Are Sleep Deprived Doctors Causing Medical Mistakes?
Would you trust an airline pilot to fly your plane if they had not received enough sleep? Almost everyone would answer “no” to this question. After all, we depend on airline pilots with our lives. The same goes for doctors and other health care professionals. Would you trust a sleep deprived doctor to carry out… Read more »
Tags: PatientCare
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Are You at Risk for a Heart Surgery Mistake?
Did you know that former Saturday Night Live cast member and comedian Dana Carvey was the victim of a heart surgery mistake? In 1997, Carvey was out jogging when he started feeling chest pains. Doctors told Carvey he had a blocked artery and scheduled surgery to remove the blockage. The procedure was a failure because… Read more »
Tags: HeartSurgery
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Should Hospitals Take Cyberattack Threats Seriously?
Several recent examples of hackers holding patient records hostage have been circulated by news outlets. Hospitals have also faced direct attacks on their IT systems. Other cybersecurity risks at hospitals are far more serious and involve equipment used to treat and monitor patients. These attempts show that patient safety and cybersecurity are becoming intertwined. The… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can You Research Your Doctor’s Disciplinary History?
You would research a job candidate or contractor working on your house, right? How about the doctor who is scheduled to perform your next check up? Many people would say no to the second question, simply because they are unaware of the different ways to research doctors. There are tools Florida patients can use to… Read more »
Tags: CheckUp
Posted in Medical Malpractice
How Are Families Affected by Medical Mistakes?
Medical mistakes can severely affect the lives of patients and their families. It would be unfair to suggest that only the patients suffer when errors are made by doctors or hospitals. Some of these errors can cause severe disabilities, meaning parents, siblings, significant others or children are tasked with providing round-the-clock care. The costs of… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can Doctors Be Sued for Patient Suicides?
The Florida Supreme Court is allowing a case involving a 55-year-old woman who committed suicide in 2008 while under the care of her physician to move forward. In 2008, the woman contacted her doctor’s office and described symptoms such as crying spells, mental strain and gastrointestinal issues. Once the doctor learned of this information from… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Does Your Child Have This Commonly Misdiagnosed Illness?
Cat owners beware, your precious kitty could be responsible for spreading a dangerous bacterial infection to yourself or family members. The bacteria, Bartonella henselae, is passed between cats and fleas. Bartonella henselae can build up in the mouths and on the paws of cats when they groom themselves. When pet owners develop illness caused by… Read more »
Tags: Pediatrics
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Medical Mistakes You Won’t Believe: An Organ Transplant Gone Wrong
Organ transplants are used to give dying patients a second chance at life. However, sometimes the unthinkable occurs and transplant errors take lives. A transplant error in 2003 gained national attention and led to changes on how these surgeries are conducted. In 2003, Duke University admitted that it used the incorrect organs during a heart… Read more »
Tags: Surgery
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Watch Your Step, Falls in Hospitals Hurt Thousands of Patients Annually
Did you know falls are one of the top patient safety threats in hospitals? Statistics gathered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show that thousands of hospital patients are injured in falls every year. One-third of hospital falls are preventable. In some cases, hospitals do not take the necessary steps to prevent… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can Robots Transform Hospital Safety?
Robots are being used in healthcare settings to prevent pharmacy mistakes, assist with surgery and to diagnose illnesses. In many cases, robots perform these tasks more accurately than human beings. It seems possible robots can make hospitals safer. Read on to learn more about how robots or artificial intelligence have been used to prevent medical… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
