It’s estimated that over 43,000 people die in car accidents each year. Breast cancer claims over
42,000 a year and over 16,000 people die of AIDS each year. But there is another killer claiming
many, many more lives each year. It’s medical malpractice, called the "quiet killer" because you
don’t hear much about it. However, deaths from medical mistakes have reached such alarming numbers
that you’re going to be hearing a lot more about the subject in the future.
The President
unveiled a series of initiatives in February 1999 intended to cut the incidence of medical errors
in the United States by 50% within 5 years. As part of this initiative, the federal task force
convened on September 11, 2000 to discuss ways to reduce medical errors.
The National Summit
on Medical Errors and Patient Safety Research was in response to a disturbing report released in
November 1999 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer
Health System http://books.nap.edu estimated
that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year due to medical mistakes.
There are
many different kinds of medical mistakes, but some examples are: dispensing the wrong medicine or
the wrong dose of medicine; improper reading of x-rays; transfusion errors; the misdiagnosis of a
life-threatening condition; surgery on the wrong limb; accidents during surgery; infections related
to treatment; birth trauma; preventable suicide; restraint-related injuries; burns, falls and pressure
ulcers.
It is important to understand that not all bad outcomes in medicine are the result
of medical malpractice. There are strict time limits that apply to bringing a medical malpractice
case. If you believe you or a loved one have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, it is
important that your case is promptly reviewed by a qualified trial lawyer. We will utilize the services
of our full time in house registered nurse to help analyze your potential medical malpractice claims.
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