Safety Tips
Tips on how to protect yourself and your family |
| The vast majority of medical treatment is carried out with great care and skill and greatly benefits patients. Nonetheless, medical treatment does carry serious risks and there are some simple steps that you can take to protect your family and yourself from the effects of medical accidents: Fully discuss the risks involved in any proposed treatment, and any alternatives with your doctor, or other health professional treating you. Make sure you discuss this at a time when you can take it in. If necessary, make a second appointment to discuss it and consider taking someone with you. Ask for written material about the treatment and alternatives or references for reputable websites. Consider contacting a support group for the kind of condition being treated to talk to others who have experienced it. Ask your doctor (or treating health professional) how experienced and successful they are at the treatment (especially surgery) being considered.How many times have they performed this procedure and how recently? What are their success and failure rates? Can they confirm they will personally be carrying out the procedure? If not, who will, and who will supervise them? Don't be afraid to ask anyone treating you whether they have washed their hands.Hospital acquired infections are the most common problem affecting patients. It is estimated that if hands were washed every time before touching patients infection rates could be greatly reduced. Just in case something does go wrong, ensure that your household insurance covers you for legal expenses to investigate potential clinical negligence claims. Some policies offer legal expenses insurance as an optional extra. |