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Back to Services & Information Medical Malpractice LawyersWhat Is Medical Malpractice? The term “medical malpractice” is defined as the negligence of a healthcare provider to a patient which results in injury or death due to not acting in the applicable standard of care. Although we commonly refer to “doctors” when talking about medical malpractice, a medical malpractice lawsuit can include all types of health care professionals including nurses, nursing assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, dentists and hospitals. Medical malpractice is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States. Over 225,000 people die each year due to medical malpractice and nearly half of these are from emergency room errors. Some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims are:
Medical Malpractice Is More Common than You Think It is estimated that at least 1% of doctors deserve disciplinary action due to medical malpractice or negligence action each year. This would amount to over 7,700 physicians being disciplined each year. However, this number far exceeds the actual number of malpractice cases. It appears that just 5% of doctors are responsible for over half the malpractice payouts in this country. Of the 35,000 doctors who have had two or more malpractice payouts since 1990, only 7.6% of them have been disciplined. Even more shocking, only 13% of doctors with five medical malpractice payouts have ever been disciplined. Few people who suffer from medical mistakes pursue a legal claim. Less than 1 in 8 hospital injuries ever become a medical malpractice claim and plaintiffs drop 10 times more claims than they pursue. As you can see, medical malpractice is problem that rarely has consequences for anyone other than the injured party. You need a Lawyer who Specializes in Medical Malpractice When facing a medical procedure or going to the hospital for surgery, the last thing you should have to worry about is the doctor or hospital making a mistake. But as you can see, medical mistakes are far too common an experience. If you are a victim of any form of medical mistake, then you should talk to a lawyer about filing a malpractice claim. There are two types of compensation in a medical malpractice case. The first type of settlement award is for things such as out-of-pocket expenses, medical bills, and lost income as a result of the medical malpractice. The second type of settlement award is for pain and suffering and is also called punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded less frequently, but are considered when the medical malpractice lawsuit involves extreme or willful negligence by the medical practitioner. As you can imagine, medical malpractice cases can be quite complex so it’s especially important to hire a lawyer with experience representing medical malpractice cases. The lawyers at Susak & Powell have over 100 years combined experience representing medical and dental malpractice clients in the Portland, Oregon and southwest Washington area. Our team of attorneys are committed to excellent customer service and getting the best possible settlement for our clients. Speak with one of our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help you. DISCLAIMER The information in this site is intended to provide general information only. You should not assume that it applies to your case without consulting with our firm. Contacting our firm by phone, e-mail, mail, or requesting an initial consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Certain time limitations may apply to your case, so you should promptly seek legal advice from an attorney to protect your rights. |
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