Mississippi Hospitals have improved by 90%!?
Now that’s a story that would make national headlines. Mississippians pay the most for healthcare out of any other state, and yet we have seen a historic lack of medical malpractice filings against hospitals. Is it because MS hospitals are just 90% better?
I don’t think so.
Thanks to a law passed by lobbied Mississippi lawmakers, medical malpractice filings in the state have been significantly down. I would say around 90%. Mississippians are now spending the most amount of money on healthcare than any other state. Most other states have broad welfare and healthcare programs, and yet it is the Mississippi taxpayer who is paying the most.
There are many reasons a medical malpractice case is difficult. For starters, it is a risky type of a case for a plaintiff’s attorney to take. There are social ramifications for trying to go after doctors or nurses. We want to believe the best of our healthcare system, and we’ve been taught that the profession is a service like firefighters or police. Doctors are heroes in a lot of people’s eyes.
Secondly, there has to be proof. If someone is sick or dying or even in surgery, the last thing you are going to be doing is taking pictures or getting video. Most hospital keep great records, but crucial evidence such as delays in time, not addressing an issue immediately, or not following proper procedure can be difficult to access on simple charts.
Thirdly, you have to an expert in the field that is willing to testify. There are doctors who are paid by big insurance companies to “testify” on various cases that they know little to nothing about, but since they are a doctor they are perceived as the gold standard. You have to find your own expert for your claim, and doctors tend to busy individuals. Finding an unbiased expert who is willing to testify can be a major hurdle.
Fourthly, medical malpractice has a pretty strict statue of limitations depending on the injury. You might not have a case just because it’s been more than a year from when your injury happened.
Finally, the jargon, messaging, and overall case has be clearly convincing. A jury of non medical professionals need to understand exactly what the doctor did wrong, and the judge needs to plainly understand the case as well. If what happened to you is extremely technical or requires an advanced knowledge of medical procedure, you could lose the case.
Because of the immediacy of a medical malpractice, you need to contact a lawyer NOW. We at the Jones Law Group understand the stress and hardship these injuries have placed on you and your family. Please call us (601-INJURED) for a free consultation, and we will do what we can.
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