Surgical errors are more common in the U.S. than one may think. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine published a report stating how just less than 100,000 people in the U.S. died every year from medical mistakes. However, according to a report issued by the Journal of Patient Safety and as reported by Propublica.org, that number is now estimated between 210,000 and 440,00 patients each year.

The estimate includes patients who suffer any type of preventable harm such as misdiagnosis, surgical error, and patient mix-up. Propublica.org notes how this “would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in America,” third only to cancer and heart disease (the second and first leading cause of death in the U.S., respectively). Surgical errors are often the most serious of medical mistakes, because they are often irreversible mistakes that result in death.

An article in Medical News Today states how events that should never occur during surgery are known in the industry as “never events,” but these events occur far more often than never. Findings published in Surgery (as reported by Medical News Today) report more than 4,000 “never-events” happening each year in the U.S. And between 1990 and 2010, there were more than 80,000 of these across the country.

Examples of surgical error include extremely severe and identifiable mistakes such as a surgeon leaving a tool inside a patient’s body. By some estimates this happens about 39 times a week. Other surgical errors include a doctor operating on a wrong body part, or performing the wrong surgery. This happens less often, but still at a staggering estimate of 20 times each week. Malpractice claims arising from incidents of surgical error have cost the medical industry more than $1.3 billion between 1990 and 2010, according to Medical News Today.

Submitting a medical malpractice claim can be a long and arduous process. If you suspect that you have been a victim of medical malpractice or surgical error in Connecticut, the most important first step is to seek the counsel of a malpractice attorney. Contact a Westport medical malpractice attorney for a free initial consultation today.

A trip to the hospital can be a scary event. Not only do people worry about possible procedures or tests, they can also be concerned over various situations that can go wrong. Surgical errors, drug mix-ups, and infections that people can catch while admitted in a hospital are just a few of the examples that can complicate what is supposed to be a very simple hospital visit. According to studies, however, one in four patients is affected by some form of hospital error.

If you are going to be admitted into a hospital, there are steps you can take to help ensure your safety. One of the first things you should do is check the ratings of the hospital. A critical statistic in this area is the hospital’s infection rate. Statistics reveal that over two million patients acquire infections from healthcare facilities. For over 100,000 patients, these infections are fatal.

It is important to meet with your doctor some time prior to your hospital stay and review what your procedure will entail and what you should expect. Make a list of any drugs or supplements you are currently taking and find out which ones you should stop prior to your stay. Give your doctor the list for your record and bring copies of it to the hospital when you go.

Other steps you should take include choosing a healthcare proxy – someone who can make medical decisions for you in the event you become unable to do so. You should also prepare a living will. Make sure you have a family member or friend who will be helping you get to the hospital and will oversee your stay and recovery.

When you are admitted to the hospital, make sure to give the staff your drug list. Also, check your hospital wristband to verify your name is spelled correctly and also contains the correct information about you and any allergies you have may to medications. Being prepared for your visit can help make the process go more smoothly, and it may even save your life.

If you suffered from injuries or other serious side effects as a result of medical negligence during a hospital stay, please contact an experienced Westport medical malpractice attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for pain and loss.

When a woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the most common options of treatment is a mastectomy. An increasing number of women are choosing to have double mastectomies, even when the cancer only appears in one breast. But a new study, conducted by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, concluded in most cases a double mastectomy is unneeded.

Researchers followed the cases of 1,447 women who were diagnosed and treated for cancer in one breast and had not had cancer show up in the other breast. Eight percent of the women in the group had opted for a double mastectomy – medically referred to as a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). The data showed that women with higher education levels, as well as women who had undergone an MRI prior to treatment, were more likely to choose a CPM.

Seventy percent of the women who chose to have a CPM did not have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. They also did not test positive for mutated BRCA genes. A positive test to mutated BRCA genes indicates a strong likelihood of breast (and ovarian cancer). It is medically recommended that women who test positive undergo CPM.

The researchers concluded that undergoing a CPM offers no increase in survival rates because of the low rate of recurrence of cancer showing up in the other breast when just a single mastectomy is performed. In the study, only three percent of women had a recurrence.

The study, which was published in the medical journal JAMA Surgery, also points out that women who opt for CPM face much longer and more difficult recovery times, not only for the CPM surgery, but also for the reconstructive surgery that many women choose to have.

If you have suffered side effects from an unnecessary surgery or surgical error, contact an experienced Westport medical malpractice attorney today to find out what legal action you may be able to take.