New Study Suggests 440K Preventable Hospital Deaths per Year

In 1999 the Institute of Medicine conducted a study showing that 98,000 people were being killed every year by preventable errors in hospitals. According to a new study by the Journal of Patient Safety, four times as many people are dying from preventable medical errors, as many as 440,000 a year.

Medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the United States, beating out auto accidents, diabetes and everything else besides Cancer and heart disease. Sadly, more than a thousand people a day are dying from preventable medical mistakes, including such grave errors as leaving a sponge inside a surgical patient, contaminated medical equipment and improper medication being injected.

When a patient is injured as a result of a medical mistake in Inverness, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Homosassa or the surrounding area, a Citrus County Medical Malpractice Attorney at Whittel & Melton may be able to file an injury lawsuit seeking financial compensation on his or her behalf. We can help injured patients recover maximum compensation for all damages including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse or other health care professional strays from the accepted standard of care in the medical field. In order to prove that medical negligence has taken place, it must be demonstrated that the medical professional acted negligently and that this negligence resulted in an injury or wrongful death. At Whittel & Melton, our injury lawyers have handled numerous medical malpractice cases involving the following:

• Surgical Mistakes
• Improper Use of Anesthesia
• Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
• Child Birth Injuries
• Administration of Wrong Medication
• Infections from Botched Surgery
• Blood Test & Laboratory Errors
• Defective Medical Equipment
• Emergency Room Errors
• Postoperative Infections

When a patient dies as a result of medical malpractice, surviving family members have the right to seek financial compensation for damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. A spouse, children or parents may be able to pursue compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, loss of future wages, mental anguish and more.

To learn more about how we can help you and your loved ones after suffering injuries due to hospital negligence or medical malpractice, contact a Citrus County Medical Malpractice Attorney at Whittel & Melton online or call 352-726-0078. We are available 24/7 to assist you with your medical negligence matter, so act fast and get the help you need today.

Photo credit: Alex E. Proimos / Foter / CC BY-NC