Scheduling Errors Can Become Life Threatening Hospital Mistakes
Minor hospital mistakes can end in tragedy for patients. Whether a lab test leads to a misdiagnosis or a prescription error causes an allergic reaction, consequences can be life threatening.
In Louisiana, a family has filed a lawsuit against Interim Louisiana State University Hospital, alleging a breach in the standard of care. After being diagnosed at the hospital’s neurology clinic with a brain tumor, a scheduling error may have doomed a Louisiana woman to a painful death from cancer.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was scheduled to see a neurologist before undergoing surgery. However, upon arrival, the woman was told that her surgery had been cancelled and could not be completed because the doctor had prolonged the surgery date.
The woman is asserting that the scheduling error negated any possibility of her surviving and that she will die slowly while accumulating unnecessary medical expenses.
How Common Are Hospital Mistakes in the US?
Current estimates by the Institute of Medicine suggest that as many as 200,000 Americans die every year from medical mistakes, making it a leading cause of death. An additional one million Americans are injured by medical mistakes every year.
Hospitals are likely to deny claims of medical malpractice and fight victims who have been injured by their staff. It is important to have an attorney who is familiar with gathering evidence to prove medical malpractice, as a high standard of proof is required to show the standard of care was poor or negligent.
Our readers can learn more about medical mistakes by visiting our website. For more news on Shapiro Law Group, visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
