When Medical Errors Happen, Patients Pay the Price
Patients trust doctors, nurses, and specialists to work together to provide safe, effective care. However, when healthcare providers fail to communicate critical information, the results can be devastating. Misdiagnosed conditions, medication errors, delayed treatment, and unnecessary procedures are just some of the consequences of poor communication between medical professionals.
If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a medical provider’s failure to share essential details, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
At Kurle Law, LLC, we fight for patients harmed by preventable medical errors in Georgia. When a lack of communication leads to serious injury or wrongful death, we hold negligent doctors and hospitals accountable.
How Poor Communication Puts Patients in Danger
Medical malpractice often stems from a simple but dangerous problem—doctors not talking to one another. In fast-paced healthcare settings, critical information can slip through the cracks, leading to avoidable harm. Some of the most common breakdowns in communication include:
- Failure to share test results – A specialist orders a test, but the primary doctor never receives the results, delaying a crucial diagnosis.
- Confusion over medication prescriptions – A hospital doctor prescribes a medication, but a primary care physician is unaware, leading to dangerous drug interactions.
- Inadequate handoff communication – When patients move from one department to another, important details about their condition may not be relayed to the next medical team.
- Miscommunication between shifts – Hospitals operate around the clock, but poor shift-change reporting can result in missed symptoms or improper treatment plans.
These breakdowns happen far too often and put patients at risk of permanent injury—or worse.
Delayed Diagnoses and Misdiagnoses
One of the most dangerous results of poor communication is a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. When doctors fail to share critical patient information, conditions that could have been treated early can spiral into severe or untreatable illnesses.
Consider a patient with early signs of a stroke. If an ER doctor suspects a stroke but doesn’t communicate their concerns to the admitting physician, the patient might not receive immediate treatment. This delay could lead to permanent brain damage or even death.
Similarly, cancer patients may experience life-threatening delays if their test results aren’t promptly reviewed or shared. When medical professionals don’t connect the dots, patients suffer the consequences.
Medication Errors
Medication errors are among the most preventable yet widespread issues caused by poor communication in healthcare. Patients rely on doctors and pharmacists to prescribe and dispense the correct medications, but miscommunication can lead to:
- Incorrect dosages – A doctor prescribes one dose, but a nurse administers another, leading to dangerous overdoses or ineffective treatment.
- Harmful drug interactions – If one doctor isn’t aware of medications prescribed by another, the combination could cause serious complications.
- Allergic reactions – Patient allergies should be clearly documented, but when medical teams fail to share this information, patients can suffer life-threatening reactions.
For those in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, medication errors are often fatal. When these mistakes happen due to negligence, victims and their families have the right to pursue legal action.
Proving Medical Malpractice
Not every medical mistake qualifies as malpractice. To file a successful claim, you must prove that a healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused harm. This requires establishing the following elements:
- A Doctor-Patient Relationship – You must show that the provider was responsible for your care.
- Violation of Standard of Care – Doctors are expected to follow accepted medical standards. If their failure to communicate deviates from these standards, it may constitute negligence.
- Direct Causation – You must prove that the lack of communication directly led to injury or worsened your condition.
- Damages – This includes medical expenses, lost wages, ongoing care needs, and pain and suffering.
Medical malpractice cases are complex, requiring extensive investigation, expert testimony, and legal strategy. Hospitals and insurance companies will fight to avoid liability, making it critical to have a skilled medical malpractice attorney on your side.
At Kurle Law, LLC, we have the knowledge and resources to build strong cases for our clients. Our firm has recovered millions for victims of physician negligence, surgical errors, and medication mistakes.
Holding Doctors Accountable for Communication Failures
Hospitals and medical providers have a duty to establish clear communication protocols to protect patient safety. When they fail to do so, they should be held responsible for the harm they cause.
At Kurle Law, LLC, we represent patients who have suffered due to medical miscommunication and malpractice. Our firm has successfully secured multi-million-dollar settlements for victims of physician negligence, surgical errors, and medication mistakes.
If you or a loved one has been harmed because of a lack of communication between doctors, don’t wait to seek justice. Medical errors can change lives instantly, but you have legal options to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Georgia medical malpractice lawyer.
“Jennifer Kurle is a highly experienced and respected medical malpractice attorney. I fully endorse this lawyer.” - A.M., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