During the ongoing health crisis, many Chicago area residents have had to visit their doctor remotely. Although the pandemic discourages people to leave their homes, regular doctor visits are still necessary, especially for those with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Many physicians are now offering telehealth appointments for their patients where they can meet with them over their computer or tablet. But can this be a potentially dangerous medical malpractice situation?
Many people are now using telemedicine for their care. They have found that this can be a good way to communicate with their doctor without having to risk being in a doctor’s office. Although most of these appointments are routine there can be situations in which a doctor makes a medical mistake. With telehealth, doctors rely more on patient records and algorithm type of information in how to proceed with a patient.
There are some risks to the patient when telemedicine is used. The following are some of the risks that can harm a patient:
- Computer malfunctions. A computer may malfunction or the software a physician uses may not be updated. Any software or computer program problem can result in a patient being prescribed the wrong medication or being prescribed medication that they may be allergic to.
- Doctor negligence. A physician may not find that their telemedicine clients are not as important as their in-person patients and therefore give them less time and thought. A doctor may give substandard care to their telemedicine patients.
- Hacker potential. Hackers can break into a patient’s medical records, mess around with medical devices, or assume the identity of a medical provider. Any of these situations can harm a patient.
If a person believes they have suffered serious medical negligence due to telemedicine they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney can review medical records and consult with medical experts to help a patient understand what may have happened and who is at fault. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
