We should be able to trust the women and men who work in the healthcare profession to care for us at the highest standards possible. We do not expect them to make us worse. Unfortunately, there are times when mistakes are made that cause us harm.
No healthcare professional is perfect, and yes, everyone knows mistakes are made. There are times, though, when the mistake is due to outright carelessness or negligence on the part of the healthcare professional. That is unacceptable.
At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we will work to secure the compensation you need. If you need a Bellevue medical malpractice attorney, call us today.
When It Happens
It is nearly inexplicable, just how many people are killed due to medical mistakes each year in this country. Conservative estimates put the number at about 250,000 deaths annually, but some estimates say as many as 440,000 people lose their lives each year due to medical errors.
Think about all of the medical professionals you see over the course of a year: primary care doctor, ER nurses and doctors, optometrist, dentist, pharmacist. The list goes on. We should be able to count on these people performing at a high level of care, but sometimes they are careless or negligent in their duties and cause patients harm.
Below we discuss some of the common ways in which healthcare professionals can cause people harm, but this list is not complete. You should always go over your case with a qualified legal professional before moving forward.
- Medication Mistakes: These errors occur far too often and can include a patient not getting their required medications, patients receiving the wrong medication, or the wrong dosage of a medication being given.
- Diagnostic Errors: Diagnostic mistakes affect 12 million people a year. These mistakes can happen if a doctor or nurse is overworked, if they skip necessary steps, or are not properly trained.
- Surgical Mistakes: These are feared mistakes but are not usually as dramatic as what we see on TV. Many times, surgical errors are not the “never events” like someone being operated on while awake or having a tool left inside of them. Often, they are more “minor” but lead to disability or death for the patient.
- Infections: Anyone who works in a healthcare setting knows that there is a real possibility to spread infections, especially to people who have weakened immune systems. That is why it is vital for healthcare professionals to follow proper protocols to prevent the spread of infection.
How To Move Forward
Medical mistakes are something you probably only saw on TV and in movies. Unfortunately, they are part of real life as well. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a medical mistake, consider seeking legal assistance. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our qualified and experienced team will work to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for all of your expenses related to the incident. This can include coverage of continued medical bills, pain and suffering damages, punitive damages, and more.
When you need a Bellevue medical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842.
206-880-7703