Who pays for hospital errors? Often, you

More than 400,000 people die annually, in part thanks to avoidable medical errors, according to a 2013 estimate from the Journal of Patient Safety. In 2008, the most recent year studied, medical errors cost an extra $19.5 billion in national spending, most of which was spent on extra care and medication, according to another report. If a problem such as Thompson's stemmed from negligence, a malpractice lawsuit may be an option. But this can take time and money. And lawyers who collect only when there's a settlement or victory may not want to take on a case unless it's exceptionally clear that the doctor or hospital is at fault.