Health conscious people in Delaware generally do their best to minimize their risks for serious diseases and illnesses. These same men and women might not realize that going to the doctor could also be putting them in harm’s way, though. According to one study, medical malpractice is one of the most common causes of death in the United States.
Among the top killers
A study from Johns Hopkins found that medical malpractice directly contributes to more than 250,000 deaths each and every year. This makes medical malpractice the third most common cause of death. Only two other causes of death outpace medical errors — cancer and heart disease.
Experts believe that approximately 33% of hospital patients — or about one in every three — will be a victim of some type of medical error. The types of errors that can occur in a hospital setting vary widely, and even include errors that stem from health care professionals not providing patients with sufficient information about risks and benefits of procedures, treatments and medications. Other common problems that contribute to medical malpractice in hospital settings include:
- Surgical errors
- Missed or delayed diagnoses
- Misdiagnoses
- Defective medical devices or drugs
Patients go to the hospital expecting proper treatment and care. When health care providers neglect their responsibility to provide their patients with the best possible care, they can cause traumatic, lifelong or even fatal injuries. Victims of such actions often require expensive and even long–term treatment to address their related injuries, which is why many choose to pursue compensation by filing medical malpractice lawsuits.
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