Does Doctor-Patient Privilege Apply to My Malpractice Case?
On October 10, a federal appeals court upheld a controversial aspect of Florida’s medical malpractice law regarding ex-parte communications. What Are Ex-Parte Communications? Ex-parte communications refers to any decisions or consultations made by one party without the other party present. Florida’s medical malpractice law currently requires plaintiffs to sign a form before they file a lawsuit,… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Trial
Can Jaundice Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
Kernicterus is a severe form of cerebral palsy known to be associated with high bilirubin levels in a baby’s blood. Bilirubin is a pigment produced in the liver that can lead to jaundice, the yellowing of the eyes and skin, if it is not broken down quickly enough. In most cases, jaundice will resolve without… Read more »
Posted in Birth Injury
Why Are Soldiers Unsatisfied with the V.A. Healthcare System?
Soldiers returning from overseas are becoming more and more frustrated with the U.S. medical system. This fact is obvious in light of U.S. Army General Eric Shinseki’s resignation from his position as secretary of the Veteran’s Association medical department; stories of veterans’ inability to receive timely treatment or adequate care appear to have forced the… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Scheduling Errors Can Become Life Threatening Hospital Mistakes
Minor hospital mistakes can end in tragedy for patients. Whether a lab test leads to a misdiagnosis or a prescription error causes an allergic reaction, consequences can be life threatening. In Louisiana, a family has filed a lawsuit against Interim Louisiana State University Hospital, alleging a breach in the standard of care. After being diagnosed… Read more »
Posted in Medical Negligence
How Can Surgery Mistakes Affect Patients?
Last week we wrote about ‘never events’, surgery mistakes that injure and kill patients. One type of surgery mistake occurs when surgeons leave objects such as sponges and surgical equipment inside of patients. Estimates by the journal JAMA Surgery suggest that during 1 in 100,000 surgeries, surgeons leave something behind inside of patients. The medical… Read more »
Tags: SurgeryMistakes
Posted in Surgical Errors
Are Older Doctors More Likely To Commit Medical Mistakes?
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently met in Chicago for its annual policy-making meeting, where it discussed whether aging doctors should be given competency tests. Discussion about testing comes at a time when there are more than 240,000 physicians over the age of 65, about one-fourth of all doctors. Unlike other professions, such as piloting… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMistakes
Posted in Medical Negligence
Doctor Who Gave Fake Cancer Treatments Gets 45 Years In Prison
A Michigan doctor was recently sentenced to 45 years in prison for falsely diagnosing his patients with cancer, then giving them chemotherapy treatments to defraud Medicaid and private insurance companies. According to the authorities, the doctor had misdiagnosed patients with multiple myeloma, a terminal blood cancer. Over the course of several years, the doctor defrauded… Read more »
Tags: Chemotherapy
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can Being Mean to Your Child’s Doctor Lead to Worse Care?
It is essential for doctors to maintain a healthy state of mind while practicing medicine. Unfortunately, we as patients or family members can sometimes lose our patience. It turns out being rude to your doctor puts them into an unhealthy state of mind and increases the risk of being harmed by a medical mistake. Research… Read more »
Tags: Pediatrics
Posted in Medical Negligence
This Common Health Condition Is A Major Cause Of Preventable Hospital Deaths
Health complications caused by blood clots are a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. One such complication is a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when blood clots travel to and block arteries in the lungs. Deaths caused by pulmonary embolisms in hospitals are surprisingly common. Many factors can increase the risk of a pulmonary embolism. Patients… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can You Be Billed for Medical Mistakes?
Medical mistakes are not only a threat to your individual safety, they are also damaging to your wallet. According to an article published by Kaiser Health News, patients are frequently billed for medical mistakes. The article discusses the story of a man who suffered from a surgical error, and ended up on the hook for… Read more »
Tags: MedicalNews
Posted in Medical Malpractice
