Medical malpractice can occur in a variety of ways. However, one surprising cause is physician burnout. Although burnout can affect workers in every profession, none have as great of a consequence as those in the medical field who are affected by burnout. This can be especially true when those doctors conduct surgical operations.
How common is surgeon burnout?
It’s probably more common than you think. In fact, one study found that as many as 47% of surgeons report feeling burned out. Ear, nose, and throat surgeons had the highest rate at about 77%, a staggering number. This means that as you prepare to undergo surgery, there’s a significant chance that your doctor’s mind simply isn’t in the game.
What causes surgeon burnout?
There are multiple contributing factors. Amongst them are:
- The fear of being subjected to a medical malpractice claim
- Poor work/life balance
- Frustrations with co-workers
- Lack of sleep
- Lower income than expected for the profession
There may be other contributing factors, too, any of which can have a profound impact on a surgeon’s ability to do their job.
The impact of surgeon burnout
Surgeon burnout often leads to medical malpractice, which might include conducting an operation on the wrong part of the body, leaving a surgical instrument inside of a patient, or accidentally nicking an organ. This is because burnout can lead to:
- Increased distraction
- Decreased attentiveness
- Fatigue
- Carelessness
- Recklessness
- Decreased desire to seek professional improvement
These shortcomings are unacceptable, and surgeons who engage in medical malpractice need to be held accountable.
Are you ready to fight for accountability through a medical malpractice case?
If so, then now is the time to start gathering evidence to support your claim. You’ll want to gather your medical records, track your losses, and talk to witnesses who may give you information that’s pivotal to your case. By being thorough, you’ll hopefully be able to impose liability and recover the compensation that you need to reclaim your life and recover from your injuries.