Can Smartphone Apps Help Doctors Avoid Misdiagnosing Patients?
Doctors can use a smart phone app that helps them form a diagnosis. Launched in 2001, the app can help doctors avoid misdiagnosing patients. As of April 2015, the app is already being used by 1,500 hospitals. Younger doctors, belonging to a technologically savvy generation, have made the most use of this app. The app… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Misdiagnosis
Is My Child Safe During Surgery?
It is always tragic when children are affected by medical mistakes. Take the case of a Florida family that lost their 11-year-old son to a mistake made after surgery. On March 20th, 2013, the 11-year-old boy underwent heart valve surgery, and something went wrong. What went wrong is currently being contested before the Florida Board… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMalpractice
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Will the Overuse of CT Scans Contribute to Thousands of New Cancer Cases?
According to the American Board of Internal Medicine, 130 different medical screenings and tests commonly used by doctors are not necessary, and might even put patients at risk for injury or death. The real frightening aspect of unnecessary tests and procedures is that the consequences are not always immediate. Take CT (computed tomography) scans for… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMalpractice
Posted in Medical Negligence
Are Emergency Rooms Safe for Children?
Every year in the U.S., 30 million children 18 and younger visit the emergency room. Unfortunately, some hospitals still do not have equipment that can safely treat children. Changes have been made to correct this potential hazard, but there is room for further progress. According to a report published in the Journal of the American… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMalpractice
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Research Finds Healthcare Equipment Responsible for Many Hospital Injuries
When going to see the doctor or staying at a hospital, most information regarding the visit and options for treatments will be stored on computers and in databases. Unfortunately, healthcare equipment and computers cannot always protect patients against medical mistakes. In a survey from West Health Institute, a non-profit medical research organization, 50 percent of… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMalpractice
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Have Hospitals Become Overrun With Deadly Bacteria?
Several months ago, we wrote about a new strain of antibiotic resistant bacteria that had spread at a Los Angeles hospital. However, this was not an isolated instant: there are many cases around the country of dangerous pathogens injuring and killing patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hospital acquired infections (HAIs) affected… Read more »
Tags: MRSA Hospital Infections
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Victim of Drunk Driving Accident Awarded $60 Million
A jury in Collier County has awarded the mother of a teenager injured in a drunk driving accident $60 million in damages. In 2003, the daughter was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident in which she was a passenger. Her boyfriend, the driver, had received alcoholic beverages as a minor from a local bar. On… Read more »
Tags: TraumaticBrainInjury
Posted in Traumatic Brain Injuries
Death of Autistic Child Could Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The death of a 14-year-old autistic girl under the care of the Carlton Palms Educational Center has led to a settlement and potential wrongful death lawsuit. The Carlton Palms Educational Center is one of the largest residential centers in Florida for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The Agency for Persons With Disabilities threatened to… Read more »
Tags: WrongfulDeathLawsuit
Posted in Medical Negligence
Can Concussions Among Young Athletes Be Prevented?
Record numbers of high school athletes are receiving concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury that can have long-lasting effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the long-term effects of concussions can include problems with reasoning and thinking, taste, smell, language and emotion. In addition to long-term effects, repeatedly sustaining concussions can cause chronic… Read more »
Tags: Athlete Concussions
Posted in Traumatic Brain Injuries
Are Unnecessary C-Sections Risking the Safety of Mothers and Newborns?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the increase of caesarean sections (C-sections) worldwide, including the United States. According to WHO, many of the procedures are being done even when it is not medically necessary. Data released by WHO shows that one in three women are receiving the operation during labor in medium… Read more »
Posted in Birth Injury
