Common Preventable Medical Errors

When you walk into a hospital or doctor’s office, you expect safe, professional care. But what happens if a preventable mistake puts your health at risk? Unfortunately, medical errors are far more common than most people realize. A landmark Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for more than 250,000 deaths every year—and some estimates place the number closer to 440,000.

The good news? Many of these mistakes are preventable. By understanding how and why they happen, patients can take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.

The Most Common Preventable Medical Errors

Despite advances in medical technology and safety protocols, errors still occur at alarming rates. Some of the most frequent include:

• Medication errors

• Anesthesia-related mistakes

• Hospital-acquired infections

• Missed or delayed diagnoses

• Avoidable delays in treatment

• Inadequate follow-up care

• Failure to act on test results

• Insufficient monitoring after procedures

• Failure to take proper precautions

• Technical medical errors

1. Misdiagnosis

Error in diagnosis is a common medical error. Incorrect diagnosis can result in unnecessary or harmful treatment. A wrong diagnosis can lead to a patient receiving incorrect and/or unnecessary treatment. When this involves medication, it could end up being more harmful than the patient’s true condition, or the patient may not receive the correct medication to treat an undiagnosed condition.

2. Delayed Diagnosis

A delayed diagnosis can be as detrimental as a misdiagnosis. A delay in diagnosis can prevent the patient from getting necessary treatment in a timely manner. A delayed diagnosis occurs when the physician eventually reaches the right diagnosis, but not in a reasonable time. They may put off ordering tests for the proper diagnosis while the patient suffers in agony. Chest pain, for example, is often labeled as heartburn. While they wait, their symptoms worsen and, eventually, they suffer a massive heart attack. Had they received the proper treatment when they arrived, they would not have suffered the same complications.

3. Medication Error

Pharmacists are sometimes responsible for mixing ingredients to make a patient’s medication. Mistakes during this process can make a drug ineffective or cause an allergic reaction or some other type of adverse event. Pharmaceutical companies can also be liable for injuries as a result of incorrect compounding.

Drug errors or drug-related injuries are one of the most serious medical mistakes that can happen in hospitals, occurring in about half of surgeries. Prescribing the wrong dose or failing to account for drug interactions can have detrimental effects for the patient. Prescribers and caregivers must carefully consider a patient’s medical history to watch for allergies and potentially harmful drug combinations before administering medicine. If they fail to do so, or if information is left off of a patient’s chart, the consequences can be very serious.

4. Infection

Infection is a risk of almost any hospital stay or medical procedure. Most hospital infections are not serious and can be treated. However, some infections can become much more serious and even deadly. Each year more than 2 million patients get healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that cause nearly 100,000 patient deaths. Researchers have proven that infections are the most hazardous complications of hospital care, and the most common infection is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has research results that show one in every 20 hospitalized patients contracts an HAI.

5. Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are common, despite regulations. Most are not life-threatening, but they are still debilitating and dangerous. Common reasons for surgical error claims include operating on the wrong side of the body, operating on the wrong patient, post-operative infections, bleeding, anesthesia errors, and brain damage during sedation.

Frequent surgical considerations that involve negligence stem from a failure to adequately complete the procedure. A few allegations occur when the doctor

• Fails to practice proper preoperative care.
• Fails to account for a pre-existing condition that requires special care.
• Does not follow established procedures.
• Fails to adequately protect the surgical site from infection.
• Fails to conduct post-operative procedures or did not adequately provide post-treatment instructions for self-care for the patient.

Complications from surgical errors can include the following:

• Acute respiratory failure
• Blood clots
• Infections
• Metabolic issues
• Wound reopening

6. Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is common in surgery as well as with outpatient procedures. For example, a person’s annual colonoscopy requires anesthesia. Dental work also may use sedation.

Anesthesia errors can be devastating, especially when a proper medical history is not taken or the patient is not properly monitored. Patients can suffer from drug interactions, brain damage from a lack of oxygen, organ failure, heart attacks, and even allergic reactions.

Why These Errors Matter

Each of these mistakes can have devastating consequences, from prolonged illness and complications to wrongful death. Studying how they happen—and putting safeguards in place to prevent them—is critical to improving patient safety, reducing costs, and holding healthcare systems accountable.

