When people go to the hospital, it is commonly because there is something that is either injured or doesn’t feel right in their body system. So, they rely on the knowledge of doctors and medical staff to alleviate the pain. Hospitals are generally viewed as safe establishments which cure and heal those who need treatment. However, is it sad to say that not all doctors, medical support staff and surgery teams are free of ever having made an accident when it came to a patient. Despite being well-intentioned, sometimes doctors can fall short and actually cause damage to their patients.
It has been studied and estimated that around 200,000 – 400,000 people pass away every year due to medical errors. In fact, medical errors are actually ranked as the third main cause for deaths in the United States.
Why is it that hospital accidents occur? Aren’t doctors and staff well-trained?
Even the most trained and highly experienced doctor may make an error at some point in his or her career. We are humans, and may be prone to flaws and imperfection even when fully educated and practiced. However, this is no excuse, as patients may suffer expensive and agonizing conditions as a result of an error. It is even possible for a doctor to cause a fatality if a crucial detail were to fall through the cracks. Sometimes hospitals get so busy that medical staff and doctors alike can feel rushed, resulting in overlooking vital information.
What can someone do if themself or a loved one suffered a hospital accident?
If you or someone you cherish suffered due to an accident caused on behalf of a hospital, it may be best to meet with an attorney as soon as possible. It can be immensely difficult to fight a medical company all on your own, as an establishment may even go as far as removing evidence in order to prevent from having to pay millions of dollars in a legal settlement. You should consider meeting with an attorney who is familiar with cases of hospital accidents, so he or she can provide thorough advice. An attorney should be knowledgeable as well as compassionate, as suffering an error on behalf of a doctor can be emotionally challenging to process. After scheduling an appointment with an attorney, you should gather the following useful information for the consultation:
- Copies of doctor’s exams
- Diagnostics, lab work and testing results
- Prescription medications
- Any documents related to hospital error made
- Witnesses of your injury or illness
- Out-of-pocket expenses for faulty medical care
- Doctor treatment plans that failed or caused more harm
What else should I know about hospital errors?
Unfortunately, as soon as the hospital staff becomes aware that you know a medical accident happened, they may desperately attempt to destroy evidence related to the error. You may want to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer before sending in any letters, complaints, emails, or phone calls about the mistake that was made.