Medical malpractice is a serious concern in the United States right now, and for good reason. Nearly as many people die because of medical errors or negligence as do from cancer or heart disease. That means that medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. No one ever plans to be the victim of medical malpractice, whether they are going to the doctor for a routine checkup or to the hospital for a major surgery. Not only can this type of malpractice have a long-term effect on the lives of the victims, but their loved ones as well.
Some of the most common examples of medical malpractice include misdiagnosis, failure to diagnosis, prescribing a wrong medication or dosage, leaving instruments in a patient, and distraction. That being said, many different things can go wrong that could leave the patient with more severe injuries – or worse. If you are one of the thousands of victims of medical malpractice in Texas, we encourage you to contact Wormington & Bollinger today. Our knowledgeable McKinney medical malpractice lawyers have your best interests in mind and will do everything we can to ensure justice is served.
The following are six of the most interesting facts about medical malpractice:
- Medical errors result in 250,000 deaths in the U.S. every year – According to a study published by John Hopkins Hospital, the majority of medical errors were a diagnostic failure, birth injury, surgery errors, and treatment failure
- 98% of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court – It is only a very small – 2% – of malpractice cases that go to court and have a jury make the final decision.
- Less than a quarter of all medical malpractice cases are filed against primary care doctors – The majority of malpractice cases are actually filed against surgeons and specialty doctors, not primary care doctors. However, the top two reasons malpractice suits are filed against PCPs are missed diagnosis and drug errors. Meningitis, heart attack, and cancer are the most missed diagnoses by these physicians.
- 40% of doctors say their patient volume is the reason for errors – In a recent study, nearly half of all physicians said having too many monthly patients can contribute to errors and misdiagnoses.
- 45% of medical malpractice cases are inpatients – This means that the majority of malpractice victims are being treated at the clinic or hospital. Just 38% of all victims of are outpatients.
We hope these medical malpractice facts give you a better understanding of these types of cases and what to expect. We have extensive experience representing victims of medical malpractice throughout Texas. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a misdiagnosis or other medical error, please contact Wormington & Bollinger today to learn more about your options.