D. Michael Kelly Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Medical malpractice may never be a problem for most South Carolina residents.  Fortunately, the majority of medical professionals are diligent in their duties.  However, there are some procedures that are more prone to poor medical performance and may result in needing a malpr actice lawyer in South Carolina.  According to the National Practitioner Data Bank’s 2006 Annual Report, who gathers and provides statistical data on medical malpractice and subsequent payments:

78.8% of malpractice payment reports gathered by the data bank included physicians and surgeons.

Out of 299,423 of the medical malpractice reports that were received, 69.2% were for malpractice payments.

Of the 69.2% of medical malpractice payments, 79% of those reports were for physicians.

The study also indicates that “physicians have more reports per practitioner than any other practitioner group.”  These numbers reflect the fact that malpractice is an ongoing issue in the medical field.  It also supports the need for medical malpractice laws in South Carolina and across the nation.

The state of South Carolina medical malpractice laws cover acts of negligence on the part of a medical professional that result in provable injury or damage to a patient’s life or limb. While this encompasses unnecessary or excessive prescriptions, hospital errors, and confidentiality breaches; the most alarming instances of malpractice occur in outpatient settings and misdiagnosis—one-third of all cases.  According to the World Health Organization, “45% - 76% of all errors were preventable.” 

The reasons behind medical errors are often likened to those outside the field of medicine.  A doctor may be tired, overworked, or even under-qualified for a given procedure.  While these are natural and common human limitations, it is the responsibility of both physicians and hospitals to ensure that doctors and nurses in such condition are not involved in medical procedures. 

As mentioned, malpractice may include diagnosis errors, treatment errors, but the more risky procedures that may lead to medical malpractice include the following:

• Plastic surgery
• Surgical procedures that employ laser technology
• Heart surgery
• Childbirth
• Transplants

An important item to remember is that a routine procedure is not necessarily a safe one.  The chances of negligence can actually increase if a professional treats common procedures carelessly due to familiarity. 

Any medical malpractice lawyers in South Carolina will have a thorough understanding of the laws that protect patients from such negligence and harm.  If you believe yourself or a loved one to be a malpractice victim, contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible to review your options.

The Mike Kelly Law Group is an aggressive and dedicated firm that seeks to help medical malpractice victims procure the compensation they need to get their lives back in order.  To determine the eligibility of your case, call The Mike Kelly Law Group at 866.959.4341 today.