New Jersey (NewYorkInjuryNews.com – News Report) – Recent reports indicate that many hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are underreporting medical mistakes, if at all. Although there are strict laws in place in both states which require the hospitals to report major medical errors and other unexpected complications to stage agencies, they seem to be failing to do so. In Pennsylvania, the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Abington Memorial Hospital have both been found guilty of major slip-ups. From leaving surgical equipment inside two patients to patients developing open bed sores after being left lying on a bedpan for several hours, they have violated state law, no further questions. There were even reports from various other Pennsylvania hospitals that deliberately testified to having no serious events and no near misses that could have hurt patients. How can that be? They were so careful that not one mistake ever occurred? That seems hard to believe. Additionally, since 2003, the health department has found four Pennsylvania hospitals to be in violation for failing to report serious medical errors but as of late, none of these hospitals has been fined.
Hospitals in New Jersey are guilty of underreporting as well. Last year, 5 out of the 80 New Jersey hospitals neglected to report a single preventable medical error to state agencies. Experts state that “on average, there will be 100 patient medical charts that document about 40 instances of patient harm.” So where are they? Patients are left thinking that the hospital is doing well, when in actuality that is false. Usually, they do not hear about huge medical mistakes until the media covers it.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are now, more than ever, becoming the only way to reconcile damages and errors caused in hospital rooms. These hospitals must stop covering up their mistakes and ensure greater care and attention to detail is followed. State agencies and local officials also must guarantee that there are consequences that will be enforced for violations and underreporting.
By: NewyorkinjuryNews.com – By Medical malpractice lawyers New York City
