How Taking Charge of Your Healthcare Can Prevent Medical Errors and Save Your Life

Whether you know it or not, doctor mistakes could cost you your life. Take, for example, some grim statistics released in 1999 by the Institute of Health. According to their research, approximately 44,000 to 98,000 people die EACH year as the result of medical errors. This means that physician errors could be the 8th leading cause of death in the nation. While most errors don't result in death, they can prove detrimental. Therefore, patients owe it to themselves to become as active in their healthcare as possible-and know how to prevent medical mistakes from happening. At the very least, becoming an informed patient will ensure that the healthcare you receive throughout your lifetime is as beneficial, effective, as free of doctor mistakes as possible.

My father recently learned a comical lesson about doctor mistakes himself. A veteran of the Korean War who is classified as "fully disabled," my father is usually at the local VA hospital on a weekly basis having everything from routine blood pressure checks to more MRI's and cat scans. So, when the nurse at the doctor's office offered Dad a hospital gown to change into while he waited for the doctor, he thought little of it. Sure, having blood taken didn't usually involve wearing a gown, but Dad decided that the physician must want to examine him a little more closely, and sat waiting for his doctor to enter the examining room.

Eventually the doctor did enter (in a rush, as doctors always do). He knew my father, and began getting niceties out of the way as he glanced over Dad's chart, slapped on a glove, and proclaimed, "Okay, George, I'm gonna need you to bend over."

"Bend over?" Dad asked, somewhat perplexed. After all, he was only there for some routine bloodwork. However, it wasn't uncommon for the VA staff to throw in some extra procedures here and there, so Dad wasn't too surprised. Besides, Dad wasn't one tot believe in doctor mistakes, so everything had to be kosher, right? After noticing a tray full of syringes next to the examining table, Dad assumed that the doctor was going to give him an immunization of some sort.

Wrong assumption.

Before the words, "So, George, how's life in the country treating you?" escaped the physician's lips, one gloved hand had made the surprising entry-and subsequent retreat-through Dad's derriere. "Well, your colon feels great," Mr. Johnson, the doctor stated.

"Um, my last name is 'Douglas'," my father stammered, righting his hospital gown and attempting to recover from the shock of his anal invasion. The doctor's face lit up in recognition (or was it alarm?) as he stated, "Oh, dear. I knew that." Then, laughing, he added, "Well, good thing we got that straightened out, otherwise Mr. Johnson would have gotten off easy today!"

Needless to say, Dad was a little traumatized. Too traumatized, apparently, to complain to the doctor or his staff. In Dad's world, doctors are always right. When they are wrong, however, pointing out doctor mistakes is inconceivable. So, Dad walked out of the office, more dazed than confused.

No matter how humorous Dad's tale of woe may be (just ask anyone who's ever attended any family holiday dinner since then), it reflects a legitimate problem in the healthcare industry. More importantly, it serves as a reminder that we as patients are partially responsible for our own care. I learned this first hand through my own doctor's mistake. Or rather, when the last in a long line of physicians misdiagnosed me. What I learned during my journey to the ultimate (and correct) diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) was everyone-even those with absolutely no medical background-can (and should) help determine their treatment, thus preventing doctor mistakes.

There are some definite steps to preventing medical errors, though. Anyone seeking treatment-whether it be for the common cold or cancer-should always keep these points in mind in order to minimize doctor mistakes as much as possible.

Shop Around

It's ironic, isn't it? We as consumers are always shopping around for something. Whether it be for the best bargain on a car-or the best contractor to fix our roofs-we are constantly comparing, asking for referrals from friends and family, and researching through agencies such as the Better Business Bureau. Yet, when it comes time to finding a doctor, we often take the list provided by our insurance companies and take a chance that the name we pick will be attached to a competent professional.

That's how I made the decision to choose my last physician. I assumed that, since my insurance company listed him as "preferred," and he possessed all of the right credentials that I was making a safe choice. I would have been better served to have researched my doctor through the online state medical board registry or through a site like MDNationwide to research credentials and patient ratings. Had I done so, I would have found out rather soon that my physician was known for (among other things) having little "compassion" for his patients.

No wonder.

When I complained of excessive hair loss, weight gain, acne, and a multitude of other symptoms often related to PCOS, my doctor immediately dismissed my assertation that "something big" was going on. "Look," he said, "you're 36 years old. You've probably developed adult acne. You've gained weight because you're taking in more calories than you're burning, and you probably have a genetic predisposition for hair loss." With that, he tugged on my hair firmly and flatly added, "Look, right now it's not even falling out."

Never mind that my hair loss had progressed to the point that my scalp would sunburn-or that nearly half of my hair loss had happened within the last three months. Only recently did I find out that this particular doctor, while prominent in our area, has a reputation for not taking the needs of (can you believe this?) female patients seriously. Had I taken the time to ask around, I might have found this out before suffering through yet another doctor's visit that cost a lot of money and accomplished absolutely nothing. Don't be afraid to ask friends, family, and acquaintances for referrals. Do you have a nurse or doctor friend? Ask them. Otherwise, if you're new to an area (as I was), or just don't know where to start, there are some online sources available, such as MDNationwide, that provide the ratings and credentials of doctors in your area. And, if you are planning on having a major procedure-or have a particularly life-altering diagnosis-researching your doctor's credentials through your state medical board is imperative.

