July Is Medical Malpractice Awareness Month July 22, 2019.
Patients rely on their medical care providers to deliver life-saving treatments and preventative care services. Sadly, acts of medical negligence are responsible for over 440,000 fatalities each year, making medical errors the third leading cause of death in the world. Medical malpractice, as a legal term, encompasses any scenario where a medical professional – doctor, nurse, midwife, psychologist, etc. – deviates from the standards of their profession and causes harm to a patient.
Examples of medical malpractice include, but are not limited to:
- Performing surgery on the wrong patient
- Anesthesia injuries
- Pharmaceutical errors
- Misdiagnosing a patient
- Failing to treat a condition
- Performing surgery on the wrong body part
- Misusing equipment or surgical instruments
- Using defective or faulty equipment
The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association
In 2013, a special group of medical malpractice survivors banded together to create the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA), the first non-partisan civil rights organization focused on medical malpractice in the United States. The incredible mission statement of this group is as follows: "Through education, awareness, and advocacy, the mission of the NMMAA is to improve the quality of healthcare in America for men, women, and children of all ages and from all walks of life."
Each July, the NMMAA seeks to educate and empower American citizens by organizing a global campaign to raise awareness about medical malpractice. The theme for 2019 is to "End the Silence." Medical malpractice affects thousands of patients and families every day. Despite media headlines and scientific studies, most Americans don’t realize just how serious this problem is until a case affects them directly.
Education is a key component in ending the silence surrounding medical malpractice. Sadly, hospitals – especially for-profit facilities – won’t improve their care standards or hiring practices unless victims hold them accountable for acts of medical negligence. For this reason, the NMMAA is asking people to help spread information about medical malpractice and safer health care measures.
The NMMAA also wants this campaign to promote the principles of Hope, Healing, and Honor:
- Hope that all local, state, national, and federal agencies will fight against injustices and disparities in the American health care system.
- Healing the pain of those who have been directly affected by medical negligence by offering direction, assistance, and support services.
- Honor each patient’s right to information; this includes ensuring that every patient is given the crucial and important information they need to make a medical decision.
If you’re interested in observing Medical Malpractice Awareness Month, you can lend your support by sharing personal stories online, planning or participating in community events, spreading information about medical malpractice on social media, or by making a donation to NMMAA.
Schedule a Consultation Today
The Mellino Law Firm has been representing the rights of medical malpractice victims for almost 40 years. As such, our team is well-acquainted with the emotional, physical, financial, and legal challenges associated with this tragic field of law. For this reason and more, we are proud to support the NMMAA and Medical Malpractice Awareness Month. If you require legal representation, please contact our medical malpractice attorneys as soon as possible. We can help you recover life-saving compensation that facilitates your physical and financial recovery.
Contact The Mellino Law Firm at (440) 333-3800 to schedule a free consultation.
