A patient will understandably be anxious about an upcoming surgery. The risks while undergoing a major procedure are worrying, to say the least.
But would you be just as worried about a routine trip to the gynecologist, or an outpatient procedure?
According to a recent study, you should be. Findings in the latest issue of Journal of the American Medical Association strongly suggest that medical malpractice claims are filed just as often in outpatient or ambulatory care settings as they are in surgical ones-and it’s a cause for concern.
The authors indicate that top three areas of clinical medicine with the highest risk of malpractice in Virginia are:
- Obstetrics / Gynecology
- Anesthesia
- Outpatient surgery
As experienced Fairfax medical malpractice lawyers, we know that clinic malpractice can cause just as much injury as inpatient mistakes. The authors recognize this as well, adding that clinic malpractice has additional drawbacks: large indemnity payments, high-profile legal cases, and negative media attention for the institution responsible.
Since many people-patients and doctors alike-assume clinics to be naturally less of a health risk that inpatient settings, there is much less care taken to prevent mistakes. A lack of risk management training and fail-safe checks add to the rising number of medical malpractice cases in ambulatory care.
If you have suffered an injury at the hands of a doctor or caregiver, call Shevlin Smith today at 703-721-4233 to start your free consultation.