Quality healthcare is something that every American desires, but it isn’t as cut-and-dry as making it to the hospital in time for treatment. More than one million preventable patient-safety incidents occur every year under the watch of certified healthcare professionals. Any medical care or treatment that results in harm, injury or death is considered medical malpractice. Most times, this involves negligence or error in the diagnosis, medication, health management, treatment or aftercare. This negligence comes with a hefty penalty thanks to medical malpractice laws.
Medical malpractice law provides patients with compensation for sub-standard treatment. Of course, these laws vary from country to country, and sometimes even within the country, depending on jurisdiction. Though healthcare professionals are not liable for all of the harm patients may be suffering from, they are legally responsible for any harm that is experienced as a result of their care or treatment.
Approximately 195,000 patients die from preventable medical errors every year in the United States, and 15,000 to 19,000 of those errors will result in medical malpractice suits against doctors. One in three patients hospitalized in America will encounter a hospital error, and though the risk of pay-out is low, the majority of American doctors will face a malpractice suit at some point during their career.
The most common hospital errors include:
- Giving the patient the wrong dosage
- Giving the patient the wrong medication
- Leaving things inside the patient’s body after surgery
- Misdiagnosis
- Operating on the wrong part of the body
- Persistent back pain after surgery
- Potentially fatal staph infections
- Pressure ulcers (bedsores)
All of which are easily prevented with proper medical examination and procedure.
