Medical Negligence In New York On The Rise

Thousands of patients are injured due to medical negligence in New York, yet only a small fraction of those patients and their families file malpractice claims against the health care providers. Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider’s treatment or lack of treatment is below an acceptable standard of care and it causes harm to the patient. Medical mistakes can have a devastating effect on victims and their families – both emotionally and financially.

For more than 45 years, the Sanders Firm has successfully helped victims of medical negligence get the compensation they deserve. By utilizing our legal expertise and thoroughly investigating each case, we are able to effectively represent patients and families who have suffered from the harm inflicted by careless or inexperienced medical practitioners.

Our team of medical malpractice lawyers in New York have secured millions of dollars in compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of income, mental anguish and other damages for our clients. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional, we can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

Health care mistakes are widespread

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 2000, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in America with more than 225,000 fatalities each year. The most common types of fatal errors that occur in hospitals include the performance of unnecessary surgeries, misdiagnosis of illnesses, administering an incorrect dosage of medication, patients getting infections during the hospital stay, and adverse effects of medications.

The results of this study reflect a conservative estimate of the number of fatalities caused by medical mistakes since most of the data only covered patients who received treatment in hospitals. Medical records from outpatient facilities, private doctors’ offices and other types of medical facilities were not analyzed. The study also did not include the number of patients who suffered from non-fatal injuries.

Medical negligence in New York

A Harvard Medical Practice Study that analyzed 30,000 records from New York hospitals in 1984 concluded that a substantial portion of the patients’ injuries were due to medical negligence. According to the study, nearly 28% of patients’ injuries were caused by substandard care at the hospitals. Some of the patients took longer than 6 months to recover from their injuries while others developed permanent disabilities. The study also revealed that only one in eight patients subjected to medical negligence filed malpractice lawsuits against the health care providers.

A separate study published in The New England Journal of Medicine performed an in-depth analysis of malpractice litigation from 1991 through 2005. The researchers concluded that 7.4% of physicians had malpractice claims filed against them, but only 1.6% of those claims resulted in the patients being compensated for their injuries.  The majority of physicians who had claims filed against them specialized in neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery. The average amount of compensation received in malpractice claims was $274,887.

Medical malpractice lawyers in New York

The importance of filing medical malpractice claims when you or a loved one has been harmed should not be underestimated. A successful lawsuit will help you receive the compensation you need to cover both past and future medical expenses. Malpractice includes a range of actions such as a health care provider administering improper treatment, delaying necessary treatment, misdiagnosing a medical condition, prescription errors, and performing surgery on the wrong part of the body.

If you believe that you or a loved one was the victim of medical negligence in New York, The Sander Firm can determine if you’re entitled to monetary damages. Our offices are conveniently located throughout New York in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens and Long Island.

An experienced NY medical malpractice attorney will evaluate your case and discuss your options for legal recourse. Call us toll-free at 1.800 FAIR PLAY (800.324.7752) to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.