Advice From an Insider: How to Prevent Medical Mistakes

7 need-to-know tips.

Stop a Medical Mistake From Happening

I'm a surgeon. So when I needed surgery on my right hand, the one I operate with, I chose one of the best hand surgeons in the world. The procedure went well, and I went home with a large cast on my arm and lots of narcotics. But the pain was excruciating. The next day I called the surgeon. "You're fine," he assured me. "Return in six weeks." I thought I was being hysterical. Would my doctor dislike me if I pushed too hard?

But I knew I wasn't fine. So after three more days of politely calling and being ignored, I demanded to be seen. By this time, my fingers had swollen up like sausages. My surgeon wasn't available, so the doctor on call saw me. When he examined my arm, his face turned red with anger. The cast was much too tight. He literally ripped it off and discovered that the swelling had forced the incision to open. It had to be restitched and another cast put in place. Months later, I needed two plastic surgeries to improve the unsightly scar, and each time, my arm was in a cast for six weeks. I couldn't operate, my kids were young, and it was a very difficult time. If my surgeon had seen me on day 1, these complications would have been avoided.

My experience made me wonder: If even I, a surgeon, was too intimidated to confront my doctor when my gut told me something was wrong, how much more difficult must it be for the average patient? We all need to take charge of our own health. That's especially true when it comes to the invisible doctors responsible for the tests and images that shape our diagnosis and treatment. My advice:

Trust your instincts. If you have questions about a lab result, diagnosis or treatment, speak up. And be persistent. After you have a lab test or diagnostic image, call your doctor to make sure he received the results. Don't worry about hurting your doctor's feelings. This is about you.

Choose wisely. The doctor you pick is only the first member of a team of specialists involved in your care. She'll likely assemble the rest of the team, so finding the right doctor is doubly important. So, too, is the hospital you choose. There are no guarantees, but usually, the better the hospital, the better the team.

Read the label. Many lab mix-ups start in your doctor's office. When giving a blood or other specimen, ask the nurse, politely, to show you the identification sticker to make sure it's accurate.

Do it again. If a lab result is unexpected or alarming, your doctor may have you retested. If he doesn't, ask him about a do-over.

Carry a medical passport. A summary of your vital health information is a must. It should list diseases, medications and doses, food and drug allergies, and phone numbers of your physician and nearest relative. Take it with you to every doctor you see -- even the radiologist.

Be a pack rat. Keep copies of all lab reports, x-rays, MRIs and CT scans, plus names and addresses of your MDs.

Get a second opinion. It's crucial to your health. If a diagnosis requires surgery, chemotherapy or medications with side effects, find another specialist (call the hospital's referral service for help), and send him all your pathology and radiology lab work for review, both the images and reports. When you get the second opinion, make sure you understand it. If not, talk to the doctor until you do.

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