Each year, over 37 million people are hospitalized in the United States. Sadly, one out of four hospital patients will be harmed by some type of medical error. Most hospitals have some type of system for employees to inform managers of medical errors. However, many of the errors that occur at hospitals and medical centers go unreported. A recent study found that hospital employees recognize and report only out one out seven errors that harm Medicare patients during their hospitalization.
Part of the problem is many doctors overlook errors made by their peers. Another reason that hospital errors go unreported is that employees are afraid to admit mistakes. Sometimes an employee will not report a hospital error because they assume another employee will do so. If hospital errors are not reported, then they cannot be tracked or corrected, which will only lead to more mistakes being made.
If you or a loved one has sustained a serious injury from a hospital error, you may have financial and legal recourse. Contact a Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer today to explore your legal options.
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Common Hospital Errors
Medical errors that occur at hospitals leave thousands of patients with serious injuries and ailments every year. Some common hospital errors include:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Infections caused by unsanitary rooms or tools
- Operating on the wrong person
- Administering the wrong medication or dose
- Performing unnecessary tests or procedures
- Misdiagnosis of medical conditions
- Anesthesia errors
- Failing to order obligatory tests
- Failing to send a patient to a specialist when a physician’s care is insufficient
- Patient deaths
Each year, approximately 100,000 patients die in U.S. hospitals from preventable medical mistakes. If you have lost a loved one due to medical negligence, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers to discuss the legal rights available to victims of Connecticut medical malpractice.
How To Protect Yourself From Hospital Errors
Patients can reduce their chances of being injured by a hospital error by keeping a close eye on their care. They can protect themselves from medical errors by following the tips below:
- Make sure to have an advocate (i.e. family member, friend) who can speak on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Also, many hospitals have a patient advocate that you can consult with about healthcare issues.
- Keep a list of all the medications you take, why you take them and who prescribed them.
- Write down the phone numbers of your personal and medical contacts.
- If you or your family members have any questions for the healthcare professionals, write them down so you can remember them when your physician visits.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers For Free Help
If you or a loved one has been injured from medical malpractice, you may be able to recover damages for hospital expenses, lost wages and emotional trauma. Contact Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers to seek a legal consultation regarding your injury or health condition.
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is available to assist medical malpractice victims throughout the state of Connecticut. The law firm has offices in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. To receive a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 800-PERKINS or complete the contact form.