Did you know that medical malpractice fatalities in the U.S. are over 500 times higher than accidental gun deaths? Despite the anti-gun rhetoric in our nation, no one seems to be paying attention to a major problem that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins University analyzed eight years of data – which is equivalent to two presidential terms – to look into the problem of medical malpractice in the United States. Turns out, medical malpractice kills at least 250,000 Americans every year, which is a rather modest figure compared to other studies showing that medical malpractice deaths in the U.S. total more than 400,000 a year.
The problem of medical malpractice deaths in the U.S. is significant
Accidental gun deaths, meanwhile, total around 500 each year, which makes medical malpractice fatalities more than 500 times higher than deaths caused by accidental discharge of guns.
“But what about the number of overall gun fatalities in the U.S.?” you may wonder. Our Hawaii medical malpractice attorney from Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A., says that the total number of gun deaths, including accidental, homicides, and suicides, is around 35,000 a year.
In no way does it mean that the problem of gun deaths in American is insignificant. But it does show how significant the problem of medical malpractice deaths is.
Submitting an inquiry before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Hawaii
But did you know just how difficult it is to obtain compensation after you have been injured or your loved one died as a result of medical malpractice in Hawaii? Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Hawaii, the state’s law requires an injured patient to submit an inquiry to a Medical Inquiry and Conciliation Panel, which will be comprised of an attorney and qualified physician.
In the inquiry, you will have to include the following information:
- Detailed information about your case and all key facts that would help establish liability; and
- The names of all medical professionals you are planning to sue as part of your medical malpractice lawsuit.
In addition to that, you may also be required to pay a $450 fee. However, our experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Hawaii says that the fee may be reduced or even canceled under certain circumstances.
After your inquiry has been submitted to the panel, it will send a letter of notice to all parties named in your inquiry and then set a date for a hearing. During the hearing, the panel will review all facts, evidence, and medical records in your case as well as hear from witnesses. Only after, and if, the panel decides to allow you to proceed with your case, you will be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Hawaii.
Certificate of consultation requirement in Hawaii
The process of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Hawaii is further complicated by the certificate of consultation requirements. The requirement says that any inquiry submitted by a prospective plaintiff in a medical malpractice case must include a certificate of consultation.
“A certificate of consultation is a document in which you, as someone who suffered injuries as a result of medical malpractice, confirm that your condition has been reviewed by at least one qualified physician and that the doctor agreed that there is a ‘reasonable and meritorious’ basis for the lawsuit,” explains our Hawaii medical malpractice attorney at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A. Speak to our lawyers about your case and get a free case evaluation. Call at 808-736-5035.