Is Doctor-Nurse Friction Threatening Your Safety in Hospitals?

Doctors and nurses are undoubtedly under a tremendous amount of pressure. Their jobs are among the most stressful in the world, so when they choose to blow off some steam, they are generally given some latitude. When their professional squabbling poses a threat to patient safety, however, it is completely unacceptable and needs to be addressed. Those who put themselves in the care of a medical team expect that team to exhibit professionalism and enough respect for one another to get the job done well. According to recent testimony from nurses, inter-staff friction at hospitals poses an increasingly large threat to the health and well-being of patients in the US.
Many nurses point to an “epidemic” in bullying and harassment by physicians, citing examples of doctors throwing medical instruments in anger during procedures, berating patients both in private and public, and even physically assaulting nurses in the workplace. A 2013 Institute for Safe Medication Practices survey found that 87 percent of nurses encountered physicians who had a “reluctance or refusal to answer your questions, or return calls,” 74 percent experienced physicians making “condescending or demeaning comments or insults,” and 26 percent of nurses had objects thrown at them by doctors. Physicians shamed, humiliated or spread malicious rumors about 42 percent of the surveyed nurses.
The last place you want to experience disharmony is at a hospital during a serious medical procedure. The idea that the people in charge of preserving your life can be so blatantly unprofessional is nothing short of alarming. This friction and lack of communication can put you directly in the line of fire. If you’re the victim of medical malpractice due to an unprofessional medical team, call an experienced attorney immediately. You shouldn’t have to suffer because your medical team couldn’t get along at work.
Don’t let a negligent medical mistake ruin your life. The attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi possess years of experience helping clients successfully pursue maximum damages in medical malpractice claims. Call our qualified attorneys today for a free consultation and to learn how we can pursue justice for you and your family.