assured that we will offer competent and compassionate representation every step of the way. For a free consultation, please call us 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
Malpractice Related to Peptic Ulcers in Syracuse, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, October 25, 2018
Family of Patient who Committed Suicide Wins Medical Malpractice Claim, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, October 21, 2018
Migraines/Headaches and Medical Malpractice in Syracuse, Syracuse Personal Injury Blog, October 17, 2018