A doctor who operates on the patient's wrong leg and claims he did her a favor? A major hospital chain that hires runners to bring homeless patients in for unnecessary procedures? You wouldn't believe it if it wasn't true. Unfortunately, these stories and many similar tales of greed and incompetence can be read right here: [...]
Surgical errors sometimes occur before the surgery even takes place. Before an operation, surgeons perform a preop assessment of the patient to determine whether they are a candidate for the operation. Patients must meet certain indications to be considered for surgery. In addition, the patient must be assessed to determine whether they are fit enough for [...]
I predict an increase in medical malpractice cases arising out of failure to undertake proper suicide prevention measures. My prediction is based on recent trends in suicide rates and the medical community's typical failure to keep pace with such societal trends. We have all heard the PSA that goes "suicide is preventable and its causes are [...]
Delayed diagnosis of hospital infections can lead to a progression of disease and an adverse outcome. Left untreated, infections can progress from a local problem to sepsis, a systemic response to the infection. With further progression, sepsis can turn to shock, organ failure and, ultimately, death. Likewise, a delay in treatment can make it necessary to [...]
Victims of medical errors typically experience a range of emotions, including confusion, disbelief, grief, guilt, betrayal and anger. In the aftermath of this emotional rollercoaster, many people have a burning desire to hold the responsible parties accountable. People often feel strongