Why Doctors Make Mistakes S1E2 (Medical Errors Documentary) | Only Human

Doctors are beginning to talk openly about incidents of medical errors.
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From: Why Doctors Make Mistakes S1E2
Content licensed from DRG to Little Dot Studios Network. Any queries, please contact us at: [e-mail]

[@christinawells2024]

The hospital I work for just cut our quarterly bonuses in half and told us we have to see MORE patients. There’s no way we can safely see 30 people a day and effectively care for them. I always tell patients, if something doesn’t seem right always ask questions.

[@amberkat8147]

Wow. That is NOT going to go well. And sadly the blame is likely to fall on you guys when something inevitably goes wrong. Like I tell my Mom: I hope there's not a sentinel event, and if there is, I hope it's not on your shift and has nothing to do with you.

[@logicrealitytruth]

Doctors dislike questions. They rarely have answers. They pass you on to specialists that know little about you and don’t understand that a holistic approach will lead to safer and more accurate conclusions and occasionally proper treatment.

[@sicilyny5375]

Complaints to administration..shareholders..board directors. Etc...if corrections aren't made..more errors will be made..more deaths.

[@sicilyny5375]

​@katherine9878 thank God my Dr uses a holistic approach.

[@logicrealitytruth]

@@sicilyny5375 I’ve tried the carefully composed complaint letters to a few doctors and even the CEO of our local clinic. Initial response seemed hopeful, but I got nowhere. They just want us to be quiet and take the abuse. 😱

[@Chicharrera.]

This reminds me of air crash investigations. I remember being in hospital once, with a fractured pelvis. The doctors were doing rounds with students. They approached me. The doctor mistakenly told the students the injury was to my left side (it was on my right side). I immediately told the doctor in front of his students "No, its the right side. Wakey wakey!" He just looked at me then corrected himself. I was 27 and in no mood for mistakes, not even from a doctor.

[@kaissimiller721]

Legend! 😂

[@ingridakerblom7577]

The Dr is there for you. The whole point is for you to get better. So you did the absolute right thing. The students got a chance to see some patient rights, communication etc at work at the same time. Way to put some depth in that class! People shouldn't be afraid to do this.

[@catbriggs8362]

Having suffered a broken pelvis, I don't blame you. It's a life-changing injury.

[@LindaEdward-kd9ki]

Unfortunately, young doctors and nurses have been used as the scapegoats for all this errors.

[@ingridakerblom7577]

After being put under unhuman stress..

[@johnwayne2140]

It is the team leader that should be responsible for any mistake not a new doctor or a nurse. The work should be organize in such a manner that every procedure is double checked byl another team member

[@emese-tundetorok1135]

The system is overwhelmed everybody is relaying on nurses, doctors and they have to be on top every day, every minute. 1 nurse has up to 10-15 patients to look after. Rush, rush, rush and the outcome can be fatal.

[@veronikafuchs6183]

I agree. I used to work on ER & ICU for 4 years, and our boss always told us to always double check in the slightest doubt - one of our legs are already in prison.

[@aellaaskew4263]

Now to get Doctors to recognize the infallibility in their toxic positivity and their abilism. That there needs to be a bridge between mental health and physical health care and that insurance companies shouldn't be deciding what medications I should or should not be taking.

[@christinawells2024]

Insurance companies are one of the biggest issues. They have way too much power. And definitely no resources for those with mental illness. It’s so sad. I feel like I can’t help people.

[@anonymousadult]

I’m a retired surgical nurse. They call it “practicing“ medicine because medicine can’t be perfect.

[@river8760]

Negligence is not ok though, ever. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Amped4Life]

@anonymousadult - you're right. It is art and science and requires, from doctors, an exceptionally patient, willing to listen to the patient, thoughtful, creative, highly experienced and up-to-date on research data and the way various drugs / interventions work on disease or injury, detail-oriented, caring etc. TEAM of physicians to go through every workup, from common differentials and then on to more and more uncommon/rare diagnoses to properly diagnose just 1 patient with a rare disease, disease in development, strange presentation of disease or injury, etc.

