Hospital Errors still a Problem in the United States

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine reported that hospital errors cause up to 98,000 deaths and over 1 million injuries a year in the United States.

Just 12 years later, a new study, published in the April 2011 issue of Health Affairs magazine, reported that hospital errors are ten times greater than what was previously reported. Hospital errors included medication errors, failure to correctly diagnose or treat patients, and mistakes during surgery.

If a loved one has died or if you are suffering from the consequences of medical malpractice, it is important to call The Thurswell Law Firm at once.

Call toll-free 1.866.354.5544 for a free consultation. No recovery, no fee.

Michigan's New Law that Protects Doctors

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently passed a new bill that protects doctors if they express any kind of sympathy to their patient or patient’s family. The first section of Senate Bill 0053 says:

A statement, writing, or action that expresses sympathy, compassion, commiseration, or a general sense of benevolence relating to the pain, suffering, or death of an individual and that is made to that individual or to the individual’s family is inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability in an action for medical malpractice.

What this section is saying is if a doctor, either verbally or in writing, says that they are sorry for any pain, injuries or death caused to the patient, that statement cannot be used against them in a medical malpractice case.

This new law does not protect doctors who admit fault after they express their sympathy. Section two of the bill says:

This section does not apply to a statement of fault, negligence, or culpable conduct that is part of or made in addition to a statement, writing, or action described in subsection (1).

If your or a loved one are suffering injuries that were caused by a negligent doctor, call the Michigan Medical Malpractice Attorneys of The Thurswell Law Firm immediately. There are no attorney fees unless we collect money for you. Call us toll-free 1.866.354.5544 today.

The Unnatural Causes of Michigan Birth Injuries

When the joyous occasion of welcoming a new child into the family is interrupted by the harsh reality of a Michigan birth injury, many questions immediately arise, including:

1. How did this happen?
2. Is there something wrong with my child?
3. Who caused the injury?
4. Could it have been prevented?
5. What do I do now?

Doctors or nurses who take the wrong action, or no action at all, can cause serious injuries that have long-term implications for your family.

Some of the most common medical causes of Michigan birth injuries include:

• Failure to timely perform a C-section;
• Failure to prevent premature birth;
• Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors.

If your family has been victimized by one of these mistakes, and you believe that the injury to your child was caused or could have been prevented by a doctor or nurse, then you need to call a Michigan birth injury attorney as soon as possible.

Call the Michigan birth injury lawyers of The Thurswell Law Firm who, since 1968, have obtained millions of dollars for children who were the victims of medical malpractice. Call today at (866) 354-5544 to learn more about your legal rights. You can schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys to gain valuable information about your case.

The Scary Results of Michigan Wrong Side Surgery

As hard as it is to believe, some surgeries are performed on the wrong side of the patient's body. These mistakes, clear instances of Michigan medical malpractice, can lead to serious injuries and even loss of life.

Michigan wrong side surgery occurs as the result of the negligence of the doctors and nurses in charge of the procedure. These can include: 

• Misunderstanding a patient's symptoms;
• Mislabeling surgery diagrams;
• Confusion in the operating room;
• Lack of attention/focus.

Michigan wrong side surgery can lead to serious complications. Not only is the original problem that required surgery not fixed, but it creates more problems to deal with as well. Extra surgery to reverse the original procedure, as well as perform the intended one, is likely required.

The costs of these additional procedures can add up quickly. If you are the victim of this negligence, you may face: 

• Thousands of dollars in medical bills
• Extra recovery time and physical therapy
• Permanent scarring and damage
• Extended absence from work
• Added pain and emotional suffering

Because wrong side surgery is almost always the responsibility of negligent medical professionals, you likely have the legal right to earn compensation for costs related to the incident. Contact a Michigan medical malpractice lawyer for more information.

Call the Michigan medical malpractice attorneys of the Thurswell Law Firm today at (866) 354-5544 to schedule a free consultation about the details of your case.