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4 Facts and Stats Regarding Medical Malpractice

January 14th, 2015
On behalf of David Bowling of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation posted in Medical Malpractice on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.

As if going under the knife wasn’t scary enough, it seems that medical malpractice errors are growing more common across the United States. According to Forbes, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the country, trailing behind just heart disease and canc

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er.

If you think you have been the victim of medical malpractice in New Orleans and you need an attorney, we can help. At The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, we have extensive experience working with clients and their family members who have undergone traumatic experiences in a medical setting. If you need a malpractice lawyer, do not wait. Call us today at (504) 586-5200 to arrange an initial consultation, and read on for four facts regarding medical malpractice.

1. Nearly 100,000 patients die annually due to medical errors.

According to MedMalFacts, medical errors by doctors and nurses kill 98,000 Americans every single year. That means more people die from preventable mistakes annually than those who die from prostate cancer, breast cancer and drunk driving combined.

2. It costs $29 billion every year to treat preventable medical errors.

MedMalFacts also reports that the cost of treating medical errors that are preventable comes to a staggering $29 billion annually. Compensation for malpractice accounts only amounts to 0.3 percent of American’s yearly healthcare spending of $2.2 trillion, though.

3. Death results in 31 percent of malpractice cases.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, death results in 31 percent of medical malpractice claims. As far as the severity of other alleged injuries goes, 19 percent of patients sustain a significant permanent injury; 18 percent have a major permanent injury; 12 percent become quadriplegic and require lifelong care; 8 percent have a minor permanent injury; 7 percent sustain a major temporary injury; 3 percent have a minor temporary injury; 1 percent have an emotional injury only, and 0.4 percent sustain an insignificant injury.

4. Filings are down, but errors have increased.

Though the number of malpractice filings has been on a steady decline in recent years, there has actually been an increase the number of patient injuries. New rulings in certain states have made it harder to file claims in an attempt to lower insurance premiums for doctors, but they have done nothing in the way of patient safety.

Do Not Wait to Speak With a Malpractice Attorney

If you think you or someone in your family has been the victim of human error or hospital negligence, do not wait to speak with a qualified lawyer. At The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, we put our clients first, and we have dealt with everything from surgical errors and cardiology malpractices to birth injuries and prescription drug mistakes. Our attorneys have trial experience, as well as countless reliable resources, to handle your medical malpractice case in New Orleans.

Call our office today at (504) 586-5200, and let us know what we can do for you.

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