NMMAA Declares July as Medical Malpractice Awareness Month

The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA) is using the month of July to promote its message of “hope, healing, and honor” for the victims of medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice harms thousands of people in the United States every year, but claims are decreasing. More than 16,000 medical malpractice claims against physicians were filed, and paid, in 2001. In 2016, the number of paid claims decreased by almost 50%, resulting in a total count of under 8500 claims that year. In the hopes of contributing to this downward trend and honoring those who have been affected by medical malpractice in the past, the NMMAA introduced Medical Malpractice Awareness Month.

One of the main goals of Medical Malpractice Awareness Month is advocacy and distributing information about the rights of patients. Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have an obligation to provide quality medical care to everyone in their care. When they fail to meet this obligation — by misdiagnoses, surgery errors, ignoring symptoms, or other examples of medical malpractice — a victim can suffer severe, or even fatal, consequences. The victims of medical malpractice and their families have a right to pursue legal action against the responsible entity, and can secure compensation to cover the expenses they incurred as a result of negligent care.

During Medical Malpractice Awareness Month, every person should make a conscious effort to educate themselves about not only their legal rights, but also their right to sufficient care. As a patient, you have a right to be informed about your condition and treatment plan. If you are unsure about what a doctor is telling you (or isn’t telling you), ask questions and gather opinions from other medical professionals. No patient should feel uncomfortable with their doctor, or like they aren’t receiving proper care.