Introduction
The human factor plays a significant role in healthcare because the industry is built on interactions of individuals and decisions made by professionals with different backgrounds. The term means the combination of behavioral, social, emotional, and physical aspects that influence how technological and non-human systems work (Sheehan et al., 2022).
Discussion
For instance, although I have sufficient education to make decisions that benefit a patient in emergencies, I may be limited by stress and risks for which I take responsibility. If a team is involved in a procedure, the opinions developed by members with different expertise must be revised, and an objective solution must be made to avoid biases. However, a team where subordination occurs might make clinical decisions based on one’s authority, demonstrating how human factors might severely influence results.
Furthermore, values impact the human factor because solutions practitioners and physicians offer must align with core principles of healthcare biased by their perception. Abortion-related cases are a notable example because even in the states where the procedure is legal, healthcare providers still refuse to offer it due to their cultural or religious backgrounds (Rowlands & Thomas, 2020). Consequently, the human factor is involved in the decision-making, influencing patient safety and legal rights.
The human factor is based on the strengths, limitations, and values of physicians and practitioners participating in clinical decision-making; thus, these areas must be considered to avoid threats to patient safety. Lack of knowledge, distraction, forgetting about crucial steps of a procedure, and mistrust of specific pharmaceutical companies’ products are severe for proper solutions’ development. For instance, a practitioner may fail to consider a patient’s infectious diseases or chronic conditions during the differential diagnosis, worsening their health state. Such clinical decisions are flawed due to human behavioral factors, such as forgetfulness, lack of education, or distraction.
Conclusion
The potential legal ramifications of an incorrect diagnosis depend on the severity of the consequences and might be presented in court as a violation of medical standards (Bates & Singh, 2018). A practitioner’s license might be canceled, and a fine for the patient’s damage might be assigned.
References
Bates, D. W., & Singh, H. (2018). Two decades since to err is human: An assessment of progress and emerging priorities in patient safety. Health Affairs, 37(11), 1736-1743. Web.
Rowlands, S., & Thomas, K. (2020). Mandatory waiting periods before abortion and sterilization: Theory and practice. International Journal of Women’s Health, 12, 577. Web.
Sheehan, P., Joy, A., Fleming, A., Vosper, H., & McCarthy, S. (2022). Human factors and patient safety in undergraduate healthcare education: A systematic review. Human Factors in Healthcare, 2, 100019. Web.