We all make mistakes. However, when a healthcare professional makes a mistake, it can result in serious injuries or even death. One study shows that medical mistakes lead to 251,000 deaths each year in the United States. This shocking statistic does not even account all non-fatal incidents.
To further grasp the scope of the problem, it is important to highlight the fact that 251,000 fatal medical errors makes medical malpractice the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Medical malpractice ranks ahead of accidents, Alzheimer’s, strokes and even respiratory disease. The only two other main killers in the nation are heart disease and then cancer in all forms.
You can also look at this data on a per-day basis. 251,000 deaths per year equals to 700 people dying every day or under 30 deaths per hour resulting from medical mistakes. This is roughly equal to one person dying every two minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. This also means that if the study is accurate, 9.5 percent of all deaths in the U.S. are the result of medical mistakes or errors.
The category of medical mistakes is broad. It incorporates a surgeon making a mistake on the operating table. It can also mean that a mix up with the records results in the patient getting a medication that he or she is allergic to. If a patient is not properly monitored and dies in the recovery room, it also falls in the medical mistake category.
Regardless of how you look at it, 251,000 deaths resulting from any type of medical mistake is a frightening statistic. It clearly proves that medical malpractice is a real issue that we need to be aware of when seeking medical care and treatment. If you or a loved one is further harmed or killed as a result of the negligence of a health care professional, you need to know your rights.
Call a New York Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
If believe that you or a loved one has suffered additional injuries due to a misdiagnosis by a medical professional, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For more information or to consult with one of our experienced New York medical malpractice attorneys, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1-800-529-9997.
