Maine Social Security Lawyer Joe Bornstein Comments On Maine Hospital Accident Statistics
Portland, ME (PRWEB) September 04, 2013 -- Maine Social Security attorney Joe Bornstein said today that recently released hospital accident statistics reveal a disturbing trend in hospitals across the state.
According to Maine’s sentinel event reporting program, 146 “sentinel events,” classified as preventable errors and injuries in state hospitals, were reported in 2012. Unanticipated deaths were reported in 36 cases (27%), injuries from falls were reported in 26 cases (20%) and unanticipated transfers were reported at 24 (18%).
“Over the past several years, we’ve seen sentinel event statistics on the rise in Portland and across Maine,” said Bornstein, whose firm represents Mainers in disability hearings and also handles medical malpractice cases. “These statistics are an invaluable resource in combating medical malpractice. We hope they can be used to spur positive changes in hospitals across Maine.”
The report indicates that since 2009, reported instances of sentinel events in Maine have nearly doubled, not including new reporting requirements implemented in 2010 to include injuries from falls, pressure ulcers, and retained foreign objects.
In addition, the report claims that in 2012, there were 2 occasions in which patients had an incorrect body part operated on, 3 instances of assault in Maine hospitals, 14 cases where surgical objects were left inside a patient’s body. Nearly three-quarters of these cases occurred in Maine general hospitals, according to the report, with another 20% being reported in critical access hospitals.
“The Maine Sentinel Events report indicates that many serious and ultimately preventable errors are happening in Maine hospitals each year. While the report sheds light onto the types of accidents that are occurring in hospitals, it’s essential that these hospitals and all medical professionals take every necessary precaution to prevent further errors from happening,” said Bornstein, a medical negligence lawyer in Maine. “Not only do medical errors cause serious injuries or cost lives. These errors could have serious legal consequences and be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit in Maine. Attorneys can help victims get the compensation and closure they need. A lawsuit also can send a strong message that hospital negligence will not be tolerated in Maine.”
About the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein
Established in 1974, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has helped more than 19,000 Mainers collect more than $200 million in settlements and benefits. This full-service, personal injury law firm has six wheelchair-accessible offices in Maine: Portland, Bangor, Augusta, Biddeford, Lewiston and Sanford. The firm’s areas of practice include Social Security disability insurance and Supplemental Security income cases, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death and dangerous drugs. The attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. As a result, clients only pay for services if they win.
The main office for the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is located at 5 Moulton St., Portland, ME 04101. To schedule a free case evaluation or for more information, call (877) 294-6813 or visit http://www.joebornstein.com/
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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