Medical Malpractice Article: "Not Worth the Pain and Suffering" - a Surprise from the Business Community?

A recent Forbes article about medical malpractice lawsuits caught me by surprise. The article is at http://www.forbes.com/business/forbes/2008/0915/034.html and makes a compelling argument against “tort reform.” Specifically, “reform” that limits the amount of money plaintiffs in medical malpractice claims (including, arguably, nursing home abuse and negligence claims). Although North Carolina has not been affected by caps on “non-economic” damages, the threat looms. Coming from a business magazine like Forbes should be encouraging to those who care about the realities involved in cases of medical negligence/mistakes against hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers. The reality is that there are many cases where legal action for injury or wrongful death resulting from negligent healthcare is more than justified; and necessary in order to help encourage real “reform” (reform in industries where injuries and death are too commonplace due to negligence, carelessness and indifference). There are many great hospitals, doctors and other healthcare providers out there. But there are some who are incompetent and dangerous. The government has neither the will nor the resources to combat/police the bad and dangerous ones; and civil litigation has been, and will likely continue to be, one of the most effective ways to fight the problems that underlie many medical malpractice lawsuits. Often in these cases, the medical mistake at issue was entirely preventable; but because of “forces” in the industry (money/insurance pressures, e.g.) no solution was ever seriously considered, and certainly not implemented.

For more information on nursing home injury, abuse, neglect and wrongful death, visit http://www.forbes.com/business/forbes/2008/0915/034.html.  More information about medical mistakes, negligence, and errors, see http://www.pleasantlaw.com/practice_areas/medical-negligence-mistakes-and-malpractice.cfm.

If you have a possible claim against a nursing home, doctor, nurse, hospital or other healthcare provider for a medical mistake, error or medical malpractice – anywhere in North Carolina – contact my office for a free consultation.  We can arrange to meet you anywhere in North Carolina, including our Raleigh, Fayetteville and Wilmington locations. I can help you determine whether your claim is valid and worth pursuing.