Remember Who The Boss Is

Because they are so educated and because they (quite literally) hold our lives in their hands, we often forget that physicians work for US. Even those of us blessed with the best insurance policies pay a good chunk of money to see a doctor. So why shouldn't we demand the same respect and thoroughness that we would expect from any other paid help? Your doctor works for YOU. Only YOU have an intimate knowledge of your body and your needs. If your physician won't give in to reasonable demands-or have quantifiable, legitimate reasons for not doing so-fire him. And don't forget that doctor mistakes (if they rise above normal, expectable human error) also can be grounds for dismissal.

Of course, the key here is understanding what "reasonable demands" are. Asking a doctor to put you on weight loss pills because you have a high school reunion coming up is not reasonable. Asking that your doctor run some routine bloodwork to rule out any underlying reasons for your symptoms-as I did-is not. My doctor refused to treat me respectfully or to honor a reasonable request, so I fired him.

Do Your Homework

Of course, it's hard to ensure that your physician is really working for you if you don't arm yourself with some information. Remember, you can't prevent doctor mistakes if you don't know what to look for. Long before I entered the office of "Dr. Wrong," I researched my symptoms and composed a list of possible explanations, as well as common tests to determine whether or not I was truly suffering from a verifiable ailment. I asked other women, read magazine articles, and researched online. With such a wide selection of medical websites available, finding possible diagnoses is easier than ever. Websites such as WebMD, for example, have sections devoted to those researching symptoms in search of a cause. Remember, however, not to get carried away like I did. After all, individual mistakes are much more likely to throw a wrench into your healthcare than doctor mistakes.

For example, I became convinced during research that my frequent headaches might be a sign of a growing brain tumor. And was that recurring cough a sign of lung cancer? After all, if Superman's wife could die at an unreasonably young age of lung cancer, my cough could be the sign that I, too, was headed for an early demise. I quickly remembered that too much coffee, and not a brain tumor, was the more likely source of my headaches. As for the cough? It was the result of a particularly rough cold and flu season. For the time being, at least, I was safe from tumors-at least as far as my symptoms were concerned.

My other symptoms, though, definitely meshed with a small list of underlying causes: thyroid problems, PCOS, or excessive testosterone (which is also almost always a sign of the preceding). That my doctor wouldn't take the time to run a simple test to check my testosterone levels was unreasonable-and a classic doctor mistake. If I hadn't done my homework, I would not have known that. Rather, I would have accepted his suggestion that I begin acne treatment with the controversial drug Accutane (much-maligned for its potentially damaging effects on the liver, as well as its strong correlation to birth defects), and hoped that the local big girls clothing shop had a wig store next door.

Good thing I didn't.

Ask Questions

Immediately after Dr. Wrong made his proclamation, I began with the questions. How does this explain the weight gain? Or the joint pain? What about my unusually painful-and often irregular-menstrual cycles? And why, just why, are we not testing my blood for testosterone levels? Dr. Wrong, wasn't happy about answering my questions. Maybe it was because he knew his answers were bogus. Or perhaps it was because ten other patients were already lined up in examing rooms, filling his office and padding his pocketbook. His loud sigh and obvious aggravation let me know that this was not going to be the doctor for me. You, also, should take this as a sign. If a doctor isn't willing to address your questions or concerns, or seems aggravated or glib in her responses, then it's time to move on. Remember, your physician is responsible for much more than treating you. He is also responsible for helping you make educated, informed decisions. If he can't provide you the information you request-or lead you to it-then move on. Period.

Be Resolute

Unfortunately, Dr. Wrong was the last doctor in a long line of doctors unable-or unwilling-to find out what was causing my health problems. I'll admit that, when he tugged on my hair and declared that I just needed to deal with my condition-I almost gave in. I even scheduled a follow-up visit so that I could begin treatment with Accutane. Yet, somehow I knew that I was becoming a victim of doctor mistakes. I just KNEW that Dr. Wrong was (well) wrong. I didn't care that Dr. Wrong had more years of education than the entire population of my hometown. I didn't care that he dismissed my concerns as being ridiculous. I knew my body. And I knew something was wrong. Most importantly, I wasn't going to give up until someone could reasonably prove to me that something wasn't wrong.

Thank goodness.

Get a Second Opinion

We've all heard this suggestion a million times before, but many of us fail to seek out a second opinion. Remember, even if you feel that your doctor is on the right track, it never hurts (especially in cases that involve surgery or life and death decisions) to get a second opinion. That's often the only way to avoid doctor mistakes. If the notion of you doing so offends your doctor, then move on. By getting a second opinion, I finally learned what I knew all along: something was wrong. Not only was something wrong, but also I was officially diagnosed with PCOS by a physician who exhausted all other possibilities through tests, bloodwork, and ultrasound.

My second opinion paid off, and ensured that I can finally receive the proper treatment free of doctor mistakes. Today I rest a lot easier knowing that my condition is being properly treated. Of course, the idea that I can now spend my "Wig Fund" money on other, more trivial items doesn't hurt, either. However, had I not taken control of my own treatment, my insulin resistance (another sign of PCOS) could very well have turned into full-blown type-2 diabetes. Now, armed with the proper diagnosis, I can hopefully avoid this potentially life-threatening illness. And I'll always make sure that my doctor knows my last name before allowing any gloved hands to come within ten feet of any orifice.

After all, there are some doctor mistakes I refuse to endure!