The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently received a letter from researchers at a leading university concerning the astounding number of errors reported in the medical industry every year. In fact, the researchers say human error is to blame as the third leading cause of death in the nation. A professor of medicine at the school, along with three students, estimate that more than a quarter million people in the United States die each year (including some, no doubt, in New York) from medical malpractice situations that appear to have been entirely preventable.
Judgment errors, diagnostic mistakes and system defects are three of the top categories where most medical mishaps seem to occur. There are also an exorbitant number of medication mistakes (either incorrect doses or wrong medicines being administered) as well. The authors of the letter assert that because the CDC does not include deaths from medical mistakes in its lists regarding major causes of death in the nation, it results in lack of funding that could be used to improve the quality of medical care in America.
The Johns Hopkins University study shows approximately 700 medical mistake-related fatalities occurring every day throughout the nation. Some say the problem has reached epidemic proportions. Patients are advised to make sure they thoroughly research doctors in their areas and choose wisely when it comes to undergoing any type of medical procedures.
If a New York medical patient suffers injury believed to have been caused by medical malpractice, justice is able to be sought by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court. Parents or legal guardians may act on behalf of minor children. The problem is not likely to be eradicated any time soon; therefore, it may at least comfort patients to know there are ways to seek recovery for their losses in court.
Source: thepublicopinion.com, “Medical mistakes kill more Americans than strokes, Alzheimer’s“, Accessed on July 26, 2017
