The BMJ has published a study indicating that medical errors result in between 200,000 and 400,000 deaths annually across the United States. The BMJ estimate took into account diagnostic errors, communications breakdowns, systems failures, inadequate skill and poor judgment. The focus of the study was fatalities that occur secondary to a medical error, and many occurred in New York.
Read more: Medical errors behind thousands of deaths annually
New York residents may be interested to learn that roughly 20 years ago, a surgeon from South Dakota lied during a medical malpractice case. The doctor was called to provide testimony that would establish that his colleague was a skilled surgeon. The case in question involved a patient of that colleague who suffered a stroke after undergoing a procedure performed by the defendant in the case.
Read more: Doctor claims he lied in court to protect partner
When New York residents seek medical care, they put a great deal of trust in their physicians. The expectation is that the doctor is the expert who will make the best decisions possible to preserve the patient's life and health. Unfortunately, some doctors make mistakes that can have a devastating impact on a patient's well-being.
Surgical residents in New York hospitals are typically evaluated by checklists and hours worked, but a John Hopkins study found that tracking errors could be just as important as monitoring progress. When assessing future orthopedic surgeons, training models focus on volume instead of quality.
According to statistics, as of 2015, between 240,000 and 337,000 people in the United States are living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). 52% of people with SCI are considered paraplegic and 47% quadriplegic. Roughly 240,000 new cases of SCI occur annually. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the most common causes of SCI are:
MANHATTAN LAW OFFICE
122 East 42nd Street Suite 3800
New York, NY 10168
Tel: 212-LAWYERS
Tel: 212-697-9280
QUEENS LAW OFFICE
8900 Sutphin Blvd Suite 501
Queens, NY 11435
Tel: (718) 399-3100
*By Appointment Only