Medical errors are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. New research from John Hopkins study claims that more than 250,000 people die every year due to medical errors. Other reports suggest these numbers could be as high as 440,000.
Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect a patients rights to compensation if they are injured as a result of medical negligence. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be extremely complex cases and tough to win. That is why you should consult with a medical malpractice attorney right away if you believe you were a victim of medical negligence.
Medical Malpractice Resources
AHRQ – The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. Their goals is to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to improve the quality of healthcare.
US National Library of Medicine – PubMed is a Biomedical and life Sciences literature journal. This publication is an introduction to how medical malpractice law was developed in the United States.
Medical News Today – This is a medical and health news journal that covers up-to-date medical malpractice news and litigation. Their topics include new developments in healthcare, legislation and compensation claims.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement – The Institute for healthcare improvement and the National Patient Safety Foundation work together to focus and energize patient safety across all areas of the healthcare system.
National Conference of State Legislatures – This legal resource summarizes state medical liability and medical malpractice laws in all 50 states.
American Association of Justice – The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote an effective justice system. They also cover all medical malpractice news.
Insurance Information Institute – Updated information on recent developments in medical malpractice and tort law.
Top Patient Safety Issues Involved in Medical Malpractice
1. Medication Errors
A medication error is “… any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer,” according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention.
A report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has estimated that these errors harm at least 1.5 million people every year.
2. Diagnostic Errors
A study published in the British Medical Journal has estimated that one patient in 20 who visit outpatient settings in the U.S. are victims of medical misdiagnosis every year. That equates to about 12 million adults who suffer the consequences of a delayed, missed or incorrect diagnosis.
3. Discharge Practices to Post-Acute Home Care
Hospital discharge is a critical moment in patient care. Nearly 20 percent of patients experience an adverse event within three weeks of discharge, many of which could have been prevented, according to a study from the early 2000s.
4. Workplace Safety Issues in Health Care Facilities
To combat current staff safety issues in hospitals and other health care facilities, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration launched a suite of online resources to provide information and strategies for health care workplace safety and health management as well as safe patient handling and workplace violence prevention.
Patient Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice
A variety of problems can occur in busy health care facilities, but patients are the ones who must suffer the consequences when health care professionals make dangerous medical mistakes. For decades, the our lawyers at Anapol Weiss have been advocating for people who were killed or injured by preventable medical errors. If it happened to you or a family member, we can help. Contact our medical negligence lawyers for assistance today.
Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to uncover important details about patients’ injuries and what could have been done to prevent them. If you or a family member suffered the consequences of a medical error, we can help. Contact Anapol Weiss for assistance today.