One common element is equipment failure. For example, if the X - ray machine breaks down suddenly during a scan. Another is data loss like in the case of corrupted patient records. And then there's the issue of radiation leakage which is extremely dangerous.
Well, often in 'rad tech horror stories', miscommunication plays a part. Maybe the tech doesn't get the right instructions about a patient's special needs regarding a scan. Also, power outages during critical procedures can be a common element. This can lead to interrupted scans or even damage to the equipment. And human error, like a tech accidentally misconfiguring a machine's settings, is also quite common.
A rad tech once told me about a situation where they received a radioactive sample for testing. But the container it was in was damaged during transit. They had no idea how much radiation had been leaked. The whole department had to be shut down immediately and they had to call in a special hazmat team to deal with it.
Data loss is very common. Like in cases where hard drives suddenly fail without warning. Another is security breaches, for example, when hackers access private information. Also, glitches in software or hardware that disrupt normal use, such as a laptop screen suddenly going black while you're in the middle of important work.
The most common one is probably the virus or malware attacks. A company's network can get infected, and all the computers start acting up. The IT support has to isolate the infected machines, clean them up, and make sure the data is not stolen. It's a huge hassle.
Another common horror story is communication breakdown. When the surgical tech doesn't communicate clearly with the surgeon about the availability of instruments or the status of the patient, it can lead to problems. Like if the tech doesn't tell the surgeon that a crucial instrument is malfunctioning, it can cause delays or mistakes during the operation.
The most common one is probably mislabeling prescriptions. It's so easy to accidentally write the wrong name or dosage on the label. Another is the wrong drug being dispensed. I know of a case where a tech grabbed the wrong bottle because they were in a hurry. And then there's the issue of running out of a crucial medication and not being able to fill prescriptions on time, which leads to angry customers.
There are also horror stories about data loss. A customer might accidentally delete important files and then expect the tech support to magically recover everything. Even if it's possible to recover some data, it's not always a 100% solution. And some customers get really angry when they realize that not all their data can be retrieved. This can lead to a very unpleasant tech support experience.
One common element is human error. For example, technicians misidentifying cables and causing outages. Another is natural disasters. A flood or earthquake can damage fiber cables easily. Also, cyberattacks on fiber tech systems are becoming more common, leading to data breaches and service disruptions.
Misdiagnosis is a common one. Like confusing a benign growth for a malignant one or vice versa.
There are cases where adoption agencies have been involved in unethical practices. For example, some families have reported that they were promised a healthy child but ended up with a child having serious medical conditions. This not only puts a financial burden on the family but also an emotional one as they have to deal with the child's health problems while feeling deceived by the agency. In some extreme cases, the child's medical needs were so great that it completely disrupted the family's life.
One horror story could be a situation where the adopted child had severe, undisclosed mental health issues. The adoptive family, not being fully informed, was ill - equipped to handle it. For example, the child might have extreme mood swings and violent outbursts that put the family in constant fear and disrupted their daily lives.