Medical Errors Result in a High Death Toll

Posted By Christopher Mellino | 01:47pm |

Sadly, medical errors that were preventable in the first instance
are the reason that thousands of Americans are badly injured or die
each year.

This is yet another great debate among trial lawyers, Cleveland malpractice lawyers,
and the public in general, over the number of medical errors that were
preventable. This subject inevitably comes up when anyone reads a story
about medical negligence or is discussing how to reform the medical
health system to prevent these errors. Actually, the core of the
discussion is medical negligence resulting in medical errors.

It's funny, but most people who wind up talking about this topic
usually cut a wide swath around the issue of the inherent negligence,
which is the underlying problem and causation of medical errors.
Usually when this argument raises its ugly head, people dodge the real
issues. When it comes to actually tackling negligence itself, there
tends to be a resounding silence unless you have a chance to speak to a
Cleveland malpractice lawyer well versed in the nuances of this debate.

Frankly, the only way to make a significant difference in the health
care system today is to deal with the negligence that causes medical
errors. If medical errors were reduced, many of the other companion
problems would be addressed. This isn't to say they would be one
hundred percent resolved, but it would be a good start. Here is the
real truth – if medical errors were decreased, the costs of health care
would go down, medical malpractice insurance premiums would be scaled
down and patients would remain healthy and safe. This is an opinion
shared by many Cleveland malpractice lawyers.

If you seriously don't think medical errors are that much of a
problem, consider the fact that they cost the system close to $29
billion dollars a year. Yes, billion. A staggering number that is
highly preventable if someone takes the bull by the horns about
avoiding negligence and does something about it.

If you need further convincing, then do some research on the extent
of medical errors as outlined by the Institute for Healthcare
Improvement. Their numbers estimate 15 million people are medically
harmed every year. Don't stop there, ask a highly skilled Cleveland
medical malpractice lawyer what the real scoop is and be prepared for
an honest and in-depth answer.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
The unaddressed negligence issue will founder the medical care system
if left unchecked. And yet, many Americans today remain unaware of the
problem, and how all encompassing it appears to be. This is really
quite odd when you consider that one in three people has personally
experienced a medical error and one in five were seriously harmed or
died. What is even more interesting is that the public generally
estimates death by medical error to be about 5,000 yearly, and not
numbers running into the millions.

The odd twist to this debate is that while Americans think medical
malpractice negligence suits are rampant, the reverse is really the
truth. The problem is preventable medical errors causing serious harm
and taking lives.

Christopher Mellino is a Cleveland Malpractice Lawyer specializing
in Cleveland Medical Malpractice cases in Ohio. To learn more about Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland malpractice lawyer, Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, visit Christophermellino.com.