[@sherriawilliams8617]

When you live within a system that's governed by money, ethics will never be in that equation. Never.

[@christinawells2024]

It’s not about patient care anymore. And that’s what really sucks.

[@laurapeterson559]

I work at a hospital, and disagree with this. Plus, what system isn't "governed by money" as you put it? I don't really think the communist countries are more ethical than we are. People get defensive, regardless of their position. Nobody likes to be wrong. The issue is some people can't admit to that. I know that with some health systems employees aren't allowed to admit fault either. For legal reasons. I believe that now it varies, but at one point just apologizing was enough to be seen as culpable for a medical error and open the company to a law suit. It's naive to think this is just about money. We ALL work for money. And to say ethics will NEVER be in the equation? Geeze, what world are you living in. There are good and bad people everywhere.

[@teresiamaina9573]

Sure

[@liselottenormannsrensen7867]

We are all just humans❤the system where we also report the "almost errors" here in Denmark works. As long as we share we all learn😊

[@RandomBeagle]

Denmark has the best Healthcare system. Better than here, in the Netherlands

[@MariettaFarley]

Excellent. Finding the TRUTH is ALWAYS the solution.

[@lovingmayberry307]

Why doctors make mistakes?? Because they're human!! Your doctor might have graduated LAST in his/her class, might've BARELY squeeked by. Never think they are more than that...ALWAYS get a second opinion.

[@christinawells2024]

I always tell patients to ask questions and if they aren’t comfortable, get a second opinion.

[@LumiSisuSusi]

Absolutely! In my class my entrance exam score was 83.26/100 I had one of the highest if not the highest. They admitted people with scores of 33....😮

[@sicilyny5375]

Or a 3rd..and research everything going on with your illness..go to trusted sites..with Abstracts and current info. Go to Dr office with your info in hand. A good Dr will be impressed..an egotist...will be annoyed.

[@johnwayne2140]

Well, when a patient lies in a hospital bed with a serious illness, it is difficult to invite a doctor from an external clinic to take another look at the situation

[@karimaogden3875]

As far as getting a second opinion, you should get it from a doctor that is not in the same system as the original one because the second one will never admit that the other one was wrong.

[@matthewpadgett9526]

I make every attempt to keep myself healthy and to fully embrace a healthy lifestyle and to stay away from the “healthcare system”.

[@kimberly8164]

Oh my gosh, I commend him for letting them know because that DONT happen, I've worked in that environment and there are so many processes down the line until it gets to the dr or nurses so many people down the line are also responsible, of course there are checks that are to be done immediately prior to administering any meds. But agree not just his fault

[@Lawh]

I feel I've been misdiagnosed more than accurately diagnosed. This creates a situation where I am doubtful of a possible correct diagnosis.

[@LumiSisuSusi]

Same, and that's why I am now studying in the field as I was the one who consistently correctly diagnosed myself and others despite no prior medical training. We all need to be our own advocates as we are the ones who live in our bodies.

[@Lawh]

@@LumiSisuSusi I wish you good luck, and I wish I could do that as well. Just make sure that you won't tire yourself out doing everyone's work for them, because the others won't do much of anything actually useful. I feel like the ones who I have noticed have cared the most, always seem to be extremely cramped with overwork, trying to handle everything. It's sad.

[@johnwayne2140]

It is not OK for a doctor to misdiagnose patients. Imagine if an auto-mechanic "misdiagnosed" the doctors luxury car everytime when sent to repairement

[@Lawh]

@@johnwayne2140 I know. I guess it sort of ruined my life in a sense. And possibly my childs life too. Doctors seem to have very little interest in correct diagnoses and more of an interest in something else. Seems to be a thing in general. A lack of care for others and society nowadays. No pride for ones work and so on.

[@rachelderks4639]

this documentary is very good!!

[@yuhantang5334]

We have to watch out for ourselves when accessing healthcare and be our own advocates. The organization was just looking for a scapegoat and refused to admit that there was a problem with the system/protocols, this was unfair.

