There is no question that hospitals throughout the country serve an important role in society. Many people enter the healthcare facilities quite ill and are released in good health. Despite these positive outcomes, mistakes are an all too real occurrence in hospitals located in Pittsburgh and beyond. While in some cases the errors are obvious, in others it is possible that the person on the receiving end of the medical error or his or her loved ones will never know that a mistake has occurred or not be aware of its extent.

A recent study supports this contention. The study was completed by msnbc.com and asked doctors from a variety of backgrounds whether they had ever made a serious medical mistake with a patient and decided against disclosing it. In total, 100 physicians were polled.

While overall 21 percent owned up to not reporting a mistake to a patient, the way each participant responded varied depending on the specialty each practiced. Of the doctors polled, cardiologists most often failed to inform a patient about a mistake that occurred. A total of 33 percent of those doctors admitted as much.

Also worth noting is how many doctors have made a prognosis sound better than it actually is. A total of 55 percent of doctors across the board admitted to engaging in this type of behavior. Researchers speculate that this is at least partially due to physicians wanting their patients to maintain a positive attitude.

There are many reasons why a doctor may decide to not inform a patient of a mistake. The most obvious is likely the possibility that a medical malpractice lawsuit could be filed. Such lawsuits are an opportunity for injured individuals or their loved ones to seek damages. In some cases they may also help those individuals to emotionally heal as well so they can move forward.

Source: MyHealthNewsDaily, "Many docs tell white lies, study finds," Feb. 8, 2013