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Protection against medical errors

There are many reasons why a New York patient may suffer complications from a medical error. Some are caused by health care staff that make poor clinical decisions while other occur due to system errors. These may include poor communication, checks and balance issues or even poor protocol design. Patients can help prevent medical errors by being engaged with the health care team.

Asking questions can help prevent medical errors

Medical errors are a serious problem for patients in New York and across the nation. In fact, medical errors are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., ranking third after heart disease and cancer. Some of the most common errors may be prevented if patients stay engaged with their medical treatment and ask questions.

Second opinion says woman not brain dead

New York residents may be interested in the case of a woman who was initially diagnosed as brain dead and refused treatment by doctors as a result. Later, two neurologists hired by the woman’s father to give a second opinion diagnosed her as not brain dead based on the fact that she moved some extremities when she was pinched.

What is Acupuncturist Malpractice?

Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular among Americans for the treatment of various medical problems. Once considered a radical form of treatment, acupuncture is becoming an option in mainstream medicine. It is estimated 10% of Americans have tried acupuncture and that more than 1/3 would consider trying this form of treatment. Additionally, nearly 50% of physicians in the country have either referred patients to acupuncturists or would be willing to make such a referral.

Who can be Sued for Medical Malpractice?

According to data from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), in 2014, there was an increase of 4.4% in total malpractice payout amounts in the United States. It came close to the $4 billion mark at $3,891,743,050. 40% of the payout was for medical malpractice cases in outpatient incidents while 46% were for inpatient cases.

Medical errors a leading cause of death

New York patients who are about to have medical treatment should have serious concerns about the prevalence of medical errors. Some studies have estimated that approximately 250,000 people die each year around the country because of a medical mistake.