It is bad enough when a person has to visit a doctor or hospital for treatment. However, most patients can fall back on the fact that they are in good hands.
There are times, though, when a medical professional acts in a negligent manner. As a result, a patient is injured, or worse yet, dies.
For a better idea of the seriousness of medical malpractice, here is a statistic shared on our “Medical Malpractice” webpage: “The annual costs to society for errors in hospitals are estimated to be between $17 billion and $29 billion.”
This statistic alone should give you a clear idea of just how big of a problem this has become.
As a patient, you do your best to choose a highly qualified, experienced doctor. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing for certain that you will be in good hands at all times.
There are many types of medical malpractice, including but not limited to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis and failure to treat. For example, some illnesses can be cured if treated in the appropriate manner at the right time. Conversely, if the illness is ignored or overlooked for any reason, catastrophic injuries or death could be the final result.
As a patient, you never want to think about a medical professional making a mistake that causes you harm. Even though this thought is enough to make you angry, it is good to realize that this is a possibility.
If you want to learn more about all aspects of medical malpractice, including the legal implications, our website is full of information.