It is an established fact that medical malpractice and medical mistakes in the form of surgical errors, mistakes, drug interactions, and reactions are the third leading cause of death in America after heart disease and cancer.
Adding to what we know about this problem, Consumer Reports has just released a new study on hospital safety and surgical outcomes, and its results are surprising and disturbing. The study authors used recently released federal government data to determine how patients did following surgery in 2,500 hospitals in the 50 states.
Surprisingly the report found that some of the most illustrious hospitals did not do a good job in a number of areas including the area of infection prevention – while other hospitals, some in the busiest and poorest urban centers, scored well in the study.
The report looked particularly at five common procedures largely affecting older Americans: back surgery, hip and knee replacement, angioplasty to clear out clogged arteries of the heart, and carotid artery surgery to unplug the neck artery.
Study author, Lisa McGiffert, said “consumers have very little to go on when trying to select a hospital for surgery, not knowing which ones do a good job at keeping surgery patients safe and which ones don’t. They might as well just throw a scalpel at a dartboard.”
Some really big named hospitals like Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Sibley Memorial Hospital, got the poorest ratings overall. John Hopkins got only an average rating.
The ratings are based on the percentage of a hospital’s surgery patients who died while in the hospital or who endured a longer stay than typical, based on national averages for each procedure considered.
If you are ever the victim of medical malpractice call a qualified Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help to ensure that your rights are protected.
RisCassi & Davis has handled hundreds of medical malpractice cases over our more than 70 years serving the people of Connecticut.
What’s more, our Connecticut medical malpractice lawyers have received local and national recognition for our handling of these cases including:
- Top listings in “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Law Firms”
- Top listing by Martindale-Hubbell as a “New England Top Rated AV Preeminent® Law Firm
- Admission of five of our personal injury lawyers as members in the very prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. The American College is a professional society of Fellows who become members only by invitation, with admission limited to experienced, outstanding trial lawyers who are unquestionably and eminently qualified as actively engaged trial lawyers. Only 1% of all trial lawyers in any state are offered admission as members to the College
- Listing in New England Super Lawyers published by Connecticut Magazine. Less than 5% of attorneys in the New England states receive this honor
- Lifetime Achievement awards from the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the Connecticut Law Tribune
- Board Certification by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
We have a great team dedicated to medical malpractice cases. Our offices are in Hartford but we are available to meet with you in your home or office if that is easier for you. Please contact us if we can help you.
The consultation is free and there is no obligation of any kind.