This post is from Attorney Edward A. (“Ted”) Bills who can be reached at  719.444.1000  or at   http://www.SpringsAttorney.com.

Anything provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and by no means consittutes an attorney-client relationship between a visitor and Attorney Ted Bills.  Any reader of this blog is urged to consult competent legal counsel regarding specific points of law and not construe any material transmitted via this blog as legal advice.

Are you safe in the hospital?:

Hospitals have highly trained doctors, nurses and therapists. All hospitals do is care for sick people – so you should be safe while in a hospital, right?

Wrong. A report from the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute reported that between 44,000 and 98,000 patients die in American hospitals each year as a result of preventable medical errors.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

1.  Be an active participant in your health case – take part in every decision; and

2.  Be certain that your doctors know every medication you are taking – even over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements; and

3.  Speak up if you have questions or concerns; and

4.  Be certain that you get copies of all tests and procedures; and

5.  Do not sign any hospital form unless you fully understand everything it contains; and

6.  Check the malpractice record of all doctors before any operation; and

7.  Determine the number of times your doctor has performed your type of surgery; and

8.  Don’t let anyone touch you until you have seen them wash their hands; and

9.  Ask a family member or trusted friend to be your advocate; and

10. Ask why you are receiving a drug before you take it; and

11. Demand to have the site of your operation marked with a permanent marker, before the surgery.

Do not think that being rich, or even financially comfortable will give you an edge – a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 16, 2006) noted that the quality of health care does not seem to vary among sociodemographic groups.

Attorney Ted Bills has one mission – to fight for the rights of personal injury victims and those who have been devastated by the misconduct of others – he represents clients which an aggressive approach designed to provide SWIFT justice. Attorney Bills is a member of the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and the El Paso County (Colorado Springs) Bar Association. He works in tandem with his clients to provide assertive, business-savvy, legal services that solve problems, reduce delays, and minimize costs.