Medical errors kill between 48,000 and 100,000 persons each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. California State Senator Jackie Speir, who sponsored the California legislation requiring hospitals to plan for reduction of medical errors, says that two-thirds of medical errors in hospitals are the result of medication errors. Although the public often assumes that health professionals and healthcare facilities do not make mistakes, the numbers supporting the new legislation in California and elsewhere are sobering. The more common errors? failure to properly diagnose (for example, misdiagnosis of cancer) administering the wrong drug administering the right drug in wrong dosage bad handwriting causing medical errors One of the ways some hospitals are dealing with the long familiar syndrome of bad handwriting on medical records and drug prescriptions is to require medical staff to print, use word processors and avoid abbreviations and symbols. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider - doctor, hospital, HMO, nurse, chiropractor, therapist or other individual or entity licensed to provide medical care or treatment - does something that competent doctors would not have done, or fails to do what a competent doctor would have done, resulting in injury or death. Medical malpractice claims are complex. Claims involve analysis of medical records by lawyers and medical experts who determine the viability of the claim. Because of the significant expense involved in pursuing medical malpractice cases, along with the high degree of complexity and accompanying difficulty in favorably resolving medical malpractice claims, only claims of very serious injuries are typically pursued by experienced malpractice attorneys. If you or a loved one may have been a victim of medical malpractice, you should act promptly to preserve your rights at all states have limited claim periods. Limited time periods exist to pursue malpractice claims. For prompt legal review of your potential claim, complete the Questionnaire. Copyright 2002, DoctorMalpractice.info. All rights reserved. Disclaimer If you have a medical question or concern you should promptly consult a qualified medical professional.