Medical malpractice can take many different forms. Medical errors rank number three among common causes of death. More than 400,000 persons die annually due to negligent acts made by health practitioners who are highly trained.
Common Causes of Medical Malpractice
- Misdiagnosis
- Ignoring Laboratory Results
- Error During Childbirth
- Unnecessary Surgery
- Surgical Mistakes
- Improper Medication
- Poor Follow-up
- Premature Discharge
- Informed Consent
- Wrongful Amputation
Common Facts About Medical Malpractice
- Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in U.S.
- Diagnostic errors cause between 80,000 to 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
- Medical errors lead to 250,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
- 45 percent of medical negligence cases are inpatients.
- More than 90% of medical negligence cases are settled out of court.
- More than 300,000 people suffer due to preventable medical mistakes each year.
- Diagnosis, surgery, obstetrics and anesthesia are top areas of medical negligence allegations.
- Texas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Indiana are the states with the lowest payouts.
- 40 percent of physicians say that their monthly patient volume can lead to mistakes.
- The annual cost of treating medical mistakes that could have been prevented is about $29 billion.
- More than 30% of all medical practitioners have been sued for negligence.
- Every case is difficult. Some cases can take few months and even years.
- The majority of medical malpractice cases need no money up front.
- More than 10% of all deaths are due to medical errors.
Here are a few examples to help you determine whether you have suffered an injury due to medical malpractice:
Medical Procedures Gone Wrong
There are several cases of medical negligence that include blatant errors or performing a procedure on the wrong patient.
Prescribing the Wrong Medication
Another medical mistake that can be the base of a negligent action involves prescribing the wrong treatment to a patient. This can be fatal.
Failure to Diagnose the Correct Problem
If doctor is unable to diagnose a problem that another doctor would have diagnosed, there may be an actionable claim. These medical malpractice cases are difficult. A misdiagnosis may have been an accident made by a health practitioner.
Post Surgical Infections
Post surgical infections are real that all health practitioners try to avoid. The source of an infection is hard to prove for patients.
Informed Consent
If a healthcare practitioner lie to patient to protect their consent to implement a procedure, this can be medical malpractice and medical battery. Informed consent needs healthcare practitioners to prescribe medications.
Medical malpractice claims are difficult to prove and can be quite challenging due to the huge amount of money behind hospitals in general. If you or your loved one has faced issues due to medical negligence in Pittsburgh, you should ask for legal support. Talk to a professional Pittsburgh lawyer! A professional law firm will help you acquire the maximum possible compensation for your case.
