When you visit a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility, it’s reasonable to assume that your healthcare provider will use accepted standards of care. Unfortunately, medical negligence is incredibly common in the United States, and it often has devastating consequences for patients and their families.
Read on to learn a few surprising statistics about medical malpractice:
- Providers in New York Face More Malpractice Claims Than Those in Most Other States
New York was among the leading states in regard to the number of medical negligence claims filed between 2006 and 2016. The only other states that saw more malpractice claims during that period were California, Texas, and Florida. There were more than 1,400 medical malpractice claims filed in New York in 2017, according to PennyGeeks.
- A Significant Number of Preventable Deaths Can Be Attributed to Medical Malpractice
The precise figure varies from study to study, but according to CNBC, medical malpractice accounts for between 250,000 and 440,000 deaths throughout the United States annually. To put that figure in perspective, heart disease claims 614,000 lives per year and cancer kills 590,000 people.
- Most Physicians Have Faced a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
In a Medscape survey of nearly 4,000 primary care physicians and specialists, 59 percent of respondents said they had been named in at least one medical malpractice lawsuit over the course of their career. What’s perhaps more alarming is the fact that approximately 1 percent of doctors account for more than 30 percent of all medical malpractice payouts, according to The New England Journal of Medicine.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you think you have been the victim of medical malpractice, your first priority should be your health. The at-fault medical professional may be willing to provide treatment for free. If you don’t feel comfortable going back to the same doctor, which is entirely understandable, it’s still important that you seek immediate treatment so your condition can be documented.
You should also contact a medical malpractice lawyer right away. Your attorney will want to investigate your case promptly so any time-sensitive evidence can be gathered. Your lawyer can also explain the steps you need to take to give your claim the best possible chance of success.
The process of filing a medical negligence claim is complicated and typically requires testimony from a healthcare specialist. An attorney with the right experience will be able to arrange this testimony, calculate your damages, and handle settlement negotiations on your behalf.
Call 212-421-0300 for a Free Consultation with a New York City Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you received substandard care in a clinical setting, contact The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience in the legal field. We are well-versed in the case law and statutes pertaining to medical malpractice claims in New York. Call 212-421-0300 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer.
