Many patients rely on hospitals for treatments, care and emergency procedures. You do not expect to suffer further harm or complications after going to the hospital. Unfortunately, patients are at risk for experiencing a preventable mistake while in the hospital, according to a study by Consumer Reports.
The researchers found some disturbing findings that highlight the serious risks patients face, even when they are in the hospital for a minor procedure or treatment.
The researchers reported the following:
- 1,000 hospital patients a day were victims of a preventable drug error
- Twenty-nine percent of hospital patients experienced at least one medical error
- Twenty percent of hospital patients felt like they were discriminated against
The study also found that patients who felt like they were not respected had an increased risk of being the victim of a medical error in the hospital.
The findings are alarming and highlight the serious risks patients face when they go to the hospital. Hospitals are responsible for keeping their patients healthy and having their medical staff properly trained to prevent mistakes from happening in the first place.
Many hospitals have started new programs to identify and prevent patient safety issues. While this is a step in the right direction, patients are still at risk and can suffer permanent complications and even death from a medical mistake.
When a patient is harmed due to hospital negligence, what can you do? Patients and their families may be able to file a medical negligence or medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital. Medical malpractice cases are complex. Working with a medical malpractice attorney can go a long way in protecting your rights and in exploring all of your legal options.
The legal team at Dempsey Kingsland Osteen works to ensure that the injured are fully compensated for their lasting injuries from medical malpractice or other negligence. We push for comprehensive damages that anticipate the long-term needs of our clients, rather than taking a quick settlement out of convenience.
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