How Common Are Hospital Errors?

According to a July 2013 CBS News report, missed diagnoses are the most common medical malpractice claims, accounting for between 26 and 63 percent of total cases. In addition, between 15 to 48 percent of missed diagnoses cases result in death. Some of the most common missed diagnoses in adult cases are cancer and heart attacks, while meningitis and cancers are the most commonly misdiagnosed cases for children.

After misdiagnoses, medication errors are the next common cause of medical malpractice claims. In fact, medication errors account for between six to 20 percent of medical malpractice claims. Medication errors occur when a health care provider administers an incorrect dosage of medication or fails to notice if a patient is allergic to a certain type of medication. A healthcare provider may accidently administer the wrong dosage because he or she misreads the medication label or misreads another doctor’s prescription notes.  

If a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a medical condition or administer the right dosage of medication, he or she can be held legally responsible for related-injuries. If you would like to learn more about medical malpractice in Long Island, call Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900.