As recently reported in an a New England Journal of Medicine article by Dr. Thomas Gallagher of the University of Washington School of Medicine, a survey of doctors revealed that more than half of doctors surveyed had identified at least one medical error by a colleague in the last year.  While the survey itself did not specifically address this, Gallagher and his team suggest that these errors go undisclosed, far too often, because doctors are unwilling or uncomfortable reporting on their peers.  Preventable medical errors seriously injure and kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.  The NEJM report recommends that a doctor who discovers an error should discuss it with the doctor who made the error and then, ultimately, inform the patient.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical error, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Stark & Stark for a consultation.