Thousands of Californians infected by superbugs in hospitals

Thousands of Californians are dying every year in hospitals due to hospital-acquired infections. But, many of the families do not even know that their loved one died due to a hospital-acquired infection. It seems hospitals are recording deaths based on the underlying circumstances, rather than addressing the impact that the infection played in the death. This post will go over the dangers of this issue.

According to scientists, the problem with sweeping hospital-infections under the rug is that they are going under-reported. In fact, a study conducted by the University of Michigan found that infections, both acquired inside and outside of a hospital, outnumber heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death in the United States. The researchers reviewed medical billing statements, rather than death certificates, to ascertain for what the patient was being treated.

California is one of the few states that does not require hospitals to report infection-related deaths. The failure to report also compounds another issue, as hospitals do not necessarily have an incentive to address the underlying causes of the deaths.

Furthermore, the CDC warned in October that they uncovered evidence that some hospitals were preventing their staff from reporting on infection-related deaths.

Hospitals need accurate data to adjust their procedures and combat new trends in medicine.

Did you or a loved one get sick due to hospital negligence? If yes, then you may want to contact a lawyer – you could have a valid claim for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice litigation in California is complicated but not impossible to win. You will probably want the assistance of an attorney to walk you through the various legal hurdles inherent to medical malpractice suits. Don’t risk your fair right to compensation, consult with an attorney and get the recovery you deserve.