Hospital Errors Cause Hundreds of Thousands of Injuries Every Year

Preventable hospital mistakes may cause the death of over 400,000 patients each year in the United States. A recent study shows that medical procedures are causing serious injuries and death to patients with alarming frequency.

A woman in Texas is suing a Dallas hospital over a devastating surgical error. In 2007, the woman underwent serious heart surgery. In 2014, she discovered that an 8-inch catheter was left behind during that procedure, and was lodged inside her aorta. For seven years, she remained unaware that this dangerous piece of medical equipment had been left inside her body’s most important artery.

This mistake was never corrected, and it is unclear whether or not doctors were aware of their mistake. Between her surgery in 2007 and 2014, she received a total of 22 chest x-rays. If doctors saw the catheter on one of those x-rays before 2014 and didn’t tell her, it would be a serious violation of ethical disclosure guidelines.

By the time she discovered this medical mistake, the catheter had moved and calcified in her aorta. It now poses a life-threatening danger. She has trouble walking and breathing, and there may no longer be a safe way to remove the device. She could have to live with this medical mistake for the rest of her life.

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control listed Medical Mistakes as the third leading cause of death in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of patients are seriously injured or die from medical mistakes and negligence every year. Here are some troubling statistics regarding the cost and scope of Medical Mistakes in America:

• A 2013 study by the Journal of Patient Safety estimated that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients are killed due to preventable hospital errors every year in the U.S.
• Between 2009 and 2013, re-hospitalizations caused by medical errors generated a total cost of $645 million to U.S taxpayers.
• One study conducted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement found that only 10 to 20% of hospital errors are voluntarily reported by doctors and other hospital staff.

When patients are faced with revision surgeries, complications, or lingering health issues after undergoing medical treatment, the consequences can sometimes be devastating.

If you or a loved one think you may be the victim of a medical mistake, contact Graves McLain Medical Malpractice lawyers for a free case evaluation.

If you have questions, call Graves McLain at 918-359-6600. When you call, you will speak with one of our experienced Tulsa Medical Malpractice attorneys absolutely FREE.

Graves McLain’s Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience standing up to insurance companies, hospitals, and drug manufacturers whose negligence resulted in serious injuries to our clients. If you’ve been injured, we will review every detail of your situation and fight hard to protect your rights.

At Graves McClain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front. You owe us nothing unless we recover for you.

Graves McLain – Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries