Medical Errors Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

A staggering number of individuals in the U.S. may be entitled to bring wrongful death or medical malpractice claims against a deceased family member’s health care provider. A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found various medical errors in hospitals and other health care facilities are the third leading cause of death in the United States. The only health issues more deadly than medical mistakes are heart disease and cancer.

If there has been a death in your family that you believe was caused by medical malpractice, you may have legal options to recover compensation. Contact the experienced Belleville medical malpractice lawyers of The Cates Law Firm, LLC at (618) 767-6293 to learn about your options.

John Hopkin’s Study and Results

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed deaths for an 8-year period by analyzing four studies conducted between 2000 and 2008. They found medical errors were linked to more than 250,000 deaths each year. These figures are different than those reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Johns Hopkins researchers state that the variance is because the CDC’s method of collecting national health statistics doesn’t classify medical errors individually on death certificates. Medical coding is used for billing purposes and lists cause of death, but does not specify that medical error was involved, according to Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., in the John Hopkin’s press release.

Researchers conducted the study to find out more about a problem that is common but infrequently discussed. Health care providers have known medical errors are related to many deaths for decades, yet the problem isn’t studied enough to determine why they happen and how they can be fixed.

Illinois Medical Malpractice Deaths

Medical provider negligence or recklessness can result in medical errors that cause the death of a patient. In those situations, the surviving family may be able to recover from the medical provider and hospital responsible for the death. In Illinois, a medical malpractice claim requires evidence that a medical professional or organization failed to uphold the standard of medical care and that those failures caused that patient’s death.

Types of medical malpractice deaths include, but are not limited to:

• Birth Injuries
• Anesthesia Injuries
• Surgical Errors
• Failure to Diagnose
• Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
• Cancer Misdiagnosis
• Pharmaceutical Malpractice
• Hospital Errors
• Doctor or Physician Error

Contact an Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

If you believe your family member was hurt or fatally injured because of a medical mistake, contact The Cates Law Firm, LLC as soon as possible. Our attorneys will begin an investigation immediately and help you determine whether a wrongful death or medical malpractice claim is in your best interests. The attorneys at The Cates Law Firm, LLC offer a free, no risk consultation. You can learn about your rights before you decide on the next steps you want to take.

Call us today at (618) 767-6293 or contact us online to find out how we can help you.