Shining more light on medical negligence
A spinal injury is not something that can be taken lightly. It affects mobility, independence and the course of a person’s life.
This letter is not written to provoke fear, but to encourage awareness and to hold medical professionals accountable. Medical negligence can take many forms. In our case, it was a failure of communication and misreading X-rays.
In Hamilton County, we are fortunate to have many skilled and compassionate health care professionals. Even in strong systems, gaps can exist.
A 2016 study estimated medical errors were the third leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer. The study suggested around 250,000 people die annually due to medical errors in the U.S., including medical malpractice, incorrect diagnosis, surgical errors and medication issues.