Posted in News on October 7, 2016
In today’s busy world, one cannot help but rely on experienced professionals for help. When individuals in Montana and elsewhere are sick, a doctor or medical specialist is relied on to diagnose and treat them. There remains an expectation that these medical professionals will do their best, utilizing his or her knowledge and expertise; however, this unfortunately does not always happen. Because people make mistakes and medical professionals are people too, medical mistakes could happen. Regrettably, this means patients are likely to suffer when this occurs.
How common is medical malpractice in the U.S.? Based on recent statistics, 60 percent of medical malpractice victims are females with the median age being 38. It was also discovered that 20 percent of these patients are newborns while 12 percent are 65-year-old or older.
With regards to the type of medical professionals blamed for medical malpractice claims, roughly 19 percent were against OBGYNs, 17 percent were against general surgeons and 16 percent were against primary care physicians. When it comes to inpatient care, roughly 34 percent of medical malpractice actions were related to surgical errors. With regards to outpatient care, 46 percent of these claims were related to diagnostic errors.
There are three things patients should keep in mind if he or she believes he or she was a victim of medical malpractice. First, a patient should understand the standard of care required in their situation. This will help the patient determine whether or not the doctor in question failed to meet that standard. Second, a patient should understand the process of filing a medical malpractice claim. Lastly, a patient should understand the difference between settlements and litigation, which could help them tremendously when attempting to navigate a complex action.
If you or a loved one were a victim of medical malpractice, it is important to understand what options are available to you. If a negligent doctor caused a patient harm, an injured patient could seek compensation for any losses of damages incurred. This could help the patient offset related financial burdens such as medical expenses and rehabilitation.
Source: Newswire.net, “Medical Malpractice on the Increase,” Sara Williams, Sept 26, 2016