To avoid potential doctor errors, patients are often advised to ask questions related to their health as well as a doctor's training. While questions related to a how many surgical procedures a doctor has performed may seem like an appropriate question, patients may also benefit from learning whether or not a doctor played Nintendo as a child.

Information from a recent study indicates that doctors who played video games as children make fewer medical errors. For the study, researchers evaluated both medical and surgical residents to gauge what effect, if any, past video game experience had on their surgical skills. The results of the study were interesting, showing that residents who had spent at least three hours each week playing video games as children made nearly 40 percent fewer medical errors.

Additionally, video-gaming residents performed surgical procedures nearly 30 percent faster and more than 40 percent more effectively than their non-gaming counterparts. Researchers believe data compiled from the study could help in developing more effective training methods for surgeons and doctors and help increase efficiency while reducing the number of medical errors.

Regardless of whether a doctor played video games or not, doctors are human and therefore make mistakes. Unfortunately in cases involving medical and surgical errors, such mistakes can result in patients suffering permanent and painful injuries. Ohio patients who have been adversely impacted by a medical error would be wise to consult with an attorney. A medical malpractice lawsuit can help injured patients recover compensation related to pain and suffering, permanent disability, medical expenses as well as lost wages.

Source: WCVB, "Can Video Games Help Train Surgeons?" Tracy Hampton, April 4, 2013