Any number of issues can cause a New Yorker to seek medical attention. Bicycle accidents or injuries sustained on the crowded city streets or simple illnesses can be cause to see a doctor, but some citizens may not realize that there are risks involved with seeing doctors. Medical malpractice can often cause complications that are even less comfortable than the original problem for which the medical attention was sought. While we trust our health care providers to do their job adequately, your doctor may have a bad track record without you even knowing it.
A recent reported discovered that of all the New York doctors who have been sanctioned for negligence, more than 77 percent of them are still practicing. Before you panic, the report concluded that most of the doctors of New York, whose numbers exceed 100,000, have immaculate performance records with no negligence. However, at least 300 doctors have been sanctioned for negligence in the last decade and yet they are still permitted to practice.
The New York Public Interest Research Group is seeking a law that mandates the state inform patients if their doctors have a history of negligence, but at the moment, nobody is looking out for the patients’ well-being in this regard. The best way you can avoid visiting a negligent doctor is by doing a bit of research and finding out if your doctor has a history of negligence.
Of course it can be difficult to find out which doctors have a history of negligence or medical malpractice, and if your medical issue is an emergency, time may not be a luxury that you can afford. If you are or ever become a victim of medical malpractice or negligence, you don’t have to accept the consequences lying down. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and suffering. A New York attorney may be able to assist you in your time of need.
Source: Bizjournals.com, “Report: New York patients deserve to know if a doctor is cited for negligence,” David Robinson, May 20, 2014