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Medical Malpractice Payouts Reach $4 Billion in United States

January 3rd, 2017

Medical Malpractice Payouts Reach $4 Billion in United States

On behalf of David Bowling of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation posted in Medical Malpractice on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

According to the The Louisiana Record, an Orleans Parish woman has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Ochsner Baptist Medical Center LLC. The plaintiff, Majella Sutton, claims that following her surgery, she noticed a leak in an incision on her abdomen. The lawsuit accuses the defendant of failing to care for the plaintiff properly, failing to diagnose the injury in a reasonable amount of time, and filing to train its staff properly.

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Cases such as this one are alarmingly common in Louisiana. According to Physician’s Money Digest, medical malpractice lawsuit payouts rose for the third consecutive year in 2015 – to a staggering $4 billion. Louisiana is the country’s worst offender with 44.1 lawsuits per 100,000 people.

Perhaps more shocking is the fact that only 27 physicians in Louisiana lost their licenses due to medical malpractice claims in the last decade, according to the The Times-Picayune. In fact, it is uncommon for a doctor to lose his or her license to practice medicine due to a malpractice claim.

If you were injured due to the negligence of a physician, nurse or pharmacist, you may be entitled to compensation. David A. Bowling is a medical malpractice lawyer in New Orleans who will evaluate your case, assess doctors’ records, and determine if you have grounds for a claim.

Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation at the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. You can also visit the USAttorneyswebsiteto learn more about medical malpractice claims in Louisiana.

Why Do Surgical Errors Happen So Often?

According to Study.com, surgeons must complete nearly a decade of extensive training before they can enter their profession. Unfortunately, surgical errors still happen – and victims often suffer chronic pain and permanent physical and cognitive disabilities.

A small oversight during a surgical procedure can have tragic consequences. The most common causes of these errors are:

Inexperience: Surgeons are required to perform complex operations, and in many cases, they lack the experience to perform a procedure correctly.

Lack of Planning: Sometimes surgeons fail to plan for possible complications. It is also common for nurses and other surgical staff to overlook an essential step when preparing for an operation.

Shortcuts: If a doctor has performed a procedure many times, he or she might feel comfortable with skipping certain safeguards, which can contribute to a serious injury.

Gaps in Communication: Hospitals are busy facilities, and some patients are treated by a medical team comprising multiple doctors and nurses. A lapse in communication can have devastating consequences.

Fatigue: Working for long hours in a stressful environment can take its tool. Surgeons are more likely to make mistakes when they are fatigued.

Neglect: Medical professionals are responsible for keeping their instruments sterilized and ensuring their equipment is in good working order. Failing to do this can cause infections and other medical complications.

If you were hurt or lost a family member due to a negligent surgeon in Louisiana, contact a New Orleans medical malpractice lawyer from the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling has more than 30 years of legal experience. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation.

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