Medical Malpractice & Patient Safety
Failure to Communicate
Critical information that never reached the person who needed it.
Overview
Understanding Failure to Communicate cases
Health care is a team effort, and the team is only as safe as its communication. A critical lab value that never reaches the treating physician. A radiology finding buried in a report nobody reads. A handoff between shifts where the most important detail is dropped. Each is a small failure that can cause enormous harm.
Hospitals are supposed to have reliable systems for communicating critical results, documenting changes in a patient’s condition, and transferring care safely between providers. When those systems fail — or never existed — the institution shares responsibility along with the individuals.
These cases live in the records: who knew what, when they documented it, and who was never told. We piece that together and hold the right people accountable.
What these cases often involve
Where the case is built
- Critical test results that were never relayed or acted on
- Incomplete or rushed handoffs between shifts and units
- Breakdowns between hospitals, specialists, and primary care
- Discharge instructions that omitted vital information
- Failures to communicate a worsening condition up the chain
- Missing, altered, or incomplete documentation
The information on this page is general and not legal advice. Every situation is different. Contact us to discuss the specifics of your case.
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