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Monday, February 22, 2010
What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is a term used to describe errors that occur in a medical setting that result in injury or death to the patient. Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is harmed by a health care professional who fails to competently perform his/her duties.
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in this country after heart disease and cancer. According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 250,000 people die each year in the United States due to the consequences of medical malpractice.
Examples of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice may take many forms and can include but not be limited to the following:
Unnecessary surgery
Medication errors
Infections contracted in hospital
Improper treatment
Misdiagnoses
Birth injury
When an illness or injury compels you to seek medical advice, you assume the years of training and experience healthcare professionals possess will result in good care and treatment. However, errors and mistakes are possible and do happen. Damage or harm can occur if you are the victim of negligence or medical malpractice.
Misdiagnoses
Breast cancer, lung cancer, colo-rectal cancer, heart attack, and appendicitis are the top five diseases or conditions involved in medical malpractice lawsuits. Misdiagnosis is the leading allegation in these cases. Misdiagnosis causes a delay in treatment; therefore, a poor prognosis and even death can result.
Compensation in medical malpractice cases can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and quality of life. If the medical malpractice results in death, the family and heirs can also receive compensation.
To receive compensation, the patient or family must demonstrate the medical malpractice caused damages and the damages can be assessed a value. Every case is different, and the amount of damages must be determined by a case by case basis.
Regardless of where you live in the United States, the experienced and compassionate medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, have the resources to fight your case and get you the justice and compensation you deserve following the medical mistake that resulted in your suffering or the suffering of a loved one.
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in this country after heart disease and cancer. According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 250,000 people die each year in the United States due to the consequences of medical malpractice.
Examples of Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice may take many forms and can include but not be limited to the following:
Unnecessary surgery
Medication errors
Infections contracted in hospital
Improper treatment
Misdiagnoses
Birth injury
When an illness or injury compels you to seek medical advice, you assume the years of training and experience healthcare professionals possess will result in good care and treatment. However, errors and mistakes are possible and do happen. Damage or harm can occur if you are the victim of negligence or medical malpractice.
Misdiagnoses
Breast cancer, lung cancer, colo-rectal cancer, heart attack, and appendicitis are the top five diseases or conditions involved in medical malpractice lawsuits. Misdiagnosis is the leading allegation in these cases. Misdiagnosis causes a delay in treatment; therefore, a poor prognosis and even death can result.
Compensation in medical malpractice cases can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and quality of life. If the medical malpractice results in death, the family and heirs can also receive compensation.
To receive compensation, the patient or family must demonstrate the medical malpractice caused damages and the damages can be assessed a value. Every case is different, and the amount of damages must be determined by a case by case basis.
Regardless of where you live in the United States, the experienced and compassionate medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, have the resources to fight your case and get you the justice and compensation you deserve following the medical mistake that resulted in your suffering or the suffering of a loved one.
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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 9:45 AM
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