Ten Ways Patients Can Help Their Doctors Avoid Medical Mistakes

1. Meet With Your Surgeon Before Surgery.  To avoid operating on the wrong site ask your surgeon to meet with you and a member of the family before you are sedated to reconfirm the type, the site and the side of the operation in the presence of the circulating nurse and anesthesiologist/anesthetist. 

2. Schedule a Preoperative Visit a Week Before Surgery.  Ask for a preoperative visit about a week before the surgery to go over the indications for surgery, the alternatives, the risks, the possible complications and the postoperative care. 

3. Ask Your Surgeon to Meet with Your Family Prior to Surgery.  Ask your surgeon to meet with you and your family prior to surgery.  At this session, the postoperative prescriptions should be given to you so that you can fill the prescriptions a couple of days ahead rather than on the day of surgery.

4. Ask Your Surgeon to Meet with Your Family Following Surgery.  Immediately after surgery, ask the surgeon to meet with your family to describe what was done during surgery, and to re-explain the postoperative care.

5. Request a Copy of Your Records.  Ask the anesthesiology department to give you an abbreviated copy of the anesthesia record stating the agents used and any side effects from the anesthesia.

6. Drawing Blood.  When a technician is drawing blood from you, the blood tubes should be labeled first and then blood is drawn from you. 

7. Request a Copy of Your Test Results.  Ask your doctor for a copy of all your test results.  Every patient should be notified of all test results whether they are positive or negative. 

8. Ask Your Doctor to Write Your Prescription Legibly.  Ask your doctor to write your prescription legibly and avoid abbreviations.  For example, qd is an abbreviation for once a day, while qid is an abbreviation for four times a day.    These confusing abbreviations could lead to unnecessary complications.

9. Tell Your Doctor What Medicines You are Taking.  Bring a list of the medicine and dosage you are taking to your doctor in order to avoid dangerous interactions.  For example, the medicine Lipitor and Zithromax
should not be taken together. 

10. Tell Your Doctor About Your Allergies.  Tell your doctor about allergies you may have to medicines in order to avoid unnecessary complications.