This is a strange and difficult article to write. After all, how do you write an article about the serious risks of going to hospital without scaring people out of actually going to hospital? So I should probably outline from the outset that my aim is not to convince you to avoid hospitals and go the holistic route.
The problem with going to hospital is that people often forget that they’re risky at all. And when you go into a situation not understanding the risks, you can’t prepare for them. So no, you definitely shouldn’t avoid going to hospital. But you should be aware of these potential problems.
Infection
The risk you’ve probably heard most about in this field is MRSA. It’s probably not as serious as you may think, but it is unpleasant. It can cause skin irritation and breathing problems. It can be quite prevalent in hospitals because a lot of patients have weakened immune systems. Although it’s resistant to many antibiotics, it can be treated with a mix of injections and other antibiotics.
Avoid it by avoiding other patients as much as possible! And wash your hands thoroughly after touching pretty much anything.
Surgery mistakes
These are extremely rare, but it’s a massive cause of fear for many. For people who have suffered it, it’s often a case of an anesthesia complication. Make sure you talk about your anesthesia with your physician before going into surgery. You may be able to determine if the selected anesthetic is right for your physiology.
As for under-the-knife errors, these are even rarer. But if they do occur, the surgeons themselves are legally liable. Further corrective surgery will usually fix the problem, although it can often be resolved without it. Of course, you may want to speak to a medical malpractice lawyer before discussing options with the hospital.
Complications with older patients
Doctors are very pressed for time. You’ve probably experienced it yourself. They’ll do the job, but they’ll be as quick as possible and can be curt when they speak to you. We understand, of course. It’s a tough and demanding position.
But this can create problems for older patients. Many elderly patients experience delirium when in hospital. This happens because of new medication and sleep disturbance. They may also have difficulty moving around, which means they’re more likely to develop bed sores. Essentially, older patients require more time and care. And this something that most doctors and nurses have a hard time providing.
Conclusion
So what do we take away from all of this? It’s certainly not “don’t ever go to hospital”. What it is is a warning to those who want to put their complete faith in the medical system. Because medicine and biology and law aren’t things most of us are fluent in, we leave it all up to the doctors. Most of the time, of course, this is right. But these risks are why you should remain vigilant.
Don’t completely give up all responsibility for your health. If you have a concern, speak up. Don’t worry about how the doctor will react. It’s your health on the line, after all.
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