Technology plays a role in almost every aspect of our lives. Hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices are chockful of the latest gadgets, apps, and all of the latest technological updates.
Technology in the healthcare world has been introduced to lower costs, streamline protocols, and increase productivity and the quality of patient care. But has it helped to prevent medical malpractice?
We’ll take a look at the pros and cons of medical technology and the role it takes in preventing medical malpractice.
What is Medical Technology?
Medical technology can be loosely defined as any technology that assists in the diagnosis, treatment, or improvement of a patient’s health. This far-reaching definition covers anything from pacemakers to software used to make a more accurate diagnosis to insulin pumps. The National Library of Medicine has a much broader definition and includes any tool that can improve the quality of life for patients.
The Pros of Medical Technology
The world of healthcare advances every day with the help of many different types of medical technology. Each device, system, software program, and tool is designed with the hopes of enhancing the quality of healthcare. For some, the goal is to lower the risks of medical malpractice.
Reduction in Human Error
A positive aspect of medical technology that can help prevent medical malpractice is apparent in two completely different parts of the healthcare spectrum. Human error not only takes place in the hands of doctors and surgeons but also on the administrative side of the industry.
Inaccurate medical filing and record-keeping could become the breeding ground for a potential negligent act by a doctor. The use of apps to assist with the mountains of paperwork a patient could accumulate helps keep medical information easily accessible and accurate.
Medical technology can also assist in the operating room. This type of technology goes far beyond robotics and laser-assisted surgery. One cause of medical malpractice suits is the loss of surgical equipment during operations when a sponge is left inside of a patient. There is now medical technology in place to prevent this from occurring.
Improvements in Medication Dispensing
Researchers claim that the frequency of errors when dispensing medication significantly decrease when dispensing technology is incorporated. Improper dosing due to human error is a major cause of medical negligence cases that lead to malpractice lawsuits.
The Cons of Medical Technology
Although the introduction of medical technology has improved the healthcare of millions of patients, it does have its cons (albeit limited). According to a personal injury lawyer from Freidin Brown, technology is not infallible. While you can rely on it for the most part, you still need to pay attention. In other words, if you’ve been the victim of technology-related medical negligence or injury, you still need to contact a specialized attorney in medical malpractice.
Complacency
Relying too heavily on medical technology can, unfortunately, lead to complacency throughout the entire healthcare field. Highly trained doctors and nurses who not too long ago had to rely on their training and experience can sometimes fall into the trap of following the instructions on a computer screen or allowing a machine to make decisions because it knows better.
Technology Glitches
No matter how advanced and high-tech a piece of technology is, there is always the possibility of problems arising. Parts can wear out, and preventative maintenance can sometimes be overlooked, undervalued, and even forgotten about. Medical technology that requires precise computer programming is still under the direct supervision of a human. If coded incorrectly, this could cause severe problems.
Medical Malware
In today’s digital world, hackers are everywhere. Forbes reports that hospitals have been the target of highly sophisticated hackers. Hundreds of hospitals have been the victim of cyberattacks. Hackers can deploy ransomware into many of the devices hospitals use to maintain the health of their patients.
Has Technology Helped to Prevent Medical Malpractice?
The answer to this question is highly debated. Although medical technology has most certainly improved patients’ well-being and health in myriad ways, it still has its loopholes in medical malpractice. Certainly, new tech has also changed the game for healthcare litigation, and the healthcare industry is committed to providing the best and most up-to-date technology available. Unfortunately, medical negligence hasn’t yet been fully eradicated.
