When people become aware of ophthalmic malpractice claims in Massachusetts, they usually assume that errors are only made within complicated procedures. However, recent studies have shown that this is not the case. In fact, many of the claims being filed begin at the diagnostic level rather than during the procedure itself. The most common claims include procedures regarding RD or retinal detachment. You may want to learn some of the reasons behind this issue and how ophthalmologists are hoping to fix the issue.
Time is critical
When it comes to retinal detachment, time is of the essence. This is because the faster a procedure can be done on the eye, the lesser chance of further damage to the retina. However, according to recent studies, over 85% of retinal detachment issues were never properly diagnosed. How can so many professional doctors miss a simple eye problem? Like many other types of misdiagnoses, the error often isn’t due to one thing but a series of mistakes.
Lack of medical team
Because many ophthalmologists tend to run their practice on their own, they will usually have a smaller team to work with. When this occurs, it becomes difficult to focus on each patient properly, so small details fall through the cracks. Ophthalmologists should train their staff to handle an influx of people and communicate properly with the team they do have on hand.
Why patient education is important
One of the most common mistakes that ophthalmologists make is not educating their patients about their own issues. This is incredibly important because when a patient understands their situation, they are placed in a better spot to protect themselves and choose the best path for them. In addition, a lack of education on the part of the patient can leave a lot of information on the table, which may be critical to a proper diagnosis.
If you’re aware of a misdiagnosis or suspect that certain parts of your medical care are not being taken care of properly, then you might want to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Doing so may save you a lot of time and suffering as you pursue a legal remedy.
