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MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: MEDICAL ERRORS  The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has estimated that 44,000 to 98,000 Americans die in hospitals each year as a result of medical errors. This means that medical errors kill more people annually than breast cancer, AIDS or motor vehicle accidents, the IOM has said. Moreover, the health care ratings company HealthGrades in 2007 determined that from 2003 to 2005, nearly 248,000 hospital patients died due to potentially preventable errors. As alarming as these statistics are, they do not tell the whole story. Medical mistakes can and do happen outside of the hospital setting as well. From clinics to doctors’ offices to nursing homes to pharmacies, the potential for devastating mistakes poses serious risk to patients.
Medical negligence may be attributed to causes ranging from failure to obtain a patient’s medical history, to ordering incorrect diagnostic tests, to failing to correctly interpret or follow up on test results. Similarly, physicians may fail to conduct a thorough physical exam, recognize the symptoms of an illness or take patient history into account when making a diagnosis. In some cases insurance companies play a role in adverse medical outcomes by, for example, refusing to authorize follow-up testing and thereby contributing to a missed diagnosis.
Certainly health care providers such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists try their best to avoid errors and help patients attain optimum health. Still, in light of the frightening frequency with which medical mistakes occur, we urge patients to take an active role in their health care. This means being forthcoming with medical information, attending scheduled appointments, asking questions of all those involved in our care and making sure we educate ourselves about medical conditions and treatment options.
If you suspect that you or a loved has suffered harm as a result of a medical error, it is crucial to consult with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you secure all of the compensation to which you may be entitled. This may include compensation for pain and suffering, financial loss, emotional distress and medical expenses. In some cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages for another party’s wrongdoing. Our dedicated trial lawyers can also help you deal with your insurance company, as well as the insurer of the other party or parties. The insurance companies have lawyers working hard to minimize their payouts; you need a medical malpractice attorney who will work just as hard for you.
At Feldman Shepherd, we are committed to helping our clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey obtain the best possible recovery as expeditiously as possible. We are here to serve you with hard work, attention to detail and a caring approach tailored to your individual needs. If we may be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us {hyperlink} today.
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