What Patients Can Do

Patients and their families can play an important role in prevention. By staying informed, asking questions, monitoring treatment plans, and double-checking prescriptions or test results, patients can help ensure they receive the highest standard of care—even in busy medical environments.

Proving Medical Malpractice Based on Diagnostic Errors

The law does not hold doctors legally responsible for all diagnostic errors. Instead, patients usually must prove three things in order to prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit based on a wrong diagnosis:

• A doctor-patient relationship existed.
• The doctor was negligent — that is, did not provide treatment in a reasonably skillful and competent manner.
• The doctor’s negligence caused actual injury to the patient.

Was the Doctor Negligent?

A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis itself is not evidence of negligence. Skillful doctors can and do make diagnostic errors even when using reasonable care. The key is determining whether the doctor acted competently, which involves an evaluation of what the doctor did and did not do in arriving at a diagnosis. Sometimes, after further investigation, the doctor will discover other information that will cause him or her to add to the differential diagnostic list.

In a medical malpractice case based on diagnostic error, the patient must prove that a doctor in a similar specialty, under similar circumstances, would not have misdiagnosed the patient’s illness or condition. In a practical sense, this means proving one of two things:

• The doctor did not include the correct diagnosis on the differential diagnosis list, and a reasonably skillful and competent doctor under similar circumstances would have.
• The doctor included the correct diagnosis on the differential diagnosis list, but failed to perform appropriate tests or seek opinions from specialists in order to investigate the viability of the diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Errors

How common are medical errors?

Studies estimate that medical errors affect 1 in 10 patients worldwide, with thousands of preventable deaths annually.

Can I sue for a medical error?

Yes. If negligence can be proven, patients may file a medical malpractice lawsuit. This requires showing that the provider breached their duty of care and caused measurable harm.

Are all medical errors considered malpractice?

No. Not every mistake meets the legal standard of malpractice. An error must result from negligence or substandard care, not an unavoidable complication.

What should I do if I suspect a medical error?

Document everything — prescriptions, test results, symptoms — and contact a qualified medical malpractice attorney to discuss your options.

How to Protect Yourself from Medical Errors

Here are simple but effective steps to safeguard your health:

1. Keep an updated list of medications and allergies.

2. Ask questions — about risks, alternatives, and procedures.

3. Bring a trusted advocate (family or friend) to appointments.

4. Request copies of your medical records.

5. Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion.

Conclusion: Take Charge of Your Health

Medical errors can be frightening, but awareness is your best defense. By learning about these six common preventable mistakes, asking the right questions, and staying actively involved in your care, you can significantly reduce your risks.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medical error, consulting with a skilled medical malpractice attorney can help you understand your rights and options for pursuing compensation.

The potential for medical error shouldn’t stop you or your family from getting the care you need. The good news is that most medical mistakes are preventable.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If possible, bring someone else with you, a friend or family member, to help you. Write everything down – your medications, allergies, previous doctors and health issues, and any questions you may have. When you’re being discharged from the hospital, make sure you ask your doctor to explain your home care and recovery process.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury due to medical malpractice and have questions about seeking legal action, call Duque & Price now at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your options. A free consultation is just a phone call away.

Key Takeaways

• Medical errors are common but preventable — awareness and proactive communication reduce risks.

• Six major preventable errors include: medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, surgical errors, hospital-acquired infections, anesthesia issues, and failure to monitor patients.

• Statistics matter: Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually.

• Prevention is possible: Double-check medications, ask questions, seek second opinions, and keep medical records handy.

• Legal options exist: If negligence is involved, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim with the help of an attorney.

About The Author

Brent A. Duque

From humble beginnings and son of hard-working immigrant parents, Brent Duque was raised in La Puente, California. After graduating from West Covina High School and Mt. San Antonio College, Mr. Duque went on to graduate from Cal State University Fullerton with a Bachelors degree in Political Science. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Duque did his graduate studies in Education and Public Administration at California Polytechnic University Pomona. After working for other firms, Mr. Duque knew that if he opened his own firm, he could provide more aggressive representation, better communication with clients, and secure larger settlements and verdicts for his clients. In 2006, he started his firm and has had a remarkable and successful career that he attributes to his firm’s aggressive and relentless pursuit of justice for his clients. As owner and managing attorney of the firm, Mr. Duque has fought for and secured millions of dollars for his clients.

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