Distracted Doctoring
Find out how a Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer can help
You expect your doctor to be focused on you when you’re being treated. Unfortunately, many doctors are distracted. Instead of focusing on the patient, their attention might be on a smartphone or other mobile device. And just like distracted driving can have devastating consequences, distracted doctoring can also have a deadly impact, whether it leads to a mistake such as wrong site surgery, a birth injury or some other catastrophic error. If you or a loved one was injured due to a distracted doctor, contact a Tennessee distracted doctor attorney. Call (423) 464-7779for your free consultation. At Meade Law Group, we handle all types of medical malpractice cases and are prepared to investigate and pursue compensation for you.
Mobile devices and distractions can lead to serious injuries
Doctors are without question busy during their day. Certain distractions are unavoidable due to the nature of their work. Other distractions are unnecessary in an operating room or examining room:
- Socializing
- Answering a cell phone
- Texting
- Surfing the internet
- Checking social media sites
Distracted doctoring is more common than people might think. In fact, the ECRI Institute, an organization that researches ways to improve safety and quality of patient care, listed “caregiver distractions from smartphones and other mobile devices” as No. 9 on a top 10 list of health technology hazards for 2013. Stories have surfaced of doctors wearing headsets and making a personal phone call during a procedure.
Surprising study shows prevalence of distracted doctors
One study found that more than half (54 percent) of cardiopulmonary perfusionists (doctors who use a heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery) used cell phones during cardiopulmonary bypass, even though the doctors who responded in the study believed there are significant patient safety concerns.
Another study found that even though anesthesia residents and certified registered nurse anesthetists knew they were being observed during cases, 54 percent of them still “surfed” the internet during cases.
Hospital administrators need to adopt stronger policies regarding electronic etiquette among doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. They must keep distractions to a minimum and encourage staff to speak up when they see a problem. At Meade Law Group, we know how devastating an injury can be due to a distracted physician. We fight hard to hold hospitals accountable.
Contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Tennessee
If patients are harmed in any way due to a distracted doctor, they should speak to an experienced attorney promptly about their legal rights. Too much is at stake to try to pursue a potential distracted doctor lawsuit on your own.
Call (423) 464-7779 for a free consultation today or complete the online contact form. Discover how a distracted doctor attorney in Tennessee can help!