Fact Sheet About Medical Malpractice
Studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine cite the statistics regarding medical malpractice cases in the United States. These statistics regarding medical malpractice in the United States include the following:
- According to the most recent available data, over half of medical malpractice plaintiffs are female (approximately 61%).
- The most common professionals against which medical malpractice claims are filed are OB-GYN (obstetrician/gynecologists), followed closely by general surgeons and primary care physicians (GPs).
- In terms of both inpatient and outpatient care, incorrect diagnoses were by far the most common cause of bringing suit, making up almost half of all outpatient errors in the time frame studied.
- Approximately 93% of medical malpractice cases are settled before trial.
Medical Malpractice Incidents
The experienced attorneys at the firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. understand the suffering that results when medical care is substandard or negligent in Atlantic County, and believe that anyone harmed in this way should have all the help they need to try and obtain compensation.
Common Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is defined as any time when a physician or other medical professional fails to abide by the prevailing standard of care. When this happens, the people of Atlantic County ought to be able to hold that professional accountable. Some of the more common injuries caused by medical errors include:
Surgery-related injuries
Surgery-related injuries, such as infection or new ailments on top of that which the surgery was intended to correct. These can stem from mistakes in the actual operating room, such as a surgeon incorrectly performing the operation, or they can stem from surgical aftercare, such as a failure to treat a wound or infection.
Mistakes or delays in diagnosis
This is not always an actionable error; you must be able to prove that the delay or mistake was a breach of the doctor’s duty of care toward you, and caused you harm.
Medication errors
Medication errors, which can lead to overdose or death. Very often, these are linked to misdiagnoses – a patient may be given the right medication for the initial diagnosis, but that turns out to be incorrect, and the patient suffers adverse consequences.
Birth injuries
Injuries do happen during labor and delivery, but not all of them will be caused by medical malpractice. It is also important to remember that if malpractice does occur, it may happen long before labor and delivery.
Anesthesia mistakes
Mistakes by anesthesiologists, even slight mistakes, can result in serious injury such as brain or nerve damage. Anesthesiologists may also commit malpractice long before any surgery, by failing to perform due diligence such as checking for past allergies or any possible reactions in medication.
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The experienced attorneys at the firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. understand the suffering that results when a medical professional is reckless or negligent in Atlantic County, and believe that anyone harmed in this way should have all the help they need to try and obtain compensation.
If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, contact Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. at 888-572-7388 for a free consultation. We can help you sort out your options.
Investigating Medical Malpractice Claims Requires Resources
Medical malpractice claims are often time-consuming, complex and expensive to bring. Doctors and hospitals carry malpractice insurance from companies who actively seek to limit or eliminate malpractice exposure, even for the most egregious mistakes. Victims of malpractice require the services of experienced malpractice attorneys to investigate and prosecute these matters to obtain the best possible outcome.
In order to bring a medical malpractice case, you will need medical experts and the records from the hospital or office where you received treatment because you must be able to prove that you received substandard care. Medical expertise is necessary to prove the standard of care, and you need to access honorable, ethical, well-respected expert witnesses to prove your case. Your records are of great help in untangling what happened, and also what did not happen in your case.
To prove a medical malpractice case, you must be able to show that the doctor (or nurse, or other medical professional) breached their duty of care they owed to you as a patient. You must also be able to show that their breach was a direct cause of the harm you suffered. This may prove difficult, because of witness intransigence but also because your records may be incomplete – incriminating information may be missing. A great deal of digging may be necessary to get to the bottom of the situation.
The attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. are experienced medical malpractice lawyers, and have the resources to build a case even when the going gets tough.
Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. offers a FREE CONSULTATION.
Contact us today to discuss how we can helpRed Bank
127 Maple Avenue
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: (732) 747-9003
Fax: (215) 567-6019
