6. Doctors Don’t Always Consult with Each Other

If you think that your attending doctors communicate with each other regarding your case while you are confined at the hospital, you will be surprised that it isn’t always the case. In a study conducted in the United States between the years 2009 and 2013 showed that more than 1,600 deaths from various hospitals stemmed from poor communication between doctors, a hefty 30% of all malpractice cases during the period.

Examples of poor communication between physicians included no communication about a patient’s condition and medications, incomplete and poor recording of the patient’s progress, as well as not reading the patient’s medical charts.

To prevent this, doctors encourage patients and their relatives to always speak with all their doctors and play an active role in order to keep them aware of everything that is happening with regard to their admission.