When you or a loved one need to seek medical care, whether for something routine or during an emergency situation, the last thing you should have to worry about is being harmed due to a negligent healthcare provider. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys know that medical mistakes are serious and can lead to long-lasting or permanent patient harm. We will work to secure the compensation you are entitled to. Today, we will review some of the most alarming medical malpractice statistics.
1. 250,000 to 400,000 deaths
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University published a study in 2016 the estimated as many as 250,000 people in the United States are killed each year due to medical mistakes. This would mean that these preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the country. Other estimates put the total number of deaths due to medical errors closer to 400,000 fatalities annually.
2. 21% of adults report an error
A study from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the University of Chicago Says that 21% of adults report having personally experienced a medical mistake. The study says that “when errors do occur, they often have a lasting impact on the patient’s physical health, emotional health, financial well-being, or family relationships.”
3. $17.1 billion in costs
A study published in Health Affairs Says that the estimated annual cost of preventable medical errors to patients was around $17.1 billion dollars during a recent year. Other estimates place that figure closer to $29 billion.
4. One out of seven
A column written by the now-former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson states that one out of every seven patients in hospitals experiences a medical error.
5. Nearly one in every 10 doctors
A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings surveyed approximately 6,700 doctors in the US. It found that around one out of every 10 reported they had made a major medical error in the three months prior to the survey.
6. Over 4,000 “Never Events”
There are certain things that happen in surgery medicine called “never events.” These events include operating on the wrong person, performing surgery on their own body part, leaving foreign objects inside of a person after surgery, and more. Studies show that around 4,000 of these never events happen every year.
7. Over 1.5 million medication errors
There are estimates that as many as 1.5 million people are harmed each year due to medication errors. This can include a patient receiving the wrong medication, receiving the wrong dosage of their medication, or not receiving any medication at all.
If you or someone you care about has been injured due to the negligent actions of a medical professional, you may be entitled to significant compensation. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we will thoroughly investigate your case and work to secure the following:
When you need a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
