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We trust doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers with helping us feel better. We hope that they will provide the quality care we need to improve our health. Unfortunately, medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States. Negligence in the health care industry is proving fatal to countless Americans.
If you or a loved one has suffered from mistreatment by a treating medical provider, you may be entitled to seek compensation by bringing a medical malpractice claim. Attorney Michael LoGiudice is here to hold medical professionals responsible when they fail to exercise the requisite duty of care required of them and people suffer as a result.
Are Medical Errors a Leading Cause of Death in the United States?
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center discovered that almost 251,000 patients in America die due to medical errors. This makes medical errors the third ranking cause of death in the country falling just behind heart disease, which 614,00 patients die from annually, and cancer, which 591,000 patients die from each year. Medical errors kill more people than lung disease, stroke, or accidents.
These are sobering statistics and many have asked why this information is only just recently coming to light. The Johns Hopkins researchers say that medical errors leading death have been difficult to study due to the limit data provided by death certificates. Death certificates currently must list a cause of death that lines up with an insurance billing code. These codes do not properly account for human or systemic errors. The cause of death usually ends up being the condition for which a patient was seeking treatment and not the lapse in medical care.
What are the Most Common Types of Medical Errors?
Medical errors include a wide range of things. Not all medical errors are fatal, but many do lead to significant and unnecessary suffering on the part of the patient. Some of the most common medical errors include:
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Medication administration mistakes
Incorrect medical treatment plan for patient illness
Failure in executing an order
Doctor ordered something done incorrectly
Doctor omitting something that should have been done
Treatment plan failed to achieve intended results for patient
The problems with mistakes in medication administration are very common. Massachusetts General Hospital reported that 45% of all surgeries between 2014 and 2014 involved drug errors or unintended drug side effects. These medication errors included mistakes in dosage or labeling. They also involved medications that were ordered but never given. If you ever find yourself needing surgery, be sure to talk to your surgeon about their experience with the scheduled operation and what the most common complications may be. Ask about any steps you can take to prevent medical complications during the healing process. Also, always check what medications you are given in the hospital and be clear on why you are being given a specific type of medication.
For any type of medical treatment, you need, be sure to try and protect yourself as best as possible. Always find a physician you can have a good relationship with and one you trust. You want to be able to ask any questions and feel confident in the answers you receive. It is also always a good idea to bring a trusted friend or family member with you into a medical facility to make sure all questions are asked and properly answered. If you ever feel uncomfortable with the answers you are given by your treating medical provider, be sure to get a second opinion.
Working to Get Victims of Hospital Errors Properly Compensated for their Losses
A hospital error caused by a medical provider’s negligence and one that harmed you, the patient, is considered medical malpractice. You are entitled to compensation under the law. Attorney Michael LoGiudice is here to fight for you. If you have lost a loved one due to a hospital error, you may also have standing to bring a wrongful death action. Know your legal options by calling Attorney LoGiudice today.