Medical malpractice remains a significant concern in the U.S., with medical errors causing 251,000 fatalities annually. This accounts for 9.5% of all deaths each year, ranking as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., following heart disease and cancer.
Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider’s care falls short of established standards, resulting in harm to a patient. Understanding the statistics surrounding medical malpractice can help patients, healthcare providers and policymakers make informed decisions.
Reasons for medical malpractice claims
The most common medical errors that account for 32% of medical malpractice cases are delayed diagnoses and misdiagnoses. Surgical errors are another significant concern, contributing to a substantial portion of claims against negligent healthcare providers. Patients may also pursue claims for prescription and anesthesia-related mistakes.
Regardless of the specific error, for a claim to succeed, patients must prove that the healthcare provider’s failure to meet their responsibilities directly caused harm. Patients who encounter medical negligence should be aware that proving causation can be challenging.
With the right legal support, they can secure a reliable expert witness to testify that their healthcare provider did not meet the standard of care expected of them. The key purpose of engaging an expert witness is to establish that the harm resulted from the provider’s shortcomings rather than the patient’s pre-existing medical conditions.
How demographics play out in medical malpractice
Before seeking healthcare services, patients should know that their likelihood of encountering medical negligence depends on their:
- Gender
- Age
- Race
- Location
For example, statistics illustrate that patients in rural areas face more challenges in accessing quality care than those in urban areas. Furthermore, medical errors are more prevalent among patients who are 65 years and older.
Interestingly, more male doctors are sued for medical malpractice than their female counterparts. Moreover, female patients who are 40 years and older are more inclined to advocate for themselves in hospitals and make medical malpractice claims when they receive sub-standard medical care.
Patients who experience sub-standard medical care may wonder if they should pursue a medical malpractice claim or count their losses and move on. With legal guidance, they can better understand if their case has merit and increase their odds of receiving fair compensation.