Friends, family, and clients sometimes ask me about the “July effect” in medical care. Specifically, they often ask whether they should avoid having major surgery performed during July. What they are asking about is not superstition; July is actually the most dangerous month to have surgery performed. When I see new medical malpractice cases come into my office, I am often astounded to see how many of the underlying operations occurred in July. I will explore the reasons for this phenomena in this blog post, as well as providing you with advice regarding what you should do if you are injured in the course of your medical treatment.
If a physician, hospital, or other medical professional injured you or a loved one, you will need to have experienced personal injury counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, loss of work, and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
What Causes the “July Effect” in Medical Treatment?
Statistics demonstrate that there is a rise in medical errors occurring beginning in July each year. That peak carries into August and then decreases back to the average in the ensuing months. There are many theories about why the increase occurs, including that physicians are often taking their vacations during July and their midyear fatigue. But the most critical factor in the “July Effect” is that medical residents—medical students training to become licensed physicians—begin their training each July. So while there is a shortage of expert physicians on hand due to vacations, this factor is amplified by the fact that all of the most experienced residents leave in June and are replaced by new residents who are entirely new to their specialty. This spike in medical malpractice cases is particularly pronounced in university teaching hospitals where new residents require extensive training from senior physicians, many of whom are on vacation.
Obviously, the July effect is more likely to affect patients seeking care for either highly complex medical conditions that require experienced, fast-thinking physicians such as heart or spine surgery. The effect is also much more likely to be felt in large teaching hospitals as compared to smaller regional hospitals that may only have a smattering of residents in training. Conversely, if you have a broken leg, it is unlikely that your resident will be unable to adequately address your injuries, regardless of the month of the year or the type of hospital where you receive treatment. Additionally, many medical malpractice cases stem from unsanitary conditions or supporting medical professionals working in a medical facility, all of which will be unaffected by the level of training of the residents providing your care.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured as a Result of Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice can result from surgery errors, mistakes in prescribing medications, unsanitary conditions, and other issues. The resulting injuries can range from minor to deadly. If you were injured as a result of medical malpractice, you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to gather your medical records, attain expert opinions regarding how the care you received was substandard, and take depositions of the medical professionals that provided your care, not to mention fighting the hospital’s attorneys. These are not tasks that you can accomplish alone. You will need an expert on your side.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.