December 2, 2010 – A recent study published in The New York Times depicts a grim future for hospital safety. It shows that both medical malpractice and hospital negligence are all too common and are likely to stay that way. The original study was led by assistant professor Dr. Christopher P. Landrigan of Harvard Medicine School and is to be published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It surveyed 10 North Carolina hospitals between 2002 and 2007 and found that “harm to patients was common.” Not only was harm common, but incidents of harm did not decrease over time. This is especially worrying as many hospitals stated intentions to reduce such incidents during that same time period. Even with this admirable goal, errors that could result in the death or injury of a patient continue to run rampant in the hospital setting. Though this study focused only on 10 hospitals in the North Carolina area, it could easily be applied elsewhere. As noted by Dr. Landrigan in the article, “it is unlikely that other regions of the country have fared better.” This trend is especially serious given the recent movement of many state legislatures to protect doctors from medical malpractice lawsuits. One such law has already been passed in Texas, limiting the non-economic damages possible in a medical malpractice suit to a figure so low that anyone other than a person with a very high income who has been out of work for many years because of their injury will find it impossible to gain an attorney to support his or her case. Florida and several other states are considering similar legal measures. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a medical professional’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and more. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer to learn more about your options.
Contacting a New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you have sustained a serious injury or lost a loved one because of medical negligence you are entitled to seek compensation for your damages and suffering. Consulting with a New York medical malpractice lawyer can help you better understand your rights, determine liability for your injuries, and decide if filing a medical malpractice claim is right for you. At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of medical malpractice lawyers that serve clients nationwide. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, defective drug, premises liability, and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help with your medical malpractice claim, contact us today– 1-800-246-4878.
