Recently, the Wisconsin State medical board has been under scrutiny for not disciplining doctors who make serious errors. Unfortunately, Wisconsin is not the only state facing a negative assessment in this area. South Carolina is also on the radar.
A national advocacy group has named South Carolina the worst state in the entire nation when it comes to handling physician mistakes. According to Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, South Carolina is among the 10 worst states for disciplinary action against doctors who practice here.
The group’s statistics reveal that over the past three years, the state has punished only 1.33 doctors per 1,000 on an annual basis. Public Citizen’s examination showed that the national average in this time period was 3.06.
A Different View
Leading medical officials in South Carolina disagree with Public Citizen’s findings. Their argument is the study is inaccurate because every state follows a different set of regulations so it’s difficult to make a state-by-state comparison.
In addition, doctors in South Carolina who have gotten their licenses revoked or failed to meet certain standards are not allowed to practice medicine again in this state. Other regions do not have this type of rule. This means their disciplinary rates may be higher.
Need Legal Help?
Trust is an important aspect of any doctor-patient relationship. But if that confidence is broken due to a physician’s poor judgment or a life-threatening error, your health could be in jeopardy. Our South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys at Joye Law Firm understand how devastating it is to suffer from a doctor’s mistake and are ready to fight for your rights if you or someone you love is the victim of medical negligence.
Please contact us for a free consultation at 877-941-2615 or fill out our convenient online form today. We are committed to getting results for injured persons.