An increase in medical malpractice cases is anticipated, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling to uphold ObamaCare.
Once the full force of the Affordable Care Act kicks in, there will be at least 20 to 40 million more Americans with access to health care. The system is already overburdened trying to keep up with the number of people currently using it. Add 20 or 40 million more people, and a strained system may break down completely.
Medical professionals will face very few options when the influx of people begins, and one of them is to rush patients through to get the work done. Inevitably, haste causes medical mistakes and hospital errors, and those cause injuries and/or death. It is not too much of a stretch of the imagination to think medical malpractice suits may increase as a result of the new Act. However, having said that, given the fact that many states have medical malpractice caps in place, this may shape up to be an untenable situation for plaintiffs who are not able to get the compensation they deserve.
The influx of newly insured patients may not happen all of a sudden, but over time, between 2014 and 2015, those who did not have health insurance will realize they can go to the doctor, a revelation likely to be met with appreciation by patients and with trepidation by physicians. As it is, most medical malpractice lawsuits that go to court are the result of doctors and other medical professionals being overworked and overwhelmed with patients.
It is obvious that the health care system needs more medical professionals, and doctors may want to consider expanding their staff to meet the soon-to-be-higher demand for their services. However, this begs the question of where the people to fill those roles will come from to enroll in schools to train them. In the meantime, patients who feel they have been the victim of medical malpractice have very little recourse open to them, other than to consult with an experienced Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer.
Medical malpractice attorneys are the watch dogs of injustice, ready on the sidelines to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by a medical error. It is important to understand that not every bad outcome with a medical professional is necessarily medical malpractice. In speaking with a seasoned Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, this is one of the things covered in the initial case assessment. Do not hesitate to ask questions. You need to know your legal rights.
Christopher Mellino is a Cleveland Malpractice Lawyer specializing in Cleveland Medical Malpractice cases in Ohio. To learn more, visit Christophermellino.com.