[@PopGoesTheology]

Very informative! Thank you for the upload. 15:40

[@Allycat_8702]

12:10 As a healthcare professional you are warned abt knowing your limit and never try to over do things. Failure to do this means you are a danger to the patients and this

[@DawnCampbell-dk3vx]

Here is another side to the story. It takes multiple doctors 10 years to diagnose a vitamin D deficiency, 10.1 when the medical marijuana doctor figured it out. I ask my doctors will this cause permanent damage? Of course not just get your vitamin D levels to normal it will be fine. Six years later I insists on testing my thyroid, my mom had thyroid issues and a lump removed from that area but doctors are not interested. I am diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease of the thyroid. Could this be vitamin D deficiency related I ask, of course not this is so common your TSH is fine. Four years later I insists on a parathyroid scan and I have hyperparathyroidism. Guess what a main cause is? Long term vitamin D deficiency. For 20 flippin years I have been sick and told to just change my lifestyle, lose weight and stop faking. The doctors here are beyond useless.

[@dbwhite1507]

Have never liked 12-hour shifts for staff. Exhaustion contributes to errors. Just to have 3-day work week?

[@squidskid4934]

And many healthcare workers work more than 3 days of 12 hour shifts. I work four, plus on-call hours overnight. If I get called in during sleep (sometimes more than once), I still have to be there at 7am the next day for my regular shift. 😢

[@sicilyny5375]

Amazing how nobody here takes full accountability for their actions. Excuses...abundantly...my patient was in dire distress..I knew where the proper meds were kept..I had no assistance..blah blah blah. Did you check the label on the vial? I was taught..check labels 3x...I worked mostly private duty..me myself and I. Yet I managed to give proper meds, dosages, and time frames to administer. Yes..they should've have stored the meds separately as she said ICU did..so why not explain to mgt...this must be done. Do it yourself...whatever..use the 3x check of vial labels. No excuse 4 her..sorry.

[@vulpesaustralis1452]

Exactly. It is certainly a human thing to do, but it IS negligence. These kind of things often happen when people become complacent and think that they don't need to follow all the precautions anymore.

[@johnwayne2140]

The hospital should hire more nurses and doctors and organize the work in such a manner that incidents of negligence are eliminated

[@karimaogden3875]

Just started watching so don't know if they will mention it later but I wanted to say that here in the U.S, Medical Errors are usually referred to as "Medical Misadventure" which is a euphimism and totally downplays the seriousness of it .

[@MyFavoriteColorIsBLUE]

Right, humans do and will make mistakes.

[@plamens]

Great report and great solution! Make medicine and hospitals as safe as aviation and airports! No more taboos and no more blind faith in infallibility. Make the system safe (again).

[@tonys4396]

Last time I was on a plane, the door flew off

[@nellymoo635]

It can be either. Systems errors or individual. Accidental or premeditated.

[@noneyabusiness9441]

The doctor should’ve put it as in when I walked in the room as a human being. All the roaches scattered.

[@anazarioquezada7703]

from Lawrence Massachusetts God bless all of us amen 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🙌🙏🙏🙏🙏🤝 Dios nos bendiga as tod@s amen 🙏🇩🇴

[@nbeezhao]

God FORGIVE us our trespassing as we forgive those who trespass against us.

[@bezagebremedhine5102]

♥🙏✝

[@SarahKDB]

My surgeon forgot to tell the nurse who was caring for me after my spinal cord stimulator implant that I had a massive tolerance to opoids. I was in SO MUCH PAIN, the nurse was like, "Okay, I'll give you another 5mg of percocet," I had been on fentanyl patches daily, lol. She eventually got my pain under control, but that was the worst pain I've ever experienced (they had to cut a part of my spine out to put the paddle leads in). I told him about this at my follow-up appointment. He apologized, I accepted, end of story. He was very sorry, and he acknowledged his mistake. That's exactly what doctors should do. Doctors are indeed human, too. I doubt he'll make that mistake again. Edit: fixed typos.

