Physical Therapists and Medical Malpractice

When most of us think of medical malpractice, we think of dramatic surgical errors, birth injuries, or radical, dangerous treatments. In reality, though, medical malpractice extends to every facet of the medical field, including physical therapy. While an error committed by a physical therapist is usually less serious than one committed by a surgeon, they can still have painful and wide-ranging effects on your life. If you've been the victim of physical therapy malpractice, it's your legal right to seek financial compensation. You shouldn't go through the pain alone.

The Numbers

While cases of physical therapy are still quite rare, they do happen. Consider some of the numbers:

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  A total of 729 physical therapists and related medical professionals had malpractice reports made against them from 1990-2003.
  
  


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  There were a total of 769 reports made against physical therapists during the same time period, accounting for approximately 0.2% of the total number of malpractice cases.
  
  


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  While these numbers may seem low, there were approximately 1.05 malpractice reports filed per physical therapist.
  
  


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  In 2003, 83 physicians practicing in the field had reports made against them.
  
  

If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of improper physical rehabilitation, it is your legal right to seek financial compensation. Some facts about lawsuits against rehabilitation therapists:

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  There were approximately 650 medical malpractice lawsuits filed against physical therapists between 1990 and 2004.
  
  


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  These reports extend beyond the therapists themselves. During the same period, there were 54 malpractice reports filed against therapy assistants.
  
  

The Consequences

Unlike surgical or prescription errors, physical therapy errors are unlikely to result in death. However, these errors can extend the amount of time the required in therapy, can undo progress, and can increase the pain the patient feels. When therapists and their assistants commit malpractice, they risk causing their patients lifelong chronic pain.

There is no room for errors in medical treatment. The consequences are too great. If you've been injured as the result of medical treatment, you should discuss your case with an experienced medical malpractice personal injury attorney. They may be able to secure you the compensation you deserve following your injury.

If you're interested in learning more about your legal options following an injury caused by a medical professional, visit the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today.