More than a quarter of a million people in the United States die each year because of medical errors – mistakes related to medical care which cost hundreds of thousands of lives. From side effects of prescription drugs to being prescribed the wrong medication in the first place, to deaths from other errors in hospitals, including unnecessary surgeries resulting in life threatening infections, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer.
With hundreds of thousands of Americans succumbing to iatrogenic (relating to medical care) causes, it is important to hold those responsible accountable. When medical mistakes are made resulting in serious injury or the wrongful death of a family member, legal action is often the only way to attempt to right the wrong and help to prevent another family from experiencing the same dreadful outcome.
When a family member is injured due to medical negligence, medical malpractice damages generally include medical expenses, lost wages, disability and disfigurement, and even punitive damages. In the unfortunate event that a family member dies due to medical malpractice, family members may pursue many of the same damages, and also funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. Maximum compensation for family members is their right and may prevent similar incidences from occurring. It is important to work with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. Contact the Des Moines medical error attorney Marc Humphrey for immediate assistance at 515-331-3510.
