Would it shock you to hear that medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States? Only heart disease (#1) and cancer (#2) kill more people in our country than do medical mistakes.
A recent study in the Journal of Patient Safety estimates that between 210,000 and 440,000 Americans die each year due to medical malpractice. Compare these numbers to research from 1999 which stated that approximately 98,000 Americans died due to medical error. These are alarming statistics.
Medical malpractice occurs when a physician or other health care provider violates the standard of care when treating a patient, and that ends up causing damage or injury to the patient. This standard of care includes the physician’s, or other health care provider’s, obligation to treat the patient, consult with other physicians, keep adequate patient records and communicate any potential risks to the patient. Physicians are responsible for taking appropriate action, but may also be held accountable for failure to take action when treating a patient.
Examples of medical malpractice include:
Failure to diagnose, or misdiagnosis of a disease or medical condition
Failure to provide appropriate treatment for a disease or medical condition
Unreasonable delay in treating a disease or medical condition
Medical malpractice law is a highly technical and specialized field. If you think that you or a loved one may be the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to trust your case to a law firm that has extensive experience in this field, with legal professionals who can navigate the often complex issues that arise.
Turner & Turner’s lawyers specialize in medical malpractice law and will gladly provide you with a complimentary case review.
