Medical malpractice resulted in 238,337 wrongful deaths among Medicare patients
According to an analysis of data involving U.S. Medicare patients, medical malpractice incidents between 2004 and 2006 resulted in 238,337 wrongful deaths. Preventable medical mistakes cost Medicare $8.8 billion and caused approximately 1.1 million unnecessary injuries. Researchers point out that many of these deaths and serious injuries could have been avoided if all hospitals had followed the best practices of the top performing facilities in the country.
Approximately 41 million Medicare patient records during the three year period were analyzed as part of the Fifth Annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study. Researchers found that about 3% of all Medicare patients experienced a medical mistake which could have been prevented and about 20% of these patients died as a result of the medical malpractice.
The most common medical mistakes found involved bedsores, a failure to rescue and post operative respiratory failure. These mistakes combined to account for 63.4% of all of the malpractice incidents. Some of the other types of medical errors found included: accidental punctures or lacerations; anesthesia complications; surgical mistakes resulting in a foreign object being left in the body; post-operative hip fractures; sepsis and other infections due to medical care.
The quality of medical treatment provided at a hospital or medical facility was found to play a large part in patient safety. Those treated at top performing hospitals were 43% less likely to be harmed by a medical error than those at the poorest performing hospitals. Researchers estimated that if all hospitals had followed the same prevention steps and actions that were in place at the top-rated hospitals, 37,214 wrongful deaths from medical malpractice could have been avoided.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYERS
The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit or other claim for serious injury as a result of a medical mistake. To review the circumstances surrounding medical treatment, and determine whether financial compensation may be available for a mistake or error, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
