One of the many variables involved with those Americans who have Medicare is that it allows for statistics to be kept and for studies to be done.  The Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, is one government entity that performs regular studies regarding Medicare patients, and the agency has recently released a study regarding the overall quality of care that's provided for those who use this program.  In short, the numbers were shockingly negative.

Generally, the study focused on the procedures that surrounded the administering of medical care, the quality of the care provided and the overall results obtained by those patients who needed medical care at hospitals for reasons that ranged from minor checkups and evaluations to surgeries.  The study was done in an attempt to quantify the level of medical care that's provided to people who use hospitals across the United States.

Medical Malpractice Statistics Found in HHS Study

The numbers presented by the HHS were not positive.  To wit:

• One of every seven Medicare beneficiaries who were hospitalized experienced at least one adverse event
• These adverse events added $4.4 billion in overall health care costs provided to these patients
• These adverse events contributed to the deaths of approximately 180,000 people per year
• Almost half of these adverse events were deemed preventable

Clearly, these were not positive findings.

New York Medical Malpractice Lawyers

While these risks and the percentages attached to them seem far too high, fortunately there are options available to those who have been harmed in a medical setting.  People who have suffered because of a mistake made in the course of medical care have the right to bring a New York medical malpractice lawsuit against those responsible for the harm that was done.  If these lawsuits are successful, plaintiffs can recover damages that compensate them for their medical costs, lost income and their pain and suffering.

If you or someone you love has been harmed while obtaining medical care, you need to seek the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers who have been holding those responsible for this type of harm accountable for nearly 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.