Deaths Due to Medical Errors
A 2000 report by the Institute of Medicine called To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System took two studies, one done in Colorado and Utah and the other in New York, and extrapolated their results to all hospital admissions in the United States. The report concludes that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans must be dying each year as a result of medical errors. The lower estimate exceeded the eighth leading cause of death and surpassed fatalities from motor vehicle accidents. One Johns Hopkins study estimates that 250,000 people die annually due to medical malpractice, which would make it the third leading cause of death in the United States. Even the American Medical Association (AMA) reports that medical errors in the U.S. cause nearly 100,000 deaths annually.
Regardless of the number, our New Jersey law firm is acutely aware that medical errors and mistakes happen, and the consequences of these mistakes can be life-altering. Whether a patient’s situation will serve as the grounds for a successful medical malpractice case is more than a simple yes-or-no question, and only after a careful review of the facts and circumstances can an attorney answer whether medical malpractice may have occurred. What we can promise is that it will cost you nothing to find out whether or not you have a claim for medical malpractice. We offer no-cost private consultations about medical malpractice matters, even if it turns out that you don’t have a claim.
The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or medical advice. Instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. No reader, user, or browser of this website should act or refrain from acting based on information on this website.
Are Medical Mistakes a Leading Cause of Death?
There has been some debate about whether medical mistakes are a leading cause of death in the United States. According to a Johns Hopkins study, medical errors and mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 250,000 people die annually due to medical malpractice. Just as in other parts of the United States, medical errors and mistakes in New Jersey are often caused by inadequately skilled staff, errors in judgment or care, or system defects. This includes computer breakdowns, mix-ups with the doses or types of medications administered to patients, surgical complications, and medical conditions that go undiagnosed or are diagnosed too late.
Regardless, medical mistakes and errors do happen. Every patient has the right to hold doctors, nurses, hospitals, chiropractors, therapists and other medical providers liable for negligent mistakes that cause harm or injuries. We have a long and distinguished history of passionately fighting for the rights of people who were injured or killed because of a medical provider’s negligence. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can help determine if a medical mistake or error that caused harm could meet the legal standard for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in New Jersey.
The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or medical advice. Instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. No reader, user, or browser of this website should act or refrain from acting based on information on this website.
Leading Cause of Death in the U.S. – Medical Errors
Medical errors and mistakes unfortunately result in tens of thousands of deaths annually. For example, a 2000 report by the Institute of Medicine, called To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, estimates that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of medical errors. A more recent Johns Hopkins study estimates that 250,000 die annually due to medical malpractice, many in New Jersey.
Although there is some dispute as to the figure, our firm has first-hand experience in successfully handling cases where medical errors and mistakes by physicians, hospitals, or medical providers result in the tragic death of patients. For example, in 2009, our New Jersey law firm obtained a $12 million verdict in a case where our client, a 21-year-old man, tragically died within 12 hours after having his wisdom teeth removed. The oral surgeon knew that the man had an immunity disorder which precluded him from having any surgery or dental work, yet the oral surgeon performed the surgery anyway. It is believed to be the largest oral surgery malpractice verdict in New Jersey and one of the largest in the country.
The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or medical advice. Instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. No reader, user, or browser of this website should act or refrain from acting based on information on this website.