Preventable medical errors are widespread across the United States. Among those fighting to reduce the number of people killed and injured through medical error are the individuals and organizations that form the Patient Safety Action Network (PSAN).
Most medical consumers are unaware of the serious injury and harm caused by preventable medical errors until it happens to them or someone they know. A commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) notes errors made in hospitals are the third leading cause of death in this country. That means that roughly 700 people per day die in American hospitals of medical care that killed, not cured, them.
Medical malpractice is a key focus of our law firm. Our legal team of experienced Baltimore malpractice lawyers has been the voice of those hurt through malpractice for more than 30 years. In the community and in the courtroom, we work to obtain compensation for those who are injured or for the families of those who are deceased as a result.
Composition And Top Priorities For PSAN
Whether personally, or as a family member of someone harmed, PSAN is a group composed of the victims of these preventable injuries. The organization aims to raise awareness of the problem, improve accountability, boost healthcare safety, and create a more transparent healthcare environment.Top priorities for PSAN include targeting widespread medical problems across the United States, some of which include:
- Sepsis: Sepsis can be a deadly condition. Sepsis occurs when the body responds to an infectious agent with a severe and sometimes life-threatening immune response. When hospitalized, patients who are ill or recovering from surgery are more vulnerable to sepsis. Commonly known as “blood poisoning,” sepsis is more likely to occur in a setting where there is easy opportunity to invade the body through surgical wounds, contaminated healthcare devices, and environmental exposure.
- Medication error: Medication mistakes are a common source of injury among hospitalized patients. From doses that are too high, conflict with other medications, side effects about which the patient is not informed, or being given the wrong medication, medication errors can cause serious injury or death.
- Surgical and medical mistake: Medical consumers might be shocked at how commonly serious medical mistakes, or “never events” (events that are never supposed to occur) happen. These types of mistakes include wrong site surgery, operating on the wrong patient, performing the wrong procedure, surgical, anesthesiology, and diagnostic error including failure to diagnose, or wrong diagnosis.
- Use of unsafe medical devices: Improperly sterilized equipment and unsafe devices cause injury and fatalities in hospitals. Oftentimes medical staff do not use devices properly or are untrained.
These are just a few of the priorities of PSAN that are aimed at supporting victims of medical malpractice and improving the overarching healthcare environment for all healthcare consumers.
If you are injured through medical error, it is important to know that you are not alone. Check out resources like PSAN and be sure to speak with a trusted attorney about recovering compensation on your behalf.
Medical Malpractice Law Firm To Help You
Schochor, Staton, Goldberg, and Cardea, P.A. is a leading medical malpractice law firm serving national and local clients in Maryland and Washington, DC. If you or a family member suffers medical negligence, we can help. Contact us today or call 410-234-1000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.