Each year that passes brings new cases of medical negligence that negatively impact patients’ lives. Medical negligence comes with physical pain to the lives of people, and also with financial distress. Medical negligence occurs when healthcare professionals fail to meet the highest standards of care for their patients, resulting in tragic consequences.
Victims of medical negligence have the right to claim compensation, and to receive it, they need to sue the NHS. NHS stands for the National Health Service, which has a duty to provide high-quality healthcare. If they fail to do so, and people get hurt as a result, victims can file a claim to receive NHS negligence payouts.
In this article, we will explore medical negligence, how NHS negligence claims are calculated, and how technology can reduce the risk of medical negligence. Keep reading to learn more.
What is medical negligence?
Medical negligence is the failure to provide the standard of care that patients should receive from medical professionals. Medical negligence is any act that causes an injury to a patient or worsens their condition. Unfortunately, medical negligence cases are still high, which is a pity, especially given the technology that can help us tremendously reduce the likelihood of this happening.
Here are some common examples of medical negligence cases:
- Delayed diagnosis
- Failure to diagnose
- Improved surgical techniques
- Puncturing organs
- Anesthesia errors
- Infections
- Diagnosis errors
- Administering the wrong medical treatment.
How are NHS payouts calculated?
Victims of medical negligence can sue the NHS for the harm they have suffered. This is why it is very important that they understand how are NHSnegligence payouts calculated. The total amount of compensation one can receive depends on the individual and the type of medical injury they have suffered. Additionally, the payout also depends on the harm that this action has caused to someone. Then, the amount of pay one receives can also be related to the financial losses one has incurred. Here are some of them.
- Medical expenses, such as prescriptions, treatments, and physiotherapy.
- Loss of earnings
- The cost of getting to these medical appointments
- Any adjustments to homes to make them more accessible.
To be able to receive this amount, patients also need to prove their eligibility, which can include:
- Photographs with the harms
- Witnesses who have seen the medical negligence.
- Copy of medical records
- A record of the medical treatment and the symptoms felt.
What are the technologies that can reduce the chance of medical negligence?
There are many emerging technologies that can forever revolutionise healthcare, offering professionals more tools to improve the quality of care for their patients. Here are some of these technologies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can improve many healthcare operations. AI can process more information faster and help doctors deliver the highest-quality care. This technology uses several algorithms to extract medical data. Thanks to this, medical professionals will have more data when evaluating a patient’s symptoms. This can help them make the right diagnoses. AI can also help in offering personalised treatment for patients.
AI can automate certain medical tasks that involve multiple functions. This can free up time for medical professionals to focus on offering a better experience and improved satisfaction. Medical professionals also handle many tasks daily, which is why it is essential to find better ways to manage stress and physician burnout.
Augmented Reality (AR)
AR is also a very important technology that can help healthcare offer better solutions to patients. AR can be especially effective in reducing medical negligence cases caused by improper surgical techniques. Using AR during surgery can help doctors achieve greater precision and dexterity, improve performance, and even perform the most complex medical procedures.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain is a digital ledger that can enhance data security and help the medical sector keep all patient data safe. Blockchain technology is decentralised and immutable, meaning data can’t be changed once it is written to the ledger. Blockchain technology provides greater security, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches.
Surgical robots
Robots are now being used as another surgical tool, thereby reducing the risk of medical negligence. Robots come with better precision. They also reduce certain human characteristics, such as hand tremors. Robots don’t need to take breaks, so they don’t feel fatigue, which can affect their performance during an operation. Another great advantage of robots is that they enable smaller incisions. This also means that humans will have a lower risk of developing post-operative infections and will experience less blood loss.
Remote patient monitoring tools
Now, technology also allows them to monitor their own blood pressure, heart rhythm, heart rate, weight, sleep, and calorie intake, and to share these insights with their doctors, enabling better solutions. Some tools that can help include wearable fitness trackers, smartwatches, biosensors, and blood pressure monitors. Thanks to these insights, patients can receive better, more tailored treatment.
Conclusion
Now, technology is advancing rapidly, offering solutions across many industries worldwide, including healthcare. Because of this, technology could actually help medical professionals offer high standards of care to patients worldwide. We should always look for ways to reduce the likelihood of medical negligence, and because technology has everything it takes to do so, it can indeed be something many are looking for.
Going through medical negligence will always affect the lives of individuals, can worsen their conditions, and even pose tragic effects, putting their lives in danger. So, governments and healthcare experts should always seek the best ways to reduce the number of medical negligence cases and provide more tools to medical professionals so they can continue to maintain high-quality standards for their patients.
