August 8, 2012 – The New York Times reported that medical mistakes may be responsible for as many as 200,000 deaths each year in the U.S, making them one of the primary causes of death in America. If you have been a victim of a medical mistake that has caused you or a loved one serious pain, contact a New York personal injury lawyer for guidance on pursuing a medical malpractice claim.
While there are many types of medical mistakes, the New York Times article written by Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and assistant professor as Emory University School of Medicine, claims that defensive medicine may be contributing to the large number of deaths. Defensive medicine is when doctors perform an unnecessary medical test or treatment to protect themselves from being accused of medical malpractice. Doctors, in other words, are being overly cautious and engaging in over-treatment and over-testing because of fear of lawsuits.
Unfortunately, as the New York Times editorial suggests, this defensive medicine introduces more possibilities for mistakes. As patients undergo more testing or more treatment, more things can go wrong. This is why patients should stay proactive with their health care and seek a second opinion for serious procedures. If you’re injured by the negligence of a medical professional, a claim may be filed for restitution.
To learn more about medical malpractice or to speak to a lawyer that represents clients injured by medical negligence, contact one of our New York attorneys at Gacovino Lake & Associates at 800-246-4878.
