When you seek medical care, you trust that the health care team taking care of you is doing its best to look out for your interests. But a new study finds that the vast majority of medical residents experience burnout, calling into question the reliability of the very staff charged with ensuring your well-being.
The new study, conducted at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, found that 70 percent of medical residents met the criteria for burnout, defined as a combination of low accomplishment, depersonalization, and emotional fatigue. These clinicians reported that they had knowingly made medical errors and failed to deliver the best care possible.
The results found burnout rates as high as 89% for general surgery, 85% for radiology, and 81% for anesthesiology. Pediatrics and pathology residents were among the least likely to feel burned out, at 53% and 46%, respectively. Findings are based on an electronic survey completed by more than 500 resident physicians over a two month period.
Medical malpractice is a serious problem in the United States, and this study suggests that the situation is not improving. Burnout can lead to a wide range of errors that constitute medical malpractice, including:
- Anesthesia errors
- Emergency room and surgical errors
- Incorrect diagnosis of an injury or disease
- Birth injuries
- Pharmacy errors
- Medication errors
If you or a loved one has experienced an injury or wrongful death while in the care of a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional, you need an experienced Raleigh medical malpractice lawyer on your side to help you recover all the damages to which you are entitled. Kimberly Wilson White has 15 years of experience handling these complex cases, and she’ll fight aggressively to protect your rights every step of the way.
Please contact Wilson Law, P.A. using the form at the bottom of the page or call (919) 800-0919 today to schedule a free case evaluation. We serve clients in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and throughout North Carolina.