Medical malpractice can cause incalculable damage to victims and their families. A recent survey of neurosurgeons found that nearly half who specialize in spinal procedure have performed the doctor error of wrong-site surgery at least once during their career. Pitt County residents should know that The Joint Commission, an organization that accredits hospitals and sets health care standards, estimates that surgeons perform 1,839 wrong-site surgeries per year across the entire United States.
Although this kind of doctor error is statistically rare, the results are often devastating for patients. The Joint Commission plans to introduce a set of universal safety protocols to prevent wrong-site surgeries. However, not even the most stringent of protocols is guaranteed protection against doctor error.
We all put the utmost trust in the physicians who treat us, and we should expect the highest standards of care and professionalism. No one should have to endure the consequences of medical malpractice, such as doctor or hospital negligence. But filing and pursuing a legal course of action can be difficult for the victim. That is why it is important for Pitt County residents to have all the facts concerning medical malpractice. Knowing where one stands in regard to the law can give a victim the tools needed to make the right decisions about going forward.
Those facing the prospect of filing a medical malpractice suit will gain by meeting with a Pitt County attorney who has a strong background in the prosecution of medical malpractice claims and litigation. The lawyer can help review the appropriate medical records and assess the facts and circumstances of treatment to determine liability. He or she can also pursue negligent parties to hold them fully accountable for their medical errors.
Source: The International Business Times, “Wrong-Site Surgeries Persist, Despite Hospital Safety Measures,” Kirk Klocke, Nov. 9, 2011