There is a new study that suggests it is dangerous or even deadly to seek hospital care during the month of July. The study reports that more patients receive poor quality care with serious consequences, even death, at teaching hospitals during this summer month. Researchers concluded that deaths in these hospitals rise as high as 10% in July.
One explanation seems to be that experienced residents move on and new trainees, with little clinical experience, take their place at the start of the academic year. This is referred to as the July effect. Many teaching hospitals are aware of this problem and try to have their best doctors on call during July.
Researchers at the University of California- San Francisco School of Medicine reviewed studies from 1989 through 2010 and found extended hospital stays and unneeded tests in July. The study was published in the July 12 Annals of Internal Medicine.
It is critically important that patients make informed decisions about their own medical care. Under the Massachusetts Patient Bill of Rights, patients have the right to refuse treatment from a medical student. If you feel that your care may be inadequate, you can refuse care from the new trainee and request a veteran doctor to review your medical problem.
Medical malpractice cases are unique and require a sophisticated team of educated and proven professionals. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., we have a team of attorneys and professionals dedicated to medical malpractice cases. We work closely with some of the most knowledgeable and renowned medical experts in the country and have a proven track record of successful recoveries on behalf of victims of medical negligence.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice and would like to speak with a medical malpractice attorney, please contact us. Our lawyers are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights. Call our Boston, Massachusetts office at (617) 742-1900, or toll-free at 1-800-545-3732.
By James A. Swartz of Swartz & Swartz, P.C. – Permalink
About the Author: James Swartz
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