Medical Malpractice: Third Leading Cause Of Death In The U.S.

The report states that malpractice follows cancer and heart disease as the two leading causes of death.

The third leading cause of death right now in the United States is medical negligence, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. This is an alarming fact because many medical errors are entirely preventable. Malpractice follows cancer and heart disease as the two leading causes of death.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that over $3 billion was spent on medical malpractice payouts in 2012 alone. This comes to about one payout every 43 minutes.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is when a doctor or other health care provider deviates from the standard of care that is widely recognized and, as a result, there is harm done to the patient. The standard of care is what a reasonable health care provider would have done in the same circumstances. If the provider fails in this regard, this can amount to medical negligence.

Have you been the victim of medical malpractice?

If a doctor or other healthcare provider informs you that a mistake was made, which does sometimes happen, you will know for sure. Otherwise, medical negligence has occurred if the patient has in some way been harmed. An unfavorable outcome does not automatically constitute medical negligence.

What should you do if you have been the victim of medical malpractice?

In some cases an apology from the doctor is enough to appease a patient, depending on the level of harm done.

But if you feel like further action should be taken, there are two ways to go – you can settle with the doctor’s malpractice insurer, or you can take your case to trial. There are several things to know about both of these options. First of all, settling your case right away without consulting with an attorney can mean that you do not realize the full value of your case. Insurance companies like to take advantage of those who choose to settle directly with the insurance company, because people very often do not realize the value of their claim. At this point the injured party may not even realize the full extent of their injuries.

Contact A Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Contacting an attorney if you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice should be your very first step. Your attorney can investigate your case, obtain the necessary documentation, advise you regarding statutes of limitation in your state, and help you to determine what the next steps should be. There are different sets of procedures in different states, so contacting an attorney in your area is crucial.

If you have been the victim of malpractice in Missouri or Illinois, contact a medical malpractice lawyer at the Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200.

photo credit: phalinn