West Virginia Malpractice Lawsuits Increase

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Number of Malpractice Cases in W. VA Increasing

According to reports, the number of medical malpractice lawsuits in West Virginia is increasing after legislative changes in 2001 and 2003 sent the numbers plunging.

Further action may be required if the number of cases continue to rise, claims the West Virginia State Medical Association.

Trends Being Carefully Monitored

The medical association has been tracking figures and recently found that the number of malpractice cases in West Virginia has risen from 130 in 2004 to 174 in 2007.

“We have to be very vigilant and watch the trends,” says Evan Jenkins, a senator from Cabell County who also works as the director of the medical association. “It’s like watching a child’s temperature, if it gets too high, there needs to be some strong medicine.”

More Lawsuits Filed

In July 2008, 75 medical malpractice lawsuits were reportedly filed in West Virginia, a pace that is alarming and will be even more so should it continue.

As a result, various hospitals and health care physicians throughout the state have been accused of negligence, amongst other things.

“We’re starting to see the number of suits being filed creep back up again,” says Jenkins.

(Source: Herald-Dispatch)

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