Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Only cancer and heart disease kill more people.
New research has discovered that the current number of medical malpractice claims result in a payout every 43 minutes. This means that an average of 12,200 malpractice claims are settled every year, but this number doesn’t take into account the additional claims that aren’t settled, nor the incidents that aren’t recognized.
Taking this into account, when you go to Portsmouth Regional, are you at a high risk for medical malpractice? Does it even matter what hospital you go to? Are your risks the same everywhere?
Medical Malpractice by the Numbers
The following statistics, taken from JAMA and Harvard Medical studies, help put your malpractice risks into perspective.
- An average of 75,000 to 100,000 malpractice claims are filed each year.
- Approximately 60,000 of these claims never get settled.
- Over 570,000 incidents of malpractice go unrecognized or aren’t pursued each year. According to a Harvard Medical study, only one out of every eight incidents of medical malpractice are pursued with a legal claim or other follow-up.
- Roughly 700,000 patients suffer from some sort of malpractice every year in the U.S. alone.
No matter where you go, physicians aren’t perfect. Mistakes, accidents, and errors obviously occur everyday, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim. Although your risk of some sort of medical malpractice is dangerously high, you can take precautions such as asking questions, getting second opinions, and discussing options with your doctor.
Additionally, if you do suffer from medical negligence, an experienced lawyer can help you from becoming a financial victim by getting you the compensation and justice you deserve. Contact us today to see how our experience and knowledge can not only give you peace of mind but also help get your life back on track.
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