Are Florida Hospitals Subjecting Patients to Unnecessary Heart Surgeries?
When hospitals subject patients to unnecessary medical procedures, it puts patients at risk for serious injury or death.
Recently unsealed documents from a federal lawsuit allege that several Florida hospitals might have subjected patients to unnecessary heart procedures and then submitted false claims for federal reimbursement. The suit was filed in 2012 by a professional liability claims director and former employee.
The whistleblower revealed that patients who did not have coronary artery disease or illnesses warranting surgery were put through high risk medical procedures so the hospital could benefit from Medicare reimbursements.
How Common are Unnecessary Heart Surgeries?
Although several Florida hospitals are at the center of an ongoing investigation for fraud, it turns out that unnecessary heart procedures are a common occurrence across the country. A study by the American College of Cardiology analyzed 140,000 heart procedures and concluded 12 percent were unnecessary, with another 38 percent deemed questionable.
One of the most common procedures mentioned was an angioplasty, an operation that clears arteries and can reduce the pain from chronic angina. The procedure carries a risk of bleeding, infections, blood clots and heart attack.
Unsurprisingly, when hospitals are caught subjecting patients to dangerous and unnecessary heart procedures, they are overwhelmingly performed on Medicare patients.
Are Unnecessary Surgeries Medical Malpractice?
The real danger to patients is that mistakes can happen during heart surgery, and if the patient does not need a procedure done, it opens up the possibility of further health complications that can put their lives in danger. Hospitals that are negligent in the care of their patients may find themselves subject to medical malpractice lawsuits when their victims come forward to demand justice.
Shapiro Law Group encourages our readers to learn more about surgical mistakes by visiting our website. If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, we can answer your questions and review your case at no cost.
Shapiro Law Group – Medical Malpractice Attorneys Serving the Tampa Bay Area
Did You Know? Heart surgery is an expensive procedure, and the average cost for a balloon angioplasty can range from $30,000 to over $48,000.