As Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know having surgery, even a minor procedure, can be one of the most stressful and scary times during recovery from a serious injury.  You put your trust in the hands of your doctor or surgeon to do what is best, what is right and get it done safely the first time.  There are many things that can go wrong during a procedure or operation.  Some are out of a doctor or surgeon’s hands– others are well within their control.

Apparently things aren’t getting any better either.  A recent study done for the journal of Health Affairs claims that if anything, chances of a medical mistake leading to a fatality has actually increased in the past twelve years.  A team of researchers for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, MASS. has been studying what are called, “adverse events”.  These are injuries caused by medical mistake as opposed to the patients current condition.

The group studied the medical records of 795 patients at three different hospitals.  Using a new method called the “Global Trigger Tool”, the team looked for red flags during procedures, indicating something went wrong and found over 300 incidents among the studies patients.  Some doctors feel these numbers are high because the Global Method uses a broader definition of “medical mistake” but others feel it is in fact lower than reality simply because reviewing a report on a procedure is much different than being there first hand to witness.

Our experienced Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys know that people have a hard enough time trusting their doctors and surgeons these days without having to worry about possible medical malpractice.  But it seems like every time you turn around, you hear about a hospital that has not only made a mistake but has done so repeatedly in the past.  The best way to handle your situation is to inform yourself as much as you can.  Ask plenty of questions to all doctors, nurses and surgeons assisting in your procedure.  The more you know, the more you will be able to identify problems after the operation.

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as the direct result of a mistake made during a medical procedure or surgery and you feel the doctor is at fault for your condition, you may have rights the insurance companies aren’t telling you about.  You need someone in your corner you can trust to give it to you straight.  Call our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers.  With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases, we may be able to assist you and your family through this difficult time.

Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to set up a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim.  You can get started today by downloading our free book, “The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice Cases in Kansas and Missouri“.  We want you to know your rights.

Tags: adverse events, experienced kansas city personal injury attorneys, fatal accident, global trigger tool, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, journal of Health Affairs, kansas city medical malpractice lawyers, medical malpractice, medical mistake, medical procedure, serious injury, Susan Dentzer

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