Hospital Negligence and Iatrogenic Death

An “iatrogenic death” is a death caused by physician negligence arising due to improper medical treatment and/or diagnostic procedures.  This kind of death often happens inside a hospital involving some kind of an “in-patient” situation and an act of medical malpractice or negligence on the part of a treating and/or attending physician.  Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) claims the over 230,000 deaths happen each year in hospitals as the result of poor or improper medical and surgical care by physicians making doctors the third leading cause of death in the United States. 

Hospital Negligence Resulting in Death

A hospital visit could cost you your life.   The Journal of the American Medical Association reports studies showing 2,000 deaths occur due to unnecessary surgery, 7,000 deaths are due to medication errors in hospital, 20,000 deaths are due to general hospital error, 80,000 deaths are due to hospital induced infections and 106,000 deaths are due to in-patient adverse drug reactions.  Where common hospital negligence and caregiver malpractice results in a needless death of a loved one bereaved families often decide to file an action for wrongful death due to medical malpractice against the hospital and the healthcare providers responsible.   

Filing an Action for Malpractice

A family that has suffered a wrongful death of a loved one due to an instance of hospital negligence will often retain an attorney to file a medical malpractice action against the responsible hospital and healthcare providers.  A malpractice action usually centers on an act of professional or medical negligence which results in an injury to the hospital patient.   Medical negligence is evidenced by showing that the medical professional deviated from the acceptable standard of care generally expected from competent medical providers engaging in similar medical procedures and patient care.   Hospitals can be held liable for medical malpractice when their employees and staff provide medical treatment and care falling below the standard of care acceptably provided by competent hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.    

Getting Legal Help

If you believe that you or someone you love has suffered a wrongful death or an iatrogenic injury due to the mistakes or improper actions of a physician while a hospital patient it may be important to discuss the circumstances of the injury with a qualified medical malpractice physician in order to best protect and preserve the injured patient’s legal rights and interests.