According to a report issued by  a federal government task force,  somewhere between 44,000 and  98,000 people die each year because of mistakes made by their  doctors. Given the silence in the  press regarding the number of  deaths caused by medical errors  each year, it could be called a "silent epidemic."

A "medical mistake" can take  several different forms: the failure  to properly diagnose a patient's  problem; the failure to choose the  correct course of action to treat the  problem a patient has; or the failure  to properly perform the treatment  plan chosen. No matter what form  a particular mistake takes, all medical mistakes share one characteristic: They can be deadly.

Unfortunately, many patients  and family members of victims do  not realize that a medical mistake  has occurred. All too often, the injury or even the death caused by a  medical error is seen as being the  result of the patient's original illness, not as the result of a preventable error.

There are a number of causes of  medical mistakes. First, the increasing prevalence of HMOs  means that patients often are not  referred to the appropriate specialist until after their condition has  worsened and become more difficult to treat. Second, many doctors  (particularly young interns) work  long hours. Third, there is a shortage of trained nurses. All of these  factors add up to a system in which  a number of otherwise preventable  injuries and deaths are caused by  overworked, exhausted, or inexperienced caregivers.

Adverse drug reactions are another source of medical mistakes.  The explosion in the number of  prescription drugs available means  that doctors often prescribe several  drugs to the same patient but have  no idea how these prescriptions  will interact with each other.  Sometimes, adverse reactions will  harm or even kill a patient.

All medical mistakes share  one characteristic: They can  be deadly.

Medical mistakes can be dangerous, but there are some things  you can do to protect yourself and  your loved ones. Be actively involved in your own care. Ask questions. If you think your doctor may  have made a mistake, ask about it.  If you still have doubts, get a second and even a third opinion. Pay  careful attention to your medications. Read the label and report any  ill effect you think the medication  might be having on you to your  doctor immediately.

If you feel that you or someone  you love may have been a victim of  a medical mistake, contact us. We  will help you determine the best  course of legal action. And remember to stay alert. The life you save  may be your own.