Virginia Medical Malpractice Blog - Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C.

Half of Pediatricians Would Refuse to Admit Medical Mistakes

A recent study reports two very alarming malpractice statistics:

1. Approximately 7% of all hospitalized children are victims of medical malpractice often due to medication errors.
2. Only 50% of pediatricians would admit to the mistake.

"Pediatricians would admit error only half of the time." U.S. News and World Report, October 6, 2008.


Many of the pediatricians would admit the mistake, but only if it were obvious.  In other words, they would admit their mistake only if the parents would find out on their own.  The distinction between obvious malpractice and hidden malpractice is unethical according this article.  Amongst the most common errors are accidental overdose and adverse reactions to medication.  This issue became prominent when Dennis Quaid's newborn children were given massive overdoses of a blood thinner.  As I've discussed on recent blog posts, overdoses of blood thinners like Coumadin, Lovenox, and Heparin can be lethal and Dennis Quaid's children are fortunate to be alive.  That is why there is a "black box" warning on the physician information sheets for these blood thinners.

As parents we have to trust our children's pediatricians to provide quality care and we expect them to be upfront about their mistakes so we are fully informed about the health of our children and equally importantly so the pediatrician ensures that no other children are harmed.

One of the most common statements we hear from clients as medical malpractice attorneys is that they want to make sure no one else is a victim of medical malpractice.  That point is important.  From my experience, a small percentage of physicians commit much of the medical malpractice.  By holding physicians including pediatricians accountable through medical malpractice claims, you send a strong message that malpractice can not be tolerated and you help to protect other patients from needless suffering.

At Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. we have represented clients throughout Virginia who range in ages from infants to those in their 90s living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  If you or a family member has been a victim of medical malpractice, please call us at (804) 288-1661 or click here to contact us by email. 

Josh Silverman