Blog: Medical Malpractice
- 6 Steps to Take After Being Informed of an Infection Control Breach
Mar 4, 2016
More than 200 patients were recently notified that they may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B or C at Shore Medical Center in New Jersey. Sadly, infection control breaches continue to happen in hospitals across the country, and patients are left with unexpected health problems they never expected to happen. Below are six steps patients should take if they receive a letter from any hospital about possible infection exposure. 1. Get tested right away. Set up...Read More - Preventing Surgical Instruments from Being Forgotten Inside Patients
Mar 4, 2016
A surgical object mistakenly left inside a patient is a medical emergency that can lead to death or permanent health problems. Shockingly, surgical instruments are left inside patients thousands of times every year in the United States. Surgical sponges account for nearly 70 percent of items left inside patients. Other items commonly found on post-op X-rays include: retractors, sharp objects such as needles, blades and scalpels, towels and other textiles, clamps, guide wires, scissors and more...Read More - Women and Heart Disease: Timely Diagnosis is Critical
Mar 1, 2016
Some study findings about the prevalence and diagnosis of heart conditions in women may underscore the failure of physicians to appreciate and recognize that women’s complaints are heart-related. Cardiovascular disease, typically manifesting as a myocardial infarction (blockage of one or more of the coronary vessels that supply blood to the heart, commonly referred to as a heart attack) is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing more deaths more than all cancers combined...Read More - Bacterial Meningitis Misdiagnosis: What It Means for Patients
Feb 25, 2016
Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency that requires timely diagnosis and proper medical treatment to prevent death or permanent injury. Diagnosing bacterial meningitis often involves testing the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Imaging tests such as a CT-scan may help diagnose the disease by showing inflammation in the head, and an x-ray of the chest or sinuses may indicate the presence of an infection. Bacterial meningitis can be...Read More - Five Things Patients Can Do to Help Prevent a Medication Error
Feb 16, 2016
Since 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 95,000 reports of medication errors, which include any preventable event that may lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient. There are a variety of reasons medication errors occur, including: Miscommunication of drug orders Poor handwriting on prescriptions Confusion of similarly named drugs Poor packaging design Confusion of dosing units How can patients avoid falling victim to a dangerous medication error? The FDA offers a few simple...Read More - Focusing on Heart Attack Misdiagnosis during American Heart Month
Feb 12, 2016
February is American Heart Month, and a reminder for everyone to act as their own medical advocate with regard to their heart health. About 735,000 Americans have a heart attack every year, and about 15 percent of those people will die from it. A person’s chance of surviving a heart attack increases if emergency treatment is administered as soon as possible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sadly, one in 50 people...Read More - The Life-Threatening Consequences of a Cancer Misdiagnosis
Feb 5, 2016
A cancer diagnosis is devastating. Unfortunately, patients’ lives and well-being are put in even more danger when a physician fails to diagnose cancer in a timely or correct manner. Treatment is then delayed, which can cost a patient his or her life. Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis The chance of survival is highest when breast cancer is detected at an early stage. Women often do not experience symptoms early on, so it’s the duty of their doctors to find...Read More - Medication Errors Resulting from Pharmacy Mistakes
Jan 8, 2016
Millions of people trust pharmacists every day to fill their medications, but adults and children have been killed by pharmacy errors after being sent home with the incorrect drug or dose. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are sometimes pressured to move quickly in order to fill a long list of prescriptions. Unfortunately, it’s the unsuspecting patients who suffer the consequences when pharmacy errors result from too much haste. Prescription Interaction Problems Interactions between medications can be dangerous and sometimes...Read More - Medical Misdiagnosis of Cardiovascular Events
Jan 7, 2016
Cardiovascular health is a vital component to a person’s well-being. When a misdiagnosis results in death or permanent injury, however, patients endure unnecessary physical and emotional pain as well as unexpected medical bills. The repercussions of a medical misdiagnosis shouldn’t be their burden to bear. Patients and their families who are dealing with the devastation of a wrong, missed and delayed diagnosis, an experienced law firm can investigate their situation and maximize recovery. Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Someone in...Read More - Why Medication Errors Must be Reported
Jan 7, 2016
Medication error reporting is an important action to take when a person is injured as a result of a medical mistake. After victims and their families alert the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the problem, they are urged to also protect their legal rights. Medication errors, according to the FDA, may involve: Incorrect procedures including prescribing errors Order miscommunications Product labeling or packaging errors Health care product defects Monitoring issues and more Between 2000 and 2009, the FDA received more...Read More