A 59-year-old cyclist was killed in a tragic hospital accident in Queens after the patient developed sepsis following an injury to his arm, according to the NY Daily News. Authorities have been able to identify the man that died as Antonio Flores. Antonio Flores was bicycling on July 7th when he was involved in a minor car accident. He was hit as he was trying to make a left turn onto Baxter Avenue. He was later taken to the hospital in order to be treated for his injuries. He was later released after the hospital treated his arm injury, but was taken back on July 10th after he developed sepsis. He was later pronounced dead on July 11th. Sepsis occurs when harmful bacteria and toxins enter a wound and cause a person to become sick. A hospital can be liable for malpractice if they either delay diagnosis or they delay treatment. Sepsis is extremely dangerous and can often result in organ failure and death. Medical malpractice cases are often very complex and require the expertise of an experienced lawyer that specializes in that area.
While medical malpractice seems like a scary thing to fathom, it happens more often than we would like to believe. Moreover, medical malpractice lawsuits get some of the biggest payouts in the United States, especially in NYC. On average, a serious case of clinical negligence pays out more than $650,000 in a settlement. The city made the single largest payout of 2015 against a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by an autistic woman against the Health and Hospitals Corporation, NYC.
Read more: NYC Pays Millions in Settlement for Medical Negligence Claims Yearly
When people seek medical treatment, they do so with faith that everything goes well. Yet, medical errors do happen.
A recent study revealed that the 3rd-leading cause of death in the U.S. is a medical error. It is a form of medical malpractice, following heart disease and cancer.
Read more: Medical Errors: 3rd-Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.
SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NYC, came under fire when two top transplant surgeons blew the whistle on medical malpractice, lack of patient care, and understaffing at the hospital's cardiothoracic surgery department and cardiothoracic intensive care units and were subsequently fired.
Read more: SUNY Surgeons Were Fired After Blowing the Whistle on Medical Malpractice
When health care providers commit medical malpractice, it means they deviated from fulfilling their duty of properly treating and caring for their patients. Medical negligence could leave the patient with significant injuries or severe complications and even lead to the patient’s death. The resulting emotional and financial strain on the victims' families often results in the filing of big medical malpractice lawsuits.
Medical negligence is the third leading cause of deaths in the US, with around 250,000 patients dying from medical errors every year. New York City is among the top US cities where medical malpractice cases are rampant. NYC resolved 13,712 cases of medical malpractice in 2019 for a payout of $975.0 million. In 2018, the city paid $1.1 billion in medical negligence compensation against 14,390 lawsuits.
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