Why 98% Of Canadian Medical Malpractice Victims Never Receive A Penny In Compensation

A famous study by Harvard Medical Schoolhas two point nine (2.9) BILLION DOLLARS in
determined that over half of all injuries caused byassets (money in the bank). The C.M.P.A. is able to
medical management (in other words, not causeduse this money to hire the best experts and
by the patient's initial injury or disease) werelawyers money can buy.
preventable, and another quarter of thoseMany victims of serious medical errors cannot
incidents were caused by negligence.work, or have huge expenses for ongoing
A report published in the May 25, 2004 edition ofrehabilitation or medical care.
the Canadian Medical Association Journal entitled:Against such overwhelming financial odds,
"The Canadian Adverse Events Study: theCanadian victims of medical malpractice face an
incidence of adverse events in hospital patients inalmost insurmountable challenge to obtain justice
Canada" confirmed the findings of similar studies inand fair compensation for their injuries.
the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom,Remember the Canadian Medical Association
Denmark and New Zealand.Journal study that determined that over 87,000
The Canadian study concluded:o As many aspatients in Canada suffer an adverse event and
24,000 patients die each year due to "adverseas many as 24,000 people die each year due to
events" (doctors code words for a medicalmedical errors? That's more than 100,000
mistake).o 87,500 patients admitted annually topotential malpractice claims in Canada every year!
Canadian acute care hospitals experience anBut between 2002 and 2006 the C.M.P.A. reports
adverse event.o 1 in 13 adult patients admitted toonly 5246 lawsuits were filed against doctors in
a Canadian hospital encounter an adverse event.oCanada: only about a 1000 claims per year.
1 in 19 adults will potentially be given the wrongIn other words, out of 100,000 potential claims
medication or wrong medication dosage.o 37% of99% of potential medical malpractice victims
adverse events are "highly" preventable.o 24% ofnever even filed a claim!
preventable adverse events are related toThe C.M.P.A. reports it's success rate in defending
medication error.claims brought against doctors. More than 3800 of
A report by the Canadian Institute for Healththe 5000 claims were dismissed or abandoned
Information (CIHI) indicated that nearly onebecause the victim or his or her family quit or ran
quarter of Canadian adults (5.2 million people)out of money, or died before trial.
reported that they, or a member of their family,Some Frightening Statistics:o The C.M.P.A. settled
had experienced a "preventable adverse event"only 229 claims out of court (usually after several
(medical error).years of litigation and just before trial).o Of the
Are Canadian Medical Malpractice Claims Different577 cases that went to trial only 121 resulted in a
Than in the U. S.?verdict for the Plaintiff victim. In other words, only
In a word; yes.twenty percent (20%) of medical malpractice
Lot's of people have read about large jury awardsplaintiffs actually won their trial.o For the few
for personal injury claims in the United States.victims who won at trial, the median damage
Sometimes the American jury awards seem toaward was only $95,500.00.o In 2006 the C.M.P.A.
be out of proportion to the injury.spent 72 million dollars on legal fees to defend
In Canada, court awards are much lower thandoctors across Canada.o Of more than 5000
awards for similar injuries from courts in thelawsuits filed against doctors, only two percent
United States. Cases that might be successful in(2%) resulted in trial verdicts for the victim.
the U.S. are simply not economically feasible toIn other words, 98% of Canadian medical
pursue in Canada.malpractice victims never receive a penny in
For example, the province of Nova Scotia alsocompensation!
has some of the most conservative (lowest)The odds against medical malpractice victims are
awards in Canada for compensation for personalalmost overwhelming. If you think you or a family
injury claims.member has suffered an injury or loss as a result
Role of the C.M.P.A.:of medical malpractice it is critical to get proper
In Canada, most doctors are defended by a singleadvice. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer
organization, the Canadian Medical Protectioncan tell you if you have a potential claim and can
Association (the C.M.P.A.).advise you what you need to prove to have the
According to a recent annual report, the C.M.P.A.best chance of winning your case.