New York – Statistics accumulated from a survey in 2021 show that medical malpractice and negligence lawsuits are significant and concerning, especially for New Yorkers. The survey was conducted by a professional medical information and education organization. The statistics gathered showed that New York State had the second largest volume of medical malpractice lawsuits. These included all types of malpractice claims, including failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis, failure to treat a disease or condition, medical or medication mistakes and surgical error. The category of surgical mistakes has been known to include operating on the wrong patient or on the wrong limb or organ. However, a well-known and described surgical malpractice situation is when the doctor forgets or leaves a foreign object inside of the patient. Some of the healthcare malpractice cases described have led to wrongful death and are also evaluated in this survey. Other cases can lead to paralysis, loss of use of function of part of the body or organ as well as infections. These statistics and the volume of health-related malpractice incidents have patient safety specialists concerned. They warn that continued development and following of safety protocols and education are essential to protect patients. You can check out more medical malpractice statistics here.
Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Jennifer Morrow [License]