To what extent should patients be partially responsible for medical errors?
The assumption that an error-free medical utopia is attainable just by addressing the deficits of hospitals and doctors leaves the human frailties of our patients out of the equation.Many patients are self-saboteurs and wind up costing the system a lot””those who do not listen, who do not care to know the names or dosages of their medications, who do not bring with them previous blood test reports or information from other doctors they have seen, who do not follow through on blood tests ordered, who are not available for discussion of results . . .
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Patient confidentiality has contributed as well. Ham handed attempts at securing access to medical records has ham strung providers needing access to medical records.
Whether a patient “complies” depends a many factors. Did the doctor clearly communicate? Is the patient financially able to comply (with prescription costs, treatment recommendations, etc.)? The article suggests a willful stubbornness which may be occasionally true, but I also think physician responsibility extends to at least attempting to learn why there may be a lack of compliance.
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