How Common is Medical Malpractice

As the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, medical malpractice claims the life of more than 250,000 people per year. Hundreds of thousands more suffer lifelong injuries due to negligence. 

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs as the result of a hospital, doctor, nurse or another healthcare provider who does not follow accepted standards of care that result in injuries or death. There are many different kinds of medical malpractice, but some common examples may involve:

• Surgical Errors: Performing the wrong surgery or performing surgery on the wrong site, leaving objects in a patient’s body
• Diagnosis Errors: Misdiagnosis of deadly diseases, such as cancer 
• Birth Injuries: Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy and Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) errors.
• Medication Errors: Administering the wrong type or dosage of a medication or anesthesia errors

Sometimes, errors can extend to administration, medical supply companies and others who contribute to patient harm. Because these types of injuries are common, each of these entities will likely have legal counsel and insurance adjusters if a claim is filed. Therefore, it is important to retain legal counsel to protect yourself and your interests.

How Will an Attorney Help?

An experienced medical malpractice attorney will help you sort through patient records for signs of wrong-doing, protect you from any shady tactics employed by the insurance adjuster and the defendant’s attorney, and help you obtain lost wages and coverage for medical expenses, physical pain and emotional suffering.

Saladino & Schaaf has helped many medical malpractice victims get the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to medical negligence, contact Saladino & Schaaf online or by phone at 270-444-0406 for a free consultation. Read our online reviews at lawyers.com and view testimonial videos from some of our past clients.