Technology has done a lot to improve the efficiency of medical care, but it can also have its downsides. If you have ever found your attention pulled away from a conversation by a notification ping or lost your train of thought to an open tab on your computer, other than the one you were meant to be looking at, then you’ll understand how distracting these devices can be.
Doctors and nurses need to be fully focused on their patients while attending to them. Like everyone, however, they too can get distracted by their phones, tablets and other devices.
Some might argue that medical staff should be banned from using such devices while working, but they can be highly beneficial for quick consultations with others and for getting information. Besides, even if they did turn them off, there are many other people with phones in a hospital that could prove just as distracting. Imagine being intensely focused on a surgical operation when the silly ringtone of a family member waiting outside the operating room goes off. It could be hard to ignore and regain concentration.
Medical professionals’ device distraction can be dangerous for patients
Distraction by devices is a reality of life these days. It would be foolish to believe medical staff can always remain unaffected by them. Hospitals and other medical facilities need to have procedures in place to catch mistakes made due to distraction, or for any other reason, before they result in harm to a patient.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a medical error, it’s worth considering whether distraction played a role and whether adequate procedural checks were in place and followed. Having experienced legal guidance can help.