Throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania, individuals injured while in the care of medical professionals seek compensation for their injuries. These medical malpractice lawsuits can be filed as a result of a variety of injuries sustained many different ways. Some common injury types that lead to such lawsuits are birth injuries, surgical injuries, medication errors and injuries that are due to a failure of the medical professional to properly diagnose a condition.
Though medical malpractice lawsuits can be brought in all states, each has its own climate regarding the outcomes with some routinely paying out very little and others awarding more generous compensation.
Diederich Healthcare recently analyzed the medical malpractice payouts that were made nationally in 2011. Its analysis uncovered the top six states with highest payouts. In total, they made up 51.4 percent of the total amount paid out throughout the nation.
Residents in Pennsylvania will likely be relieved to know that among those six states, it ranks second. In 2011, it paid out a total of $319,710,250 to injured individuals. The state that ranked lowest in the analysis recorded a total of $3,033,750 for the year.
According to the information provided by Diederich Healthcare, the dollar amount paid out in medical malpractice cases was highest in 2003. Since then, the amount has been on the decline. Between 2011 and 2010, the amount dropped by only .24 percent.
Other information regarding the medical malpractice lawsuits filed in 2011 was also uncovered. In 2011, women patients received more medical malpractice payouts than men. Of the total amount, they received 58 percent.
Regardless of one's age or gender, if injured as a patient due to the negligence of a health care provider in Pennsylvania, it is important to know that filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent entity may be an option worth exploring.
Source: Becker's ASC Review, "Top 6 States With Highest Medical Malpractice Payouts," Molly Gamble, April 5, 2012