Connecticut Medical Malpractice: Hospital Errors On The Rise; Up 7%

The Connecticut Department of Public Health presented its annual report to the General Assembly with some discouraging news: adverse events in Connecticut hospitals are up 7% from 2017 to 2018. The report, which is mandated by law, publicizes that there were 376 adverse events in 2018.

What is an adverse event? It is when a patient receives medical care, treatment, or medication where the patient is harmed. In some cases these adverse events may be considered medical malpractice.

The DPH report publicizes the following adverse events that might be considered medical malpractice:

• 11 occurrences of surgery at the wrong site
• 7 instances of the wrong surgery performed on the patient

• 28 instances when a foreign object was left inside the patient’s body
• 3 occurrences where the patient suffered a medication error (wrong drug, dose, patient, time, rate, preparation, or route of administration)
• 106 instances where the patient fell after being admitted to a healthcare facility
• 194 occurences of stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers (bedsores) after admission to a healthcare facility

If you or a loved one was seriously injured, contact our office immediately. The statute of limitations on cases like these is just two years in most cases, however there can be exceptions. Bob Messey, MD, JD and Gayle Sullivan, RN, JD will begin an immediate investigation into your case.