Medical malpractice occurs more often than you realize. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States and kills more people than any other cause of death, excluding cancer and heart disease. Roughly 250,000 people lose their lives each year due to a doctor’s or hospital’s negligence. Typically, this happens in numerous ways, including wrong-site surgery and misdiagnosis.
According to reports, hundreds of thousands of people die every year due to preventable medical errors. Medical institutions have to implement safety protocols to reduce the number of medical errors. Safety measures are only effective when facilities use them consistently. Unfortunately, New York City’s medical mistakes are on the rise.
A hospital or doctor visit is for patients to get healthy and not incur more injuries. As many continue to battle Covid-19, hospital safety and health policies are more vital than ever. The list below shows New York City’s hospitals from best to worst.
Brooklyn Hospitals
- NYU Langone Hospital- Brooklyn
- The Brooklyn Hospital Center
- Coney Island Hospital
- Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center University Hospital of Brooklyn
- NYC Health and Hospitals Kings County
- Interfaith Medical Center
- NYC Health and Hospitals Woodhull
- Mount Sinai Brooklyn
- Maimonides Medical Center
- Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
- New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
- Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
- New York Community Hospital
Bronx Hospitals
- NYC Health and Hospitals—Lincoln
- BronxCare Health System
- Barnabas Hospital
- NYC Health + Hospitals—North Central Bronx
- Montefiore Moses Campus
- Montefiore Wakefield Campus
- NYC Health and Hospitals
- Montefiore Einstein Campus
Manhattan Hospitals
- NYU Langone Hospital
- Mount Sinai Morningside
- Mount Sinai West
- NYC Health + Hospitals—Metropolitan
- The Mount Sinai Hospital
- New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center
- NYC Health and Hospitals- Lincoln
NYC Health
- + Hospitals—Harlem
- New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
- Lenox Hill Hospital
- New York-Presbyterian, Lower Manhattan Hospital
- NYC Health + Hospitals—Bellevue
- Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Queens Hospitals
- NYC Health and Hospitals Queens
- Mount Sinai Queens
- Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital
- New York-Presbyterian Queens
- Flushing Hospital Medical Center
- John’s Episcopal Hospital
- NYC Health and Hospitals Elmhurst
Staten Island Hospitals
- Richmond University Medical Center
- Staten Island University Hospital
The list above mentions all 45 hospitals with ratings from best to worst. The hospital’s ability to keep patients safe is the leading determinant for a positive or negative score. Other categories under review include infections, problems with surgery, practices to prevent errors, safety problems, and doctor, nurse, and hospital staff.
With the ongoing pandemic, hospitals are overhauling safety practices, though. Hand washing, sanitizing, patient monitoring, PPE, or personal protective equipment, is now crucial in preventing widespread outbreaks. The most affected areas are reporting periods, scoring for computerized physician order entry, scoring and publishing reporting for hand hygiene, and reducing sample sizes.
What Criteria Cause Poor Ratings?
Those hospitals with poor ratings are struggling for a variety of reasons. The most profound concern falls on infections, problems with surgery, practices to prevent errors, safety problems, and staffing. There are high bacterial infections, infections in the blood, and infections near surgical sites. There are deaths from treatable complications, dangerous blood clots, and accidental cuts or tears with surgeries.
The practices to prevent errors involve unsafe medical administration, ineffective communication about medicines, and even a lack of communication about patient discharge. Safety problems have high rates of patient falls and injuries and dangerous bedsores. Finally, staffing includes poor communication with doctors and nurses, poor responsiveness from staff, and ineffective leadership.
Alternatively, safer hospitals have a better reputation for good communication and enforcing infection preventative strategies. The best hospitals pay attention to patient safety and survival. Medical professionals revisit policies and address every mistake with great care.
What makes medical malpractice so devastating for victims is that the mistakes are most of the time preventable. Below we explore the most common questions about medical malpractice.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
You might be wondering what precisely medical malpractice is? It happens when a patient sustains injuries due to a doctor’s or hospital’s negligence. In most cases, patients suffer damages as a result. However, there are other ways in which healthcare professionals are accountable for an injury. For example, you can file a claim against a dentist, pharmacist, or even chiropractor if they fail to adhere to the appropriate standards of care you have the right to receive.
Can I Still File a Claim if I Don’t Suffer Any Injuries?
To have a medical malpractice case, the patient must incur damages due to the injury. This holds even if the doctor’s negligence is the reason for the patient’s injury. When damages are not present, the patient does not have a medical malpractice claim. It remains vital to discuss a medical malpractice claim with the right attorney.
Is There a Limit for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Yes. There are strict time limits for filing a medical malpractice claim. You want to avoid delays as much as possible during this process. If you miss the deadline for filing your claim, you are only hurting your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries.
What Compensation Can I Receive in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
The amount of damages you can receive depends on the facts of the case. Medical malpractice attorneys are available to help you determine the types of damages you are likely to receive compensation for.
In many cases, victims can obtain compensation for the following losses:
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Past and future medical expenses
- Expenses for a home health aide or nurse
- Loss of wages
- Emotional distress
- Loss of earning potential
- Loss of companionship
What About Defective Medical Devices? Is that a part of Medical Malpractice?
Patients who sustain injuries during surgery or another procedure because of defective medical equipment may not always be due to medical malpractice. Sometimes a case may fall under a product liability case.
