Research done by a Commonwealth Fund published in the Health Affairs journal has revealed that the United States has been falling off in preventing some wrongful deaths. In 1997-1998, the U.S. was 15th in a ranking of 19 industrialized countries. Five years later, the U.S. became dead last in that list of 19.
Our wrongful death lawyers can’t believe how it is possible that the U.S. spends up to $2.4 trillion a year on health care but somehow ranks dead last (no pun intended) in preventing wrongful deaths.
Some government officials have a theory that the rate could be related to trauma from car accidents and gun violence. Those fatality rates are higher in the U.S. than other countries, but those stats ignore the more complex challenges other countries’ health-care issues.
For the people who say that health insurance helps reduce that number, it’s important to mention that even though America does get care to Americans with insurance quickly, there are about 80 million Americans who don’t have insurance or are underinsured.
In terms of spending money, the U.S. sets aside about 16 percent of their economy to health care which is about seven percent higher than other countries.
Does that mean that other countries are better than us when it comes to preventing wrongful deaths?
Maybe. Maybe not.
If our country is spending ridiculous amounts of money on health care, there should be some evidence as far as where our money is going. Tables like this can lead one to believe we’re just throwing money away.
As personal injury lawyers, we wonder … are we?
Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced wrongful death attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585. Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review. No fee if no recovery.
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