Some diseases may be rare – but medical mistakes are not.  Indeed, the numbers are both surprising and staggering.  And so is this fact: Each year, more people die from medical malpractice than from motor vehicle accidents or breast cancer. A study by the Institute of Medicine estimates that medical errors in hospitals result in 40,000 to 98,000 deaths annually. And up to 7,000 more patients will die from mistakes in prescribing medicine.

Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider or a hospital fails to act with a reasonable standard of care, causing a new or aggravated injury to the patient. These mistakes can cause birth trauma, brain injury, paralysis, amputation, disability, and disfigurement. The injuries are often permanent – and, in some cases, result in death.  For those harmed by a medical mistake – and their families - the physical, financial, and emotional costs can be staggering, too.  They can also be an extreme hardship.

Medical malpractice, unfortunately, takes many forms.  Some examples include:

• Failure or delay in diagnosing a medical condition (or misdiagnosing it)
• Surgical- or anesthesia-related mishap during an operation
• Failure to disclose to the patient the risks associated with a procedure – so that ‘informed consent’ is never obtained
• Failure to manage a pregnancy or deliver a baby in a safe manner
• Failure to properly treat a medical condition after making a correct diagnosis
• Failure to administer medications properly

Through the legal system, victims of medical malpractice and their families can seek redress for their injuries – and accountability for mistakes that, in many cases, have changed their life.  But medical malpractice litigation is a complicated, challenging area of the law.  Plaintiffs who don’t carefully select their counsel will find that their lawyers can make mistakes as easily as their doctors.  That’s why it’s essential to choose a firm that isn’t just knowledgeable in medical malpractice law, but has a reputation for experience and a record of success.

For more than 35 years, Babbitt, Johnson, Osborne & Le Clainche has aggressively represented victims of medical malpractice.  Our firm has won national media attention both for our cases and for our insistent pursuit of more openness in the medical profession – a quest that has resulted in changes in policies and laws.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical or hospital negligence, contact us for a free consultation and case evaluation.  It can be the first step on the road to recovery.