Injuries Caused by Doctor Errors

Doctor errors have been the direct cause of a grave number of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the U.S. Although we all must place our health in the hands of doctors at some point in our lives, we expect that the doctors who treat us will be competent and well-trained. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and individuals and families who are harmed by a doctor’s error in the Louisville, Kentucky area can get answers to their legal questions from the law office of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC.

Thousands of Doctor Errors Each Year

A study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences indicated that up to 100,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to medical mistakes. Doctor errors account for a major portion of these mistakes (other healthcare personnel such as nurses, midwives, laboratories and paramedics account for the rest).

Many Types of Doctor Mistakes

The most common types of doctor errors include:

• Diagnosing a medical condition that does not exist, and treating it
• Failing to diagnose/identify a medical condition
• Interpreting a medical image (e.g., MRI, X-ray, CAT scan) incorrectly
• Making mistakes during surgery
• Operating on the wrong organ, body part, or patient
• Performing unnecessary surgery (e.g., a Cesarean section, hysterectomy)

A Survey of Physician Errors

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services surveyed a large number of doctors and reported in early 2008 that 56% of those surveyed admitted that they had been involved in the making of a serious medical mistake. Nearly three-quarters of the doctors reported that they were involved in a “minor” error.

Doctor errors can result in immediate adverse medical events, or illnesses/injuries that do not manifest themselves for days, weeks or years. Additionally, the consequences of a doctor’s errors are not always treatable; in some cases, doctor’s errors have permanent and life-altering effects.

Talk to a Kentucky Medical Malpractice Attorney

If a doctor’s error has impacted you or your family member, contact a Kentucky doctor error lawyer at the Louisville offices of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC. He has obtained significant settlements and jury verdicts for clients who have been the victim of medical malpractice in Kentucky.