Doctors are expected to competently perform their job duties while sticking to their oath to do no harm. Yet, doctors oftentimes make mistakes, which can lead to all types of injuries and death. There are many contributing factors to these medical errors, but one that is starting to gain attention is doctor burnout, which could be pivotal considering that one survey found that as many as 59% of physicians reported experiencing symptoms of burnout.
What causes doctor burnout?
There are several contributing factors to doctor burnout. They include:
- Increased attention on the utilization of electronic medical records.
- Poor work-life balance.
- Lack of autonomy in how they schedule their work and provide care to their patients.
- Increased focus on statutory and regulatory compliance and the fear associated with straying from inadvertently straying from them.
- A sense of helplessness when they’re unable to effectively treat their parents.
- Long hours.
Doctors face other causes of burnout, too, just like people who work in other professions.
The risks of burnout
Doctors who experience burnout can suffer from diminished ability to care for their patients. They might exhibit any of the following:
- Inability to focus.
- Signs of substance abuse.
- Inability to multitask.
- Signs of fatigue and tiredness.
- Difficulty comprehending information that’s been told to them.
- General carelessness.
Any one of these issues can result in a serious medical error that leaves you or a loved one severely injured.
What should you do if you’ve been harmed by medical malpractice?
If you’ve been hurt by a doctor’s carelessness, then you’ll be justified in taking legal action in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit. But these cases can be complicated, oftentimes requiring extensive expert testimony, which is why the sooner you start building your case the better. So, if you need more information about how to develop your medical malpractice case, then now is the time to seek out the resources you need.