GOSHEN, IND (November 23, 2019) – This week a Goshen, Indiana hospital revealed to a total of 1,182 surgical patients that they were potentially exposed to serious infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and HIV.
722,000 people develop infections during a hospital stay; 75,000 die as a result.Goshen Hospital patients who had surgery between April 1 and Sept 30, 2019 were sent a letter explaining they were exposed due to an internal sterilization issue. One of Goshen Hospital’s seven surgical instrument sterilization technicians failed to complete one of the necessary steps in the hospital’s multi-step sterilization process with certain surgical instruments.
In a letter to patients, the hospital urged those exposed to take part in free lab testing, and also assured patients that treatment options are available for any who did get an infection.
How common are hospital medical errors?
Hospital medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. That’s 700 people per day. What’s more, every year an estimated 722,000 people in the U.S. develop infections during a hospital stay, and about 75,000 die, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Whether a death is due to a patient being given the wrong drug or developing an infection because a doctor failed to wash his or her hands, many are preventable.
When to Contact an Attorney
Many victims of hospital medical errors have a lengthy and painful road to recovery. On top of that, they have overwhelming medical expenses, frustrating insurance claims, loss of wages, and permanent or serious injuries. If you’ve been injured due to a hospital medical error, there are various laws that can help you or a deceased victim’s family receive compensation. Please contact Palermo Law Group at (630) 684-2332 for a free consultation with nationally recognized personal injury lawyer, Mario Palermo, regarding the best approach to obtaining compensation for your suffering.