A recent study found that the number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed over the last year has increased substantially. Observers believe that the surge is due to the strain COVID-19 has placed on the United States’ medical system, including hospitals and doctors offices. Medical providers have been pushed to the limit, with hospitals often being understaffed, staff members being overworked, and limited supplies. These issues have led to an increase in general negligence and malpractice.
The most common types of cases involve the failure to diagnose/missed diagnoses, which in some cases may be due to doctors being overworked and rushing through appointments. Other issues involve careless and/or reckless conduct such as prescription and medication errors, preventable medical errors such as wrong-site surgeries, and other negligent conduct that arises from over-work. Further, in order to address understaffing concerns, many hospitals and clinics hired staff that was under-qualified or from out-of-state and unfamiliar with hospital/clinic-specific protocols.
While medical providers often performed heroically under an enormous amount of pressure and stress during the pandemic, individuals and families affected by medical malpractice and negligence increased. If you or a loved one was harmed due to medical negligence, it is imperative to contact an experienced California medical malpractice at once. A skilled Los Angeles medical negligence lawyer can begin an investigation into the care you or a family member received and determine the next steps. For more information, please contact the experienced California medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson LLP for an immediate consultation.
