Imagine going to the hospital for a routine surgery and having the wrong organ removed or dying from an infection that you acquired while under a doctor's supervision. It seems almost impossible in today's high tech culture, doesn't it? However, similar instances of medical malpractice seem to be prevalent in Pennsylvania, as well as throughout the rest of the nation.

Doctors and health officials started to take notice of the sheer volume of negligent mistakes that occur in hospitals when instances such as the woman who contracted an infection that caused her lower leg and foot to turn black, came to light. The woman wore special socks to help with her circulation and the hospital staff was instructed to change those socks after every shift, but failed to do so. Therefore, they failed to notice a deadly infection that ultimately took the woman's life.

Eventually, health care professionals started exploring the use of checklists to ensure that simple mistakes, like changing a patient's socks, operating on the correct part of the body or remembering remove all medical supplies from patients following a surgery, actually happened. According to reports, hospitals that used checklists regularly reported fewer instances of serious medical mistakes than those that did not.

Another issue that is being addressed in many hospitals is the ability to control disease and infection by simply having doctors and medical staff wash their hands before treating their next patient. Many hospitals are now encouraging medical students and resident doctors to remind their superiors to wash their hands if they notice that the doctor forgot. While many medical students are reported to be uncomfortable with questioning their superiors, these types of changes in the hierarchy of the medical profession could increase safety for everyone.

Source: Kaiser Health News, "Doctor, Did You Check Your Checklist?" Bara Vaida, Jan. 30, 2012