As with any other profession, cellphones are common in medical centers. Doctors use them to communicate with their coworkers, perhaps to ask questions or request assistance. They can use them to exchange information, like sending emails or checking electronic health records. They can even use their phones to look up information about the newest medical procedures. The fact that every doctor has a computer with Internet access in their pocket can be very beneficial to patient care.
But it can also be detrimental. The problem is that phones bring with them the potential for severe distraction. This could lead to mistakes and errors that harm patients.
Why would this be a problem?
It depends on the specific situation, but a distracted doctor simply may not render proper care. For instance, perhaps an anesthesiologist is supposed to be monitoring a patient’s vital signs during surgery. Instead, they get distracted by their phone and they don’t realize there’s a problem with the patient. This delays their reaction time.
There’s also the potential for information overload. A doctor may be talking to a patient about their symptoms. But at the same time, they’re thinking about text messages and email conversations with colleagues. They could be trying to look up related conditions on their phone while the patient is talking, causing them to miss important details.
You don’t deserve to suffer harm just because your doctor is distracted. If you do, then you need to know what legal steps you can take to seek compensation for additional medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and much more.