hospital

Boosting Awareness About Medical Malpractice

Although the United States spends more on healthcare than almost any other country, our rates of medical error are also higher than most. According to a 2016 study by Johns Hopkins University, medical errors may cause between 250,000 and 440,000 deaths per year, making medical malpractice the third leading cause of death in America. A more recent study at the University of Washington found that even with sustained reductions in medical-related fatalities over the last two decades, medical error continues to result in approximately 5,200 deaths each year.

Because the month of July has been selected as Medical Malpractice Awareness Month by the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA), our legal team would like to show support for this important issue. As medical malpractice attorneys, we see the consequences of medical negligence firsthand – and we’re committed to representing injury victims after these traumatic experiences.

NMMAA: Advocating for Patients

The NMMAA is a non-partisan organization that aims to reduce the high rates of medical malpractice in our healthcare system, advocate for patients’ rights, and increase transparency between doctors and patients. Additionally, the NMMAA is committed to resolving the problem of unreported claims, as the current lack of standardized reporting can hamper medical malpractice victims in the search for justice.

How does the organization plan to address these problems? Here are just a few of the NMMAA’s top initiatives and projects:

  • The Medical Malpractice Right to Justice Project: Launched in 2019, this project aims to seek justice for those who have been stripped of their 7th amendment right to court after medical negligence, by bringing up old cases and showing any inconsistencies in the medical records and testimonies.
  • Partnership with the Greater National Advocates: After experiencing a serious medical error, it’s important for victims to work with a trusted medical practitioner. The NMMAA partners with Greater National Advocates and can offer online access to their network of practitioners.
  • Screening services: Working with attorneys and physicians around the country, the NMMAA provides screening services and educational resources for those who have been victimized by medical malpractice.

By instituting Medical Malpractice Awareness Month in July and working with local, state, and national leaders, the NMMAA has also encouraged several states to formally recognize this important observance and spread awareness about this issue. Each year, thousands of law firms and individual attorneys choose to participate by sharing resources and information, too.

How Can I Identify Medical Errors?

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy for victims of medical malpractice to know when they have a legal right to pursue compensation. Although medical-related injuries and deaths remain high in the U.S., some victims do not realize that these injuries can make healthcare providers liable for their losses.

Some of the most common ways that healthcare providers violate the “standard of care” and become liable for serious injuries:

  • Failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis
  • Medication and anesthesia errors
  • Surgical malpractice (i.e. wrong-site surgeries, contaminated tools)
  • Laboratory and medical test failures
  • Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs)
  • Abuse and neglect of patients
  • Premature discharge from the healthcare setting
  • Preventable birth injuries
  • Emergency room errors

If you suspect that medical malpractice may have played a role in your injuries, our legal team at Simeone & Miller, LLP is available to hear your story and help you determine if you have a claim. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions for medical malpractice victims, and our attorneys are frequently awarded by organizations like The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Most recently, our founding partner Thomas J. Simeone was even selected as one of the Top 3 Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Washington DC by Three Best Rated®.

For more information about how we can help with your medical malpractice claim, contact us today. We offer free consultations.