Medical malpractice is a tragedy. More than 250,000 people die each year as a result of medical malpractice. This means that medical malpractice is one of the three leading causes of death in the United States – counting after cancer and heart disease.
How common Medical Malpractice Cases are in USA
A recent study by Johns Hopkins states that more than 250,000 US people die each year as a result of medical malpractice. Some reports say the figures are as high as 440,000.
The number of cases of medical malpractice filed in the United States varies from province to province, with an average of 85,000 cases filed each year. A 2017 study by the National Patient Safety Foundation and Healthcare Improvement revealed that 21% of American adults report having experienced a medical error.
Most Common Types of Medical Malpractice.
- Failure to Make a Correct Diagnosis: According to the study, each year in the U.S. about 12 million adults seeking medical care are not properly diagnosed. This means that one in 20 adult patients has not been properly diagnosed. Worse, the study noted that in about 50 percent of cases, the misdiagnosis had the potential to lead to serious injury.
- Injuries at birth: Birth defects often occur during childbirth. According to an estimate, 8 in one thousand babies born in the United States are born with a genetic predisposition. In many cases, broken bones or nerves are damaged.
- Medication errors: Nearly 1.3 million people are injured every year in the United States as a result of drug errors, according to MedicineNet.com. Medication errors can occur in many different ways. In some cases, a patient is simply given the wrong medication. A patient may be given an incorrect prescription by their doctor or pharmacist. Dose errors are a common type of drug error. The nurse may give the patient more or less than the required dose. Hospital equipment can also be used. If the patient is given medication with a pump and equipment that is malfunctioning or did not function properly in the first place, there may be a dose error.
Medical malpractice should be carried with a lot of weight. Everyone deserves good health no matter the age and status.
If your doctor doesn’t listen well enough and you end up getting substandard medical care as a result, you may want to look into your legal options. You could deserve significant compensation for a surgical mistake, a delayed diagnosis, or any other serious error.