Because Your Future Matters

How often are medical mistakes fatal?

On Behalf of | Oct 4, 2022 | Medical Malpractice |

Minor medical mistakes are very common. For instance, maybe your doctor thought that they gave you the painkillers that you needed, but they forgot. You’re uncomfortable, and you have to ask for the painkillers again, but there aren’t long-term ramifications. The mistake is eventually rectified, and you still recover as intended.

That doesn’t mean that it’s not a serious issue. Any time that medical professionals make mistakes and don’t give you the proper standard of care, it can affect your life. But you could be wondering how often these cases are really serious and even fatal. What you find may be surprising.

A quarter of a million cases

According to some sources, there are in excess of 250,000 medical errors every year that lead to fatalities. This is just for the United States. If these reports are true, that means that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death. The only things that are going to cause more fatalities in a standard year – in America, at least – are heart disease and cancer.

For some comparison of just how many fatal mistakes that is, consider the fact that we lose roughly 40,000 individuals every year in fatal car accidents. This has been considered a rising problem, and billions of dollars have been spent on safety technology. But far more people are passing away every year from medical mistakes.

Have you lost a loved one?

If you’ve suffered serious harm from a medical mistake, or if you’ve even lost a loved one due to that mistake, it is important for you to understand all of the legal options you have. You may be able to seek compensation for everything from medical bills to funeral costs to lost wages.