Medical errors are defined as an unintended injury that happened to a patient as a result of their medical care. An example of an unexpected error is exposing a client to an unknown and uncommon allergen. The only way they would know they were allergic is by being exposed to it, and that could happen for the first time in your workplace.
Applying an unscented cream or lotion to a client’s skin that contains an ingredient that the client is allergic to, such as parabens or other preservatives is an example of an unexpected medical error when the result is severe contact dermatitis or rash. It is not a common standard of care to test a client for allergens to preservatives prior to applying a lotion or cream to the skin, unless extreme allergens are disclosed during their health intake prior to medical intervention.
While that is an example of an unavoidable medical error, a similar medical error that would be considered AVOIDABLE is applying essential oil(s). That’s because essential oils are commonly known to cause skin irritations or worse. In extremely rare cases of essential oil exposure, anaphylaxis could result, which could prove life threatening if a proper emergency medical response is not immediately and effectively provided.
One study titled Art of Prevention: Essential Oils - Natural Products Not Necessarily Safe published Nov 2020 stated: “Approximately 80 essential oils have been shown to cause contact allergy…”1 Healthcare professionals utilizing essential oils should know that skin and allergic reactions are common with essential oil use. They should also learn which oils more commonly cause skin sensitization and irritations, plus how to perform a patch test prior to exposing a client to a new essential oil to avoid a negative result or medical error.
Healthcare providers must know how to respond to potential common adverse effects of their medical care. In the case of essential oil allergic reactions, a practitioner could respond by pouring whole milk or unscented host oil over the exposed area. This would show that a trained duty of care was provided during an adverse medical reaction to the essential oil use.
The difference between avoidable and not avoidable medical errors here is within your medical expertise for DUTY OF CARE, which is what a patient is paying for and counting on. Medical error malpractice claims and financial awards are harder to achieve when the error is unexpected and a proper duty of care was provided prior to, during or after the unexpected injury.
Medical errors that result from gross negligence are likely going to be the most susceptible to medical error malpractice action. Malicious injuries sustained in healthcare practices, such as applying a known essential oil to a client because you do not like them would not be considered a medical error. In that case, the provider could be charged criminally for assault as well as be liable for medical malpractice and abuse.
For greater medical errors prevention training in healthcare, please visit: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/mandatory
1. Sindle A, Martin K. Art of Prevention: Essential Oils - Natural Products Not Necessarily Safe. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020 Nov 12;7(3):304-308. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.10.013. PMID: 34222588; PMCID: PMC8243157.
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