Is School Staff Responsible for Athlete’s Death?
The Florida Supreme Court is currently deciding whether or not schools have a duty to use potentially lifesaving medical devices on students. In 2008, an 18-year-old soccer player collapsed and stopped breathing during an intramural soccer game. The coach performed CPR on the boy, but it took almost 26 minutes for the paramedics to resuscitate… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Trial, Medical Negligence
Severe Blood Clot May Leave Boxer Permanently Disabled
The family of an injured boxer is planning to sue the boxing commission and the ring doctors that supervised his fight, saying they allowed the fight to go on too long and failed to get him proper medical attention once the fight was over. The night of the boxing match, the fighter lost a 10-round… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Does Privatized Prison Healthcare Lead to Malpractice?
When Florida privatized prison healthcare, the move was supposed to save taxpayers millions. Unfortunately, the budget cuts came with substandard care, and for many inmates, their prison term became a death sentence. Doctors are alarmed, saying that prisons are abruptly swapping out prescription pain medication for over-the-counter substitutes. One inmate’s undiagnosed lung cancer was treated… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, Misdiagnosis
Supreme Court Rules Against Florida Doctor
A Florida Supreme Court judge has overturned a lower court ruling regarding doctor liability in medical malpractice cases. In 2003, a Florida man made an appointment with his doctor complaining of back pain. Dr. Willis Dickens diagnosed the patient with lumbar stenosis. The man then consulted a surgeon, Dr. Guillermo Pasarin, who operated on his… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Misdiagnosis
Are Doctors Suspended After Malpractice Claims?
A CBS investigation discovered that most Florida doctors with a history of malpractice claims retain their medical licenses, even after multiple settlements. In 2009, a 42-year-old mother of two was vacationing in Florida with her family when she was diagnosed with appendicitis. She had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Unfortunately, the… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Trial
Hospital Withholds Information After Surgical Mistake
A woman is accusing Florida Hospital Winter Park of withholding crucial information about her botched rectal surgery. She has petitioned a judge to order the hospital to release the information, citing state and federal laws. Before the tragic mishap, the 68-year-old woman was in reasonably good health. She exercised regularly and was not on any… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Errors
Should Florida Have Tougher Standards for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL)?
Accidents involving commercial vehicles, like semi-trailers and big rigs, account for a large number of traffic accidents in the US. These catastrophic accidents are far more dangerous and deadly than accidents involving other motor vehicles because of their dramatically larger size and nature. Due to their increased size and weight, accidents involving these kinds of… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Was Florida’s Frivolous Lawsuit Crisis Real? (No)
According to the Florida Supreme Court, state legislators created a false medical malpractice crisis to increase the profits of insurance companies. Recently, the court ruled that statutory caps on non-economic damages (pain and suffering, inconvenience, impairment, anguish, etc.) in claims where a person died due to medical malpractice violated the state constitution’s equal protection clause,… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence
Does a New Florida Law Affect Doctor and Patient Confidentiality?
Yes, a recent change to Florida law regarding expert witnesses was a threat to injured patients and their interests, that same law also threatens the relationship between injured patients and their regular physicians. Can I Trust My Doctor To Keep My Medical History Private? Doctors and other medical professionals have a duty to keep your… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence
Who Can Be an Expert Witness in Florida Medical Malpractice Cases?
Until recently, Florida medical malpractice law defined an expert witness as a healthcare provider who practices in the same or similar specialty as the defendant. For example, if a patient suffered a spinal injury at a hospital, that patient could use a surgeon in another field, like an orthopedic surgeon, who performed the same procedures… Read more »
Posted in Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Trial, Medical Negligence