[@Cheezclown]

Hey, sorry you had that experience but yea, I don’t think that doctor will make that mistake again. I’ve worked for medical malpractice attorneys, they’re definitely part the problem in the US.

[@brendanquinn6894]

Doctors always bury their mistakes !

[@nikkikidd8428]

I don’t think it’s a problem with the doctors rather our expectations for perfection every time and all of the time. And whether we know it or not we all have had a doctor or a nurse or a pharmacist make a mistake with our care. We are not told because there’s so much fear of being sued, fired or blamed.

[@OKBgosh]

"We've all had a doctor or nurse or pharmacist make a mistake with our care." No, no we have not. Stop spreading dangerous lies simply because it somehow makes sense to you in your own head.

[@johnwayne2140]

Yes, mistakes happen but it is simply not acceptable! Mistakes should not be accepted as a daily occurrence because it is "Human to fail"

[@orlandofurioso7329]

​@@OKBgoshIt did happen to you, you just don't know when or how small

[@brendataylor1467]

Wonder how many times these happen an no Dr or nurse say that they made a mistake .

[@amberkat8147]

That the "invisible cracks" theory was accepted is sickening. Just like the "death by misadventure" ruling for the Treetop rollercoaster accident more recently.

[@p.lakhyaharichandana879]

For blood money, greed , monstrous greed to see others very, suffer, break down.

[@bojigirl5672]

Except when it’s long term and repeated decision making that causes the harm.

[@lauriediorio574]

No. Nurse should verify the medication x3 before administering it. Do not blame the fact they were next to each other. Read the label when you pick it up, read the label before withdrawing the med, then check amount withdrawn and read the label again. Then check the amount. She is to blame 100%. Also, since when does a nurse leave their patient in the middle of an emergency? Yell for help, press the code button, but to think you can handle it all by yourself is a grave mistake.

[@user-eu2sk5pm6q]

You must be that perfect nurse who always does the right thing. I.e. the delusional one with an inflated ego.

[@myroom4640]

Quite simply, they are overworked and underpaid. This is simply one aspect.

[@jilllawrence5174]

Wether they are doctors or nurses they take an oath and generally get good pay! BUT they should state when they are not fit to practice!,

[@Amped4Life]

In the US, medical residents and fellows do not get good pay. They are horribly underpaid and overworked, and they really do a lot of the doctoring and heavy lifting at teaching hospitals. Educate yourself before posting.

[@orlandofurioso7329]

​@@Amped4LifeSame in Italy, we are underpaid and left by ourselves alone

[@davecaulfield973]

If you inject undiluted potassium as an IV push ( the way you give lasix) the patient would scream due to extreme pain.

[@squidskid4934]

Not always. Not if it was a central line or a large blood vessel.

[@plamens]

Well, this is also true (recently). But why did this happen? Because of neglecting safety standards. Or even worse. It should not be so.

[@jilllawrence5174]

P.S. I am an ex nurse

[@Propfaqs]

Potassium chloride Angels of Death!

[@leianehiltz2486]

I'm sorry but this angers me. In my experience, I've found both aaddk

[@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894]

MONEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMAN LIVES

[@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894]

THEN THEY COVER IT UP. OR DENY IT HAPPENED. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CAREERS NOT YOU

[@matthewstorey9962]

not making that doctor money they best not!

[@maryannhope8276]

SMfreakingH 🤬

[@lakotafire2804]

About?

[@jessicasnaplesfl7474]

Doctors are people, but people who are NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE ERRORS. Medical errors are ASSAULTS on innocent patients. Persons entering the medical field are aware of this and must make inhuman attempts to stay error-free. No human can maintain vigilance 100% of the time. Those times when attention may be a bit faulty MUST NEVER OCCUR when a life is at stake or can be altered. Some doctors and nurses manage to achieve this, but at great expense to themselves. Nurses often have more backups than doctors, so their errors can be corrected, while doctors are more apt to be the end of the line, where errors will stand alone and affect their patients.

[@Zakariah1971]

These are serial killers. Caveat emptor.