Physical Therapist Malpractice

Like all medical fields, physical therapists can also make errors when treating their patients. While typically less serious than the errors made by surgeons, an error committed by a physical therapist can also have life altering consequences.

Between 1990 and 2003, 729 different physical therapists had reports filed against them for medical malpractice. This amounts to .4% of all the physical therapists that practice within the United States. These statistics come out to an average of 1.05 malpractice reports filed per physical therapist (and related practitioners).

When it comes to lawsuits, there were roughly 650 medical malpractice lawsuits filed against physical therapists between 1990 and 2004. These reports were filed with the National Practitioner Data Bank. In addition, there were 54 malpractice reports filed against assistants of physical therapists with the same group in the same years.

When physical therapists make errors, a person is not likely to die. While death is not likely, it may be true that the individual will not be able to use whatever body part is rehabilitated to its full extent. A person who has had a back injury can have lasting problems and limitations. The same can be said for shoulders, wrists, knees, hips, and ankles.

Much of rehab done with physical therapists is designed to increase the mobility of the injured person or to increase the strength of whatever limb has been injured or surgically repaired. When these two goals are prevented by physical therapy mistakes, a person may be prohibited from enjoying the quality of life promised by the surgery that repaired the muscle, tendon, ligament, or limb in the first place.

Contact a Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you have been neglected by a physical therapist and experienced injury as a result, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130.