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Medical Malpractice: The Third Leading Cause of Death in America

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

Medical Malpractice: The Third Leading Cause of Death in America

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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Unfortunately, when hospitals and doctors make poor and negligent decisions, patients are left with no choice but to endure the consequences. Ana Pereira is a woman who endured medical malpractice seven years ago when she went to Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, a hospital that currently has three out of five stars on Yelp. She won her case in court not just once---but twice. First, roughly $18.5M and then an additional $24M.

Pereira's Story

Pereira was diagnosed with kidney stones and renal colic when she arrived. The day after she was admitted into the hospital, medical staff moved quickly to remove deadly bacteria from her kidney. But something didn't go right with the first operation, so she had to have it repeated.

Unfortunately, this is when she developed sepsis and fell into a coma for five days. When she woke up, her extremities had been deprived of circulation for too long, and her only option was to amputate both of her legs up to the knee as well as her left hand.

A small group of medical professionals was found liable and the most recent convicted doctor was Dr. Michael Esposito, a urologist that had been avoiding compensating Ana. He currently holds a four-star rating on WebMD, a total of two five-star reviews on Google, and a three-star rating on his Healthgrades profile where he has a philosophy proudly saying, "We are committed to delivering the best care and an exceptional patient experience. We are devoted to providing services that are patient-centered and compassionate, and care for you as a person."

More Common Than You Think

The truth is that negligence by medical professionals is more common than many might think.  Medical professionals are human beings, and sometimes (like anyone else) they make poor decisions. In addition, hospitals are notoriously understaffed, stretching the few available doctors and nurses in too many directions, and in the rush and scramble each day, mistakes can occur. Unfortunately, their decisions can turn another person's life upside-down. Sometimes their mistake ends up killing another person.

It can be frightening to realize that a life-altering tragedy could literally happen to anyone. It's happened to people from all walks of life. Medical malpractice has even affected celebrities such as legendary musician Michael Jackson, notorious wrestler Hulk Hogan, famous SNL comedian and actor Dana Carvey, and world-class golfer Tiger Woods to name a few.

In 2013, the Journal of Patient Safety has conducted a study that revealed numbers that, according to NPR news writer Marshall Allen, make it the "third-leading cause of death in America."

What Can Be Done?

Although it is helpful, money simply can't make up for all of the difficulties that a person must face after they have been negatively affected by medical malpractice. It is understood that money is never going to stop the constant pain that some injuries bring. It is also understood that it is not going to make up for the continuous accommodations that survivors are going to need in order to help people maintain as much of their own autonomy as possible. Certainly, money is incapable of bringing back a loved one that has died. So, how is compensation determined? It is likely that this could fill a book and undoubtedly has.

Still, compensation can help survivors to prepare for the challenges that now lie ahead for them, and it also helps to hold the medical staff accountable for what they have done. There will be many other things for the affected individual and their family to concern themselves with as life moves forward, and worrying about how to pay for medical bills due to medical malpractice doesn't have to be one of them. And if a family member has passed away due to poor medical judgment or negligence, their family should be compensated so that they aren't struggling to pay for the memorial services on top of mourning the sudden loss of their loved one.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by medical malpractice, it is absolutely crucial to have guidance and support from a qualified and devoted lawyer. Find the right lawyer for you in your area by going here.

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