Medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the United States. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, medical mistakes kill more people than respiratory disease, unintentional injuries and strokes.
After completing four studies and analyzing death rate data, researchers discovered that more than 250,000 patients die every year because of health-care errors. However, the true number of fatalities may actually be significantly higher because many cases remain unreported, and some deaths are wrongfully attributed to factors outside of medical negligence.
Medical malpractice takes many forms. Some of the most common include:
- Late diagnosis or misdiagnosis;
- Amputating the wrong body part;
- Removing the wrong organ;
- Performing surgery on the wrong patient;
- Operating on the wrong body part;
- Leaving tools inside patients after surgery;
- And pharmaceutical errors.
If you or your loved one died because of a medical error, contact the Truman Law Firm P.C. You may be eligible for compensation for funeral and burial costs, medical expenses and other damages.
Ronald W. Truman is a personal-injury lawyer in Utah who has been practicing law for more than 25 years. He will aggressively represent your interests and help you fight for the highest possible settlement.
Call 435-986-2222 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can also learn more about medical malpractice claims in Utah by visiting http://medical-malpractice.usattorneys.com/utah/.
Here is a brief overview or the Johns Hopkins University study:
Medical Errors Cause at Least 9.5 Percent of All Fatalities in the United States
The Johns Hopkins University study revealed that medical errors take more lives than previously estimated. According to the research, medical mistakes contribute to at least 9.5 percent of all fatalities in the United States, which equates to approximately 700 deaths every day. Back in 1999, the Institute of Medicine reported that preventable errors killed up to 98,000 people every year.
Why do these mistakes happen? Every case is unique, and there is a multitude of reasons why a doctor, nurse, surgeon or pharmacist could make a mistake. Common examples include:
- Inadequate pre-surgery preparation;
- Ineffective communication among hospital staff;
- Alcohol or drug use by medical workers;
- Dispensing the wrong pharmaceuticals to patients;
- Administering medicine intended for another patient;
- And incompetence.
How Can Patients Prevent Medical Malpractice?
Although many medical errors are outside the patient’s control, you can reduce your likelihood of suffering medical malpractice by:
- Insisting that all nurses and doctors wash their hands before touching you;
- Confirming that your primary doctor, nurse and surgeon are communicating;
- Checking prescription labels;
- And asking for a typed prescription instead of a handwritten one.
If your loved one died due to medical malpractice, contact the Truman Law Firm P.C. Ronald W. Truman is a Utah injury attorney who can evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim.
As a client of the Truman Law Firm P.C., you will not have to pay attorneys’ fees unless we make a successful recovery on your behalf. Call 435-986-2222 to schedule a free initial consultation.
