Reflecting on a Personal Experience with Medical Error

Introduction: Medical Errors and Their Prevalence

"To err is human," and doctors are human themselves — proving that medical errors are, to some degree, inevitable. The Institute of Medicine released a publication stating that 98,000 deaths per year were attributable to medical errors, a figure even greater than deaths caused by road accidents (Bari, Khan & Rathore, 2016).

The healthcare system grows more complex each day with the advancement of technologies and new scientific methods and discoveries. Even a seemingly simple task — such as administering the correct medication — involves several individuals at different steps in the process (Jacob, 2017). This paper aims to elucidate a personal account of a medical error and examine how it affected the healthcare providers, the patient, and her family.

Medical errors related to anesthesia are particularly critical: 947 out of every 1,000 ICU cases have been reported to involve anesthesia medication errors (Kothari et al., 2010). The actual rates of mortality and morbidity are expected to be even higher, as many cases go unreported for reasons including variation in population data, differences in clinical practice, concerns about reputational damage for the hospital and physician, inconsistent reporting methods, inadequate data collection, and the lack of a uniform definition of medical error.

A Personal Account of an Anesthesia Error

I witnessed a medical error firsthand within my own family. My aunt was about to deliver her first baby through a cesarean operation when the anesthesiologist failed to administer the correct dosage. As a result, her blood pressure dropped dangerously low, posing a serious health risk to both the mother and the baby.

It also became apparent that the operating team had failed to communicate effectively with one another about the warning signs related to the mother and baby. This breakdown in communication created significant difficulties in managing both patients efficiently, as the mother's blood pressure continued to fall well below normal levels. When a nurse was observed leaving the operating theater repeatedly, the family grew anxious. On the nurse's third exit, family members stopped her to ask what was happening. The nurse had to deliver the distressing news that the mother's blood pressure was not stabilizing. The family was extremely upset and kept praying. This situation clearly illustrated how medical errors cause anguish not only to patients but also to their families.

Impact on the Patient, Newborn, and Family

After a strenuous effort by the operating team, the mother's blood pressure was eventually stabilized. However, the baby had already been affected. He was placed in an incubator immediately after delivery. His oxygen levels were critically low, and he required supplemental oxygen through nasal equipment for several hours before being cleared for discharge.

Due to the serious condition of the baby and the complications the mother experienced during the cesarean operation, both were required to remain in the hospital for two days. They were kept under observation until the doctors were confident that both were stable and safe to go home.

The emotional toll on the family was considerable. The repeated appearances of the nurse outside the operating theater, combined with the uncertainty about what was happening inside, created an atmosphere of fear and helplessness. The moment the nurse disclosed that the mother's blood pressure was unstable, the family's anxiety escalated significantly. This experience highlights how the consequences of a single medical error ripple outward, affecting not only the patient but all who love them.