With that said, though, medical malpractice can happen in any medical setting. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care centers, or anywhere a health care professional tends to patients.
The most common examples of medical malpractice are:
- Surgical mistakes
- Wrong-site surgery
- Birth injuries
- Anesthesia mistakes
- Brain injuries
- Medication errors
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed diagnosis
- Failure to gather patient history
Is There a Way I Can Reduce the Risk of Medical Malpractice?
Patients can protect themselves by making sure they are strong advocates for their rights. Often, people condition themselves to follow a doctor’s orders without giving it any thought. Patients need to remember that doctors are human, and they, just like everyone else, make mistakes.
#1. Ask the Doctor to Explain Everything
The best way patients can stay safe is to ask questions and ask their doctor to explain anything they don't understand. It is wise to take the time to understand the treatment thoroughly. One way to look at it is if the doctor gives you new prescription medication, read all of the information the pharmacy offers you. Again, ask questions if you have any concerns about drug interactions or other issues.
#2. Refuse Subpar Medical Care
There is no obligation for a patient to accept sub-par medical care. Unfortunately, not all New Yorkers have a personal advocate to point out negligence when it develops.
However, patients can be their advocates and reduce their risk of preventable medical errors. Voicing concerns and learning to recognize the most common hospital errors can help spot mistakes before they cause harm. Consumer reports mention that the five most common hospital errors involve falls, bed rest, chaotic discharge, antibiotic misuse, and medication mistakes.
#3. Ask the Hospital to Assess Your Fall Risk
Hospitals don’t always take preventative measures to help patients avoid tripping hazards in falling. As a patient, you want to ensure that the hospital assesses your fall risk from admission. Inform them if you fall frequently or wherever you need assistance. A patient can develop sores or secondary health conditions with too much bed rest. Staying in bed too long increases your chances of being susceptible to bedsores.
#4. Request Physical Therapy if You Feel Weak
Patients should ask a nurse to help them move around in bed or get up and go for a walk whenever possible. If the patient feels too weak, then requesting physical therapy sessions is a good idea to increase strength. It is advisable to meet with a discharge planner at least one day before the discharge to review a plan for aftercare and ask questions about anything that may be confusing. Chaotic discharge is present in one out of five patients. They return to the hospital in 30 days because of the release.
#5. Make Sure Your Medication is Correct
Too many antibiotics can lead to infections that are difficult to treat and cause other problems. Patients need to know why their doctor is prescribing an antibiotic and the risks they present to their health. Lastly, medication mistakes are often fatal. Patients should educate themselves on all medications they are taking—the dose, frequency, side effects, and what it is treating.
What if a hospital causes injury?
While it isn’t ideal, sometimes hospitals are responsible for a patient’s injury. In other circumstances, the doctor causes the damage. From another perspective, sometimes it can be multiple parties that play a role in the patient’s injury. It helps to discuss your claim with a professional injury attorney. They can review all the facts of your case and then help you determine which parties are accountable.
Can I settle a case?
There are times when a doctor or hospital agrees to a settlement without going to court. The decision to settle is most effective with the help of a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer weighs the pros and cons of paying versus pursuing your claim in court.
When or if You Should Get a Lawyer
Since medical malpractice claims are the most complex of any legal case, you need the help of a highly qualified attorney in the field. It is crucial to work with a lawyer who has a lot of experience with medical malpractice. If you sustain injuries due to a doctor or other health care professional’s negligence, talk to a New York City medical malpractice lawyer today.
The Takeaway
Now, we don’t always have a say in where we receive medical care. Emergencies dictate that patients go to the closest hospital. However, making the right decision is essential whenever the choice is there. Like retailers and quality customer service, clean facilities, and sound policies, you should strive to frequent medical practices that do everything possible for the best results.
Don’t let yourself be a victim of medical malpractice in New York City without fair compensation. You must contact an attorney immediately.
Call a Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
Contact a medical malpractice attorney for a free consultation. Again, there is a strict period for you to file a claim. In certain situations when you intend to bring action against a municipality, you may only have 90 days to file a claim before the action begins.
Suppose you are currently experiencing a wrongful death, failure to diagnose cancer, nursing home accidents, medication errors, negligent surgery, negligent chemotherapy, inability to inform risks of surgery, or anything else that raises concern. In that case, you have nothing to lose by contacting an attorney.
New York ranks number one with the highest medical malpractice claim payouts with over $500 million. Having the right team on your side is extremely valuable.
Attorneys can investigate the conditions above leading up to your injury, use medical experts to gather and review records surrounding the injury, and accurately evaluate the expense damages while pursuing the maximum compensation for the victim.
Hospital negligence attorneys, especially, use a process with a history of success when it comes to handling hospital medical malpractice.
A trusted team of medical experts assists in collecting and reviewing medical data as well as other evidence. All the information from the experts will then determine how much of a role the hospital is to blame for the patient’s injuries.
If the case goes to trial, the medical malpractice attorney testifies on their client’s behalf to prove the hospital or medical practice is negligent. When evidence suggests that the client has a valid claim, the attorney will file a lawsuit to recuperate damages. This process is responsible for multi-million dollar recoveries. You want a trusted lawyer on your side, so don’t wait; act now.
