Despite all the attention and political grandstanding the topic of health care receives in the news, no one is talking about the findings of a shocking new study. John T. James, Ph.D., chief toxicologist for NASA and an advocate for patient safety, has completed an exhaustive study and concluded that from over 400,000 people die every year from preventable medical errors. In other words, James’ study asserts that hundreds of thousands of patients die as a result of medical negligence—not the maladies that initially brought them to the hospital. And, this total does not include those patients who survive the medical error, but have permanent injuries and impairments. Perhaps even more shocking is the revelation that this number has nearlyquadrupled since a 1984 study, which estimated that up to 98,000 Americans died each year as a result of medical errors.
Let’s ask why so many patients are dying – not from their underlying medical problem, but from medical mistakes. Dr. James suggests that despite the recent efforts to raise awareness about techniques that promote patient safety in our crowded healthcare system too many physicians have been slow to adopt new guidelines and protocol that would, in theory, prevent premature deaths or physical damage. One of the more shocking examples provided by James asserts that up to 100,000 patients brought into hospitals for symptoms of heart failure in the late 1990s died because they were not given beta-blockers, a well-established, standard practice for treating heart conditions. Until the medical system is as safe as commercial air travel, we all need to take matters into our own hands and become active participants in our health care.
Medical Negligence Litigation at Pope & Howard, P.C.
The personal injury attorneys of Pope & Howard, P.C. has extensive experience representing cases of medical negligence and error with significant results. Since the firm’s formation in 2005, attorneys Marc Howard and Geoff Pope have secured multi-million dollar recoveries for those injured by the misdiagnosis of disease, surgical errors, and other medical errors.
If you or your loved one have been injured by medical negligence or error, contact Pope & Howard, P.C., Atlanta’s leading personal injury firm, at (866) 910-0642 for a free initial consultation.