Study Finds Medical Malpractice is Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

According to a recent study, medical malpractice is now responsible for the death of an estimated 250,000 Americans each year.  Medical malpractice can include unnecessary surgery, medication / pharmaceutical errors, hospital-acquired infections, and other hospital errors.

Unfortunately, because of the manner in which many of these types of death are often classified statistically, they may not fall under the category of medical malpractice.  In many cases, the deaths are often attributed to the condition or treatment that led a person to seek medical care in the first place.  For example, if a patient is in a hospital to undergo heart surgery and subsequently dies in the hospital due to a medication error, cause of death would likely be attributed to heart disease.

Quite obviously, hospitals and other medical providers may classify deaths in this manner to avoid liability for any malpractice they committed.  Fortunately, these records are not the final say in what may have led to a person’s premature death.

Being a medical provider is a rigorous profession that requires many years of education and clinical training, and also one that is deserving of respect.  With that said, even the best physicians, with the best intentions, can make mistakes that result in devastating injuries and even death.  When this occurs, it is the affected patients and their families who are left to suffer.

When a tragedy like this happens, individuals and their families, depending on the circumstances, may seek compensation from the responsible providers under Florida’s medical malpractice laws.  It is important to note, not all errors made during the course of medical treatment form the basis for a medical malpractice claim, and potential claimants bear a difficult burden in proving that a provider was negligent.  In addition, Florida law has strict time limits to bring an action for medical malpractice, and notice statutes, after which a potential claimant may be barred from seeking any compensation at all.

For these reasons, if you or someone you care about has been injured (or worse) as a result of potential medical malpractice, it is crucial that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible.  The attorneys at the Schulman Law Group in Weston have represented medical malpractice victims from West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and other areas of South Florida.

For more information on this serious topic, please feel free to contact the attorneys at the Schulman Law Group at (954) 349-3300 or at info@www.schulaw.com.