Many patients who are victims of medical errors do not file formal complaints largely due to misunderstanding the bureaucracy, according to NBC News.
In a review of medical records by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's inspector general, it was found that one in seven Medicare patients was harmed in the hospital over a single month.
"An estimated 1.5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries experienced an event that contributed to their deaths, which projects to 15,000 patients in a single month," said the Inspector General.
While there are various places to file a formal complaint, many patients who are traumatized, disabled or unaware that they have been a victim of a medical error do not come forward. Without complaints, no accountability is taken by providers who may have made mistakes, often leading to these mistakes being repeated time and time again.
"'You really can't improve what you don't measure,'" said Dr. Julia Hallisy, president of the Empowered Patient Coalition. "'How do you know where to focus your improvement efforts if you haven't measured what's happening in the first place?'" Read the full details here:
"The real story here is the sheer number of medical errors that occur and the unwillingness of the medical profession to attempt to fix them," said Steve Crandall, a top-rated medical malpractice attorney throughout Ohio and Kentucky.
"Rather than fighting lawsuits and spending time attempting to prevent valid claims from reaching the courthouse, this time and energy should be spent on improving patient care," said Crandall. "In that way the medical profession can not only save lives, but improve care for those in the future as well."
If you have any questions regarding medical malpractice throughout Ohio and Kentucky, contact Steve Crandall. Steve is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.