Data Reveals Increase In Medical Malpractice Claims Against NYC Hospitals
According to a report released by the New York City Comptroller’s Office, the number of medical malpractice claims against NYC hospitals has steadily increased since 2013, amounting to 521 claims in fiscal year 2015. By contrast, there were 495 medical malpractice claims filed in 2013 involving the 11 flagship NYC hospitals – an increase of over five percent. What’s more, the total number of claims involving HHC rose from 876 in 2014 to 902 in 2015.
The hospitals, which all belong to the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), operate in a public capacity and serve the 8.4 million New Yorkers across the five boroughs. According to HHC data, it renders care to approximately 1.4 million patients annually, and is the largest municipal healthcare system in the United States. With a patient population so large, the risk for mistake and error rises accordingly – placing patients at risk for missed diagnoses, lapses in clinical judgment, and various other medical missteps.
Medical malpractice in NYC
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is injured due to the acts or omissions of a healthcare provider that do not comport with accepted medical standards of reasonable care.
The most common instances of medical malpractice include:
- Failure to order a necessary diagnostic test
- Misinterpretation of test results
- Missed cancer diagnosis
- Botched surgical procedure
- Failure to properly monitor patient progress
In general, a hospital malpractice case will hinge on whether – in the same or similar circumstances – a reasonable provider would have acted similarly or pursued the same course of conduct. These cases are highly fact-driven, and no two are alike. However, a deviation from accepted standards of medical care – which often requires testimony from an expert medical witness – can expose a doctor, nurse or hospital to liability – which can be quite substantial given the extent of the patient’s injuries.
How a medical malpractice attorney can help
Medical malpractice cases are highly complex and nuanced, requiring legal counsel with experience in this area of personal injury. Proving malpractice requires showing that, but for the doctor’s acts or omissions, the patient would not have suffered the resulting injury – which is much easier to prove in some cases than others. There is often an extensive discovery phase associated with a medical malpractice case, and many physicians will push forward to a trial as opposed to settling the matter and potentially admitting fault.
Medical malpractice verdicts can be sizable, particularly if the patient has suffered lifelong harm as a result of the mistake. As a starting point, the jury will tabulate the medical expenses incurred by the patient, as well as the value of any future medical care that will be required to treat the condition. From there, a medical malpractice plaintiff could also recover damages for lost wages, lost future earnings, pain and suffering, emotional turmoil, mental anguish or loss of consortium.
In the end, it is not uncommon for medical malpractice victims to recover six-, seven-, or even eight-figure payouts.
Contact an experienced NYC medical malpractice lawyer today
For help with your recent medical injury, please do not hesitate to contact The Sanders Firm, Attorneys at Law: 1-800-Fair-Play. Resources
- SputnikNews.com, Malpractice claims at NYC hospitals increasing in 2015, http://sputniknews.com/us/20151105/1029671640/new-york-hospitals-malpractice-increasing.html
- PSNet.ahrq.gov, 2015 Annual Benchmarking Report: Malpractice Risks in the Diagnostic Process, https://psnet.ahrq.gov/resources/resource/28612/2014-annual-benchmarking-report-malpractice-risks-in-the-diagnostic-process
