Incredible New Blood Test Can Detect Concussions in Children
Researchers are developing a blood test that can detect concussions in children and possibly contribute to improving safety in youth contact sports. Once researchers used the blood test on 152 children, it was discovered to be accurate in diagnosing concussions 94 percent of the time. Instead of relying on time-consuming field tests, CT scans or… Read more »
Tags: Concussion
Posted in Traumatic Brain Injuries
The Scary Truth Behind Diagnostic Errors
Doctors rely on a wide array of tests, technologies and staff to help diagnose patients with medical conditions. However, sometimes these tests are inaccurate and patients can be misdiagnosed. In some cases, diagnostic errors can lead to delayed treatment, pain and death. What can happen to patients unfortunate enough to experience diagnostic errors? A recent… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Misdiagnosis
Hospital Errors and PTSD: How Medical Malpractice Traumatizes Survivors
Hospital errors can cause severe psychological problems for survivors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even many years after leaving the hospital, affected patients may never return to normal. Take for example the psychological effects of waking up in the middle of a surgical procedure. During anesthesia awareness, patients are unable to move, scream or… Read more »
Tags: PTSD
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Defective Medical Devices that have Harmed Patients
Medical devices can be used to save the lives of patients, providing ways to prevent blood clots, bleeding and other fatal health conditions. However, some of these devices come with defects and other flaws that can cause pain and suffering for patients. In worst-case scenarios, patients can lose their lives. The IVC blood clot filter… Read more »
Tags: FDA
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Hospital Nightmares: Can Surgical Fires Happen to You?
Some medical mistakes made during surgery can cause significant and permanent injuries to patients, such as surgical fires. Surgical fires can happen when oxygen masks unexpectedly ignite during surgery. Many patients survive, but their lives will never be the same. Take for example the story of a 20-year-old woman who suffered second and third degree… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Are Surgical Site Infections A Hidden Consequence of Medical Wrongdoing?
When patients die days or weeks after surgery, family members often face a mixture of horror, confusion and a strong desire for answers. Grieving family members deserve answers so questions about their loved ones can be put to rest. Surgical site infections are a common killer of patients who have just undergone surgery. When surgeons… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Negligence
The Terrifying Effects of Off-Label Use: What Patients Should Know
When patients receive prescriptions from their doctors, there should be an expectation their medications are safe to use. Unfortunately, off-label uses for medications are becoming increasingly popular, jeopardizing the safety of patients. Some patients will deliver children with birth defects and others will suffer severe allergic reactions. In worse case scenarios, patients will lose their… Read more »
Tags: FDA
Posted in Medication Errors
Hospital Nightmares: Patients Disfigured by Plastic Surgery Operations
Not all victims of surgical mistakes die, and some patients can live with the horrifying consequences for the rest of their lives. For example, a 55-year-old formerly morbidly obese woman underwent two procedures to remove excess skin so she could appear slimmer. Unfortunately, her doctor made several mistakes during the surgery. The woman is still… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Surgical Errors
Hospital Nightmares: The Worst Types of Surgery Errors
A Boston man is accusing a local hospital of causing his wife’s cancer to spread throughout her abdomen. In an interview with the local press, the husband argued doctors accidently operated on what they thought was a benign tumor. It turns out the tumor was not benign, and after the operation, the cancer spread throughout… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
New Report Reveals Horrifying Dangers to Patients During Surgery
A report released in the October edition of Anesthesiology claims medication errors are extremely common during surgical procedures. According to data, which was compiled by Harvard researchers, medication errors occur in half of all procedures. One-third of these mistakes caused harm to patients and 80 percent were preventable. Researchers analyzed more than 275 surgeries at… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
