Ohioans dealing with the loss of a loved one understand how difficult it is. However, when the death might have been avoidable, it is an issue that can be replayed over and over again considering whether doing something different might have changed the outcome. If the death might have happened because of medical malpractice or negligence, those who were affected by it need to be completely aware of various factors that could have contributed to it. Recent research is indicating that more people die due to medical mistakes than was previously thought.
According to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study, people who die because of medical mistakes could reach a quarter of a million on an annual basis. The information was gleaned from using data from Medicare and 13 hospitals. They came to the conclusion that 251,454 people die because of medical errors in the U.S. every year. If accurate, this number would be the third highest non-violent cause of death in the country.
The doctor in charge of the study believes that the research can help in an attempt to cut down on the number of people who are harmed because of medical mistakes through funding and greater vigilance. It can be hard to find a specific medical mistake that caused a patient's death because it is a physician who documents the cause when a patient dies. Since the cause of death can be a complicated issue, there are often factors that are missed that could have led to the patient's death. Other researchers have put the number of people who die because of medical errors at an even higher number -- with as many as 400,000 people being affected.
Many of the mistakes are attributed to different medications taken and medical problems that a patient is experiencing upon entering a hospital and the difficulty that accompanies giving individual care to every patient. It can be difficult to determine whether medical malpractice was the main reason for it. Because of this, people who believe that there was a mistake made by the doctor or hospital staff need to make sure that their interests are protected. Speaking to a legal professional who is experienced in seeking compensation in cases of wrongful death can help with investigating and pursuing a case stemming from medical mistakes.
Source: ABC News, "Medical Errors May Result in More Than 200,000 Deaths, Study Finds," Gillian Mohney, May 3, 2016
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