In many cases, once a medical mistake is made there is nothing that can be done to undo the harm inflicted. Situations such as these often result in medical malpractice lawsuits. These claims may be filed by either the injured individual, or in cases where the injured patient is severely hurt, or has died, his or her family. Successful claims may make things easier for the injured individual or those left behind.
While it is good that such legal action is available, most would agree that it would be best if medical mistakes never occurred in the first place. Individuals in the Pittsburgh area, and throughout the nation, who were affected by the hepatitis C outbreak that occurred at various hospitals allegedly at the hands of a medical technician, likely agree with this sentiment. Those individuals are probably happy to learn that recommendations developed after an investigation conducted into one of the hospitals involved in the outbreak, Exeter Hospital, have been recognized as something that could be useful to hospitals throughout the nation seeking to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
A doctor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations could help to shape a national model regarding the safety of patients where injections and drug diversion are concerned. The recommendations provided in the report regarding Exeter include:
- Rapid communication and response to problems
- The reduction of access to narcotics in hospital settings
- Creation of a plan to address suspected drug diversion
- Accountability for all drugs dispensed to a patient
- Better communication regarding worker information
For those familiar with the hepatitis C outbreak involving the medical technician, it is clear to see how, if these recommendations were in place, the alleged transmissions of hepatitis C by the man, may have been reduced and in many cases prevented completely.
Source: Seacoastonline, “Officials call for national dialogue on injection safety,” Jeff McMenemy, July 7, 2013