Florida Cracking Down on “Pill Mills”
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made it a priority to get rid of the state’s “pill mills”, or clinics that provide excess amounts of medication to patients. While the state has made remarkable progress in shutting down clinics that break the law, her work is far from over. As the St. Augustine Record points out,… Read more »
Posted in Medication Errors
What Caused Joan Rivers’ Death?
Joan Rivers died on September 4, 2014. At the time, coroners claimed that complications during surgery caused the 81-year-old comedian’s passing. Now, more reports are emerging about potential malpractice that occurred before her death. How Did Joan Rivers Die? Rivers initially underwent a minor vocal cord operation. As reports from the Department of Health and… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Surgical Errors
Could CMV Have Caused Your Baby’s Hearing Loss?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common non-inherited cause of deafness in children. A new study shows that more than 10 percent of babies who contract CMV will suffer permanent hearing loss. How Do Babies Get CMV? Studies have shown that mothers contract the virus from toddlers and pass it along to their fetuses. Women can… Read more »
Posted in Birth Injury, Misdiagnosis
Which Florida Hospitals Are the Safest?
The Leapfrog Group, a business-backed information group focused on patient safety, released a new analysis for Florida hospitals. Their report rated almost half of them an A on error prevention. Brandon Regional Medical Center is Leapfrog’s most-improved hospital, jumping from a D to an A in just six months. The suburban Tampa facility is part… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Errors
How Much Do Readmissions Cost Hospitals?
Based on the new standards outlined in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), hospitals all over Florida will pay millions in fines for high readmission rates. In 2013, almost two million Medicare patients were readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of their initial treatment, costing roughly $26 billion. Healthcare officials believe that they could save Medicare… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Errors
Gainesville VA Hospital Pays Millions in Wrongful Death Lawsuits
The Veterans Affairs hospital in Gainesville paid and settled more wrongful death cases than almost any other medical center in Florida. The Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville paid more than $5 million in wrongful death settlements in the decade following September 11. The Lake City medical center, operating in the same health system,… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Errors
How Common Are Hospital Infections?
At least six Florida hospitals are having trouble controlling their infection rate, putting patients at risk for serious health complications. Did My Hospital Cause My Infection? Every year, 1 in 25 hospital patients sustains an infection during treatment. Unfortunately, about 75,000 of those patients lose their lives. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) establishes infection… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Surgical Errors
Florida Couple Wins Birth Injury Lawsuit
A Florida couple sued their doctor and ultrasound technician for failing to tell them their son was disabled before he was born. The young couple was diligent about prenatal care and following doctor’s orders, so they were excited to welcome the new addition to their family. Tragically, the child was born catastrophically disabled, with no… Read more »
Posted in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Trial, Medical Negligence, Misdiagnosis
Can a Hospital Force Me to Have a C-Section?
A pregnant woman is fighting a Florida hospital in court, after it threatened to report her to family services if she refused to have a C-section. The victim in this case had delivered three other children by C-section. She decided that for her fourth child, she would undergo a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), a… Read more »
Posted in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice
Spinal Injury Center Sues Competitor Over Malpractice Claims
A Florida spine-injury center is suing a rival institute, accusing the doctors there of attracting patients by making false claims. The Laser Spine Institute is one of the busiest spinal injury centers in America, treating about 5,000 patients a year nationwide. The Bonati Institute, a rival spine-injury facility, filed a lawsuit accusing Laser Spine of… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Errors