[1].1907101248550.jpg)
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing, led by highly-educated and compassionate individuals who are well-equipped to treat injured or ill patients. Sadly, this is not always the case. According to research conducted by the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association, approximately 440,000 patients die at the hands of negligent or reckless medical professionals every year. Alarmingly, these numbers show no signs of slowing down. As such, the NMMAA has designated July as Medical Malpractice Awareness Month in an effort to raise awareness about this shocking epidemic that continues to plague the innocent and injured throughout the nation. By empowering our citizens with education and advocacy, we can collectively demand the responsible parties to treat the injured and ill according to appropriate medical standards of care. Sadly, the current reality does not favor patients as the failing quality of healthcare in America continues to claim and ruin countless lives.
What is Medical Malpractice & How Does it Happen?
Anytime we seek medical care from a professional, we do so with the hope and trust that we are placing our lives in good hands. However, this does not always happen. Medical malpractice refers to when a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare professional causes injury to a patient by failing to uphold necessary standards of care similar to that of an equally-trained and informed individual or facility. Though doctors are human and mistakes are bound to occur, there is no excuse for substandard treatment or care that results in a needless injury, illness, or death.
Common types of medical malpractice include, but are not limited to:
- Birth injuries
- Surgical or anesthesia errors
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Medication errors
- Failure to monitor or recognize symptoms
- Failure to warn
- Poor follow-up or aftercare
Every case is as unique as the individuals involved, which is why it can be a challenge to entirely understand how the unfavorable outcome came to be. Typically, medical malpractice can be largely attributed to recurring issues such as understaffing, inadequate training, inexperience, insufficient vetting, poor communication, lack of funding, system errors, etc. What’s worse is that most of these pressing matters are all easily resolved if addressed with the attention and urgency they deserve, potentially saving the lives of many.
Who Is Responsible for Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice cases are notoriously complex to investigate due to the challenges in accurately determining liability. Negligence or misconduct can occur at every level, including primary care doctors, nurses, surgeons, physician’s assistant’s, etc. However, acts of medical malpractice can extend beyond an individual’s responsibility and are often linked back to larger entities such as healthcare or treatment facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, medical clinics, rehabilitation centers, pharmaceutical companies, etc.
What Are My Rights?
Victims of medical malpractice are often never the same. After sustaining an injury at the hands of a trusted medical professional, you will likely face a lifetime of financial, physical, and mental consequences. The consequences of medical malpractice are often far beyond the surface as the suffering individual is often forced to live an unfamiliar life of traumatic disabilities, stressful vulnerabilities, and permanent emotional scars. However, all hope is not lost. With the help of an aggressive and results-oriented legal team, you can quickly get started on building your claim for the compensation you deserve.
Depending on the extent of your injury, you may be eligible for a range of benefits, including:
- General damages: pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of future earning capacity, etc.
- Special damages: medical bills, lost work or wages, future medical expenses
- Punitive damages: determined by a judge or jury in cases of deliberate harm
Trusted Medical Malpractice Attorneys Skillfully Advocating On Behalf of the Injured
You should never leave the hospital or doctor’s office in worse condition than you were upon seeking medical attention. Tragically, this happens to countless patients every year. At the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg, we seek to correct this terrible injustice and fight vigorously to ensure your voice is heard. Do not allow this situation to escalate without a strongminded and aggressive legal team to fight for your rights.
Would you like to speak to a compassionate representative of our firm? Don’t hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience by calling 949.565.4281.