One of the fears people have in an emergency health situation is being misdiagnosed when doctors are unaware of their medical condition. This is a legitimate concern, since a swift and accurate diagnosis is crucial to the health and well-being of a patient, and even more urgent for those with severe medical conditions. Failure to pinpoint the cause of an illness can lead to complications such as infection, harmful drug interactions, and secondary health issues. Medication errors alone cost an estimated $1.2 billion in Australia in 2016. A medical diagnosis error can mean the difference between life and death. While many regions have implemented patient data sharing and medical error reporting systems, there's no standard digital reporting system in place in Australia. That's why it's up to each health care consumer to be proactive about their own health and well-being. Below, we examine some of the most pressing issues in this area and give advice on how to ensure the best outcome for your own health.

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis of medical conditions is a serious matter for adults, but it's even more threatening to the health of a child. Parents serve an important role as advocates for their children, and it's important to pay attention to the instinct that something's wrong, even if health care professionals dismiss that concern. Failure to find the underlying condition and treat it properly can lead to infection, additional illness, and even permanent disability. For example, one new mother felt that her baby boy's constant crying was abnormal. Even though her concerns were brushed aside by nurses, her child was eventually diagnosed with a twisted bowel. In a lawsuit brought by the parents, it was pointed out that the child showed classic symptoms of a bowel obstruction that were ignored by medical staff. The child survived, but he was in a coma for two months and now has a permanent disability.

Medical Errors

Symptoms of medical conditions are sometimes overlooked, as in the case above. Occasionally, problems can also arise due to direct medical errors. Communication between doctors and hospitals can sometimes be insufficient, and lack of access to your complete medical history makes it harder for a physician to diagnose an illness or syndrome. Also, doctors are only human, and the depth and breadth of their knowledge can vary, with some more skilled in certain diagnoses than others.

A Second Opinion For Your Medical Condition

doctor patient medical id Any medical condition will benefit from a second opinion, especially if you feel that something is being missed by your health care professional. Besides looking out for children, who can't speak for themselves, each person must be their own advocate when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. Getting a second opinion is your right, and there's no need to feel awkward about seeking one. There are thousands of health conditions and diseases, and many of them share the same symptoms. It makes sense to have a fresh pair of eyes look at your medical situation, especially if you feel your health problems aren't being accurately or completely diagnosed. Here are the steps to follow for obtaining a second opinion.
  • Ask your doctor to refer you to another physician for a second opinion or make an appointment on your own.
  • Request that your medical records, including x-rays and test results, be sent to the consulting doctor.
  • Think about the purpose of the appointment with the second physician, and write down any questions you may have.
  • Ask that the consulting doctor send any diagnoses or results to your primary physician.

Standardised Care

Queensland and New South Wales have established hotlines that patients or parents can access to bring attention to medical concerns they believe are being dismissed by their health care providers. Victoria is considering a similar initiative, and one hospital has developed a 'patient escalation' program for reporting problems. However, until these types of initiatives are adopted throughout the country, there's still the possibility for serious medical problems to be overlooked. One way to protect yourself is to sign up for a medical identification system that will give a medical technician immediate access to your medical records in an emergency. By wearing a medical ID bracelet, you're alerting a nurse or physician that you have issues that need to be addressed. This type of system stores your medical information in a centralised database, and you can set it to automatically notify people on your contact list in a medical emergency. This is an especially useful safeguard for a child with a medical condition or chronic illness.

Steps to Take

doctor patient To guard your health and ensure that you and other family members are properly cared for, it's vital to be alert and thorough whenever medical issues arise. Here are some suggestions to help you become an effective health care advocate.
  • Give your health care provider a complete and honest description of your symptoms.
  • Briefly describe your medical issues, starting with the ones most important to you.
  • Feel free to politely interrupt and let your doctor know if you don't understand something.
  • Speak up if something your health care professional says about your medical condition is incorrect.
  • Remember that you have the right to ask questions, including questions about who is treating you and why.

Be Prepared

Knowing your rights as a patient will prepare you to insist on proper treatment and a second opinion if needed. In a medical emergency, however, you may not be able to advocate for yourself. That's why a medical ID bracelet or wallet card is vital, especially if you have a chronic medical condition like diabetes or respiratory illness. A simple safeguard, it provides a list of your allergies, the medications you take regularly and information about any special medical needs. This data can be easily accessed by any medical technician or physician. Delayed or inaccurate diagnoses and medication mistakes contribute to patient harm being the 14th leading cause of illness in the world, comparable to the incidence of malaria and tuberculosis. Thankfully, the health care industry is starting to embrace the concept of digital records, giving doctors important information about patients and making it easier to avoid drug interactions. Until this system is perfected, being an informed advocate for your own health care needs can make a substantial difference to your quality of life.