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Medical Mistakes - Is Voluntary Reporting Working in Florida?

Experts estimate that in the United States as many as 98,000 people die from preventable medical errors each year. This number is just an estimate as there are no definitive figures. 

Why do we not know precisely how many people die from medical mistakes in this country? Good question, as there are laws on the books which require the reporting of medical mistakes to the state agencies that regulate medicine. However, most medical facilities do not comply with the reporting requirement and there is no punishment for failing to report.

In Florida, the Florida Administrative Code, 59A-12.012, requires that within 15 days of an accident causing severe injury or death the medical facility is required to report the incident to the state.

Some large hospitals in Miami have not made such a report in many years. Does that mean that there are no mistakes made at this large medical facility? No.

A voluntary reporting system is dangerous and makes a mockery of our health care system. The medical community claims that voluntary reporting encourages reporting. This has not happened.

As a medical malpractice attorney, I work hard for our clients on medical malpractice cases to do all we can to hold medical practioners accountable for their errors.  

  Steve Rothenburg is a medical malpractice lawyer that is "Of Counsel" to the Law Firm of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates.  Based on his 20 years of experience;  He strongly believes that public education is of the utmost importance in the prevention of medical malpractice or medical errors.   

Attorney Rothenburg can be contacted at 1 800 373 8000, if you think you may have been a victim of a
medical malpractice case in North or Central Florida including: Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia,  and Sumter.

For more information on how he can be of help to you, or with any other question you may have,
feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: errors florida medical malpractice voluntary reporting