When a person undergoes a surgical procedure, no matter how simple or complex, there is always a chance of risk. The risk stems not just from the medical procedure, but also from the process of administering anesthesia and patient care.
Read more: Anesthesia Errors during Surgery and Anesthesia Malpractice You should be Aware Of
Between 1999 and 2008, a high proportion of medical malpractice claims were filed in New York State. Court Statistics.org reports that in 2008 medical malpractice cases resulted in 7.4% of all tort cases, and 1.1% of all civil lawsuits filed in the state. As medical malpractice laws differ from state to state, it is important to understand the New York State laws pertaining to medical malpractice before filing a lawsuit.
Read more: When not to file a Medical Malpractice Case in New York
New York patients may find it interesting that poor communications between patients and hospital staff contributed to about 7,000 of 23,000 medical malpractice claims that were filed between 2009 and 2013. Of these claims, more than 1,700 involved the death of a patient. The numbers indicate that miscommunication is a major problem that needs to be addressed by hospitals and staff.
Read more: Communication errors can result in medical malpractice claims
New York patients may be interested in a study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, that looked into the rate of recurring malpractice claims against physicians. People implicitly and explicitly trust their doctors on a daily basis, but medical errors can and do sometimes happen. Knowing some of the statistics behind malpractice claims can help patients make a more informed decision about their own well-being.
Paraplegia is characterized by complete paralysis of the lower half of the human body, along with nonexistent sensory and motor functions. Typically, some error during a spinal-cord surgery or a direct injury on the spinal cord can lead to paraplegia.
Read more: Life after Paraplegia: Related Medical Malpractice Issues
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