An estimated 440,000 people die every year from medical errors that could have- should have-been prevented. Shockingly, half of all medical malpractice payouts are the result of only 5.1% of doctors. Yet even when doctors routinely get hit with medical malpractice lawsuits, they are rarely disciplined. Only 7.6% all “repeat” malpractice physicians had received some sort of discipline for their transgressions. This means that we are on our own to police physicians and hold them accountable for their mistakes.
As a victim of medical malpractice, you have only two viable options to seek justice. First, you can file a complaint with the medical board. A panel of the doctor’s peers will review this complaint and appropriate disciplinary action will follow. Yet as the statistics above show, discipline rarely occurs. In fact, only 13% of doctors with 5 malpractice payouts had ever been disciplined for their mistakes.
Luckily, that is not your only option after you or your family has suffered due to a medical error. Your second, and best, option is to pursue civil litigation. Through a civil medical malpractice lawsuit, you and your family can hold the negligent doctor accountable for their actions and seek the restitution that you so justly deserve. Unfortunately, not all medical malpractice victims are aware of these legal rights. A Harvard study found that only one of every 8 medical malpractice victims actually pursued litigation and filed a malpractice lawsuit.
Patients, who have sustained an injury, undergone an unnecessary surgery, or gone undiagnosed because of a negligent physician, may wish to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages. The victim’s family can also file malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits, if the patient died as a result of the doctor’s carelessness or incompetence.
Medical malpractice injuries can occur in a number of ways, including:
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Childbirth injuries
- Medication errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Surgery errors
- And more
Until medical review boards hold negligent physicians accountable for their actions and prevent them from injuring others in the future, a malpractice lawsuit seems to be the only viable option for injured patients and their families who have been injured.
Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyers
If you or someone you love has suffered because of a physician or medical professional’s negligence, the law is on your side. Our experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys have represented patients in Philadelphia and across the United States who have sustained serous injuries while undergoing medical care. When a doctor, nurse, or health care professional’s negligence leads to your injuries, they can-and should be held accountable.
To learn more about your rights and legal options, call the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Golomb Spirt Grunfeld today at 1-800-355-3300 or 1-215-985-9177 or fill out our confidential Contact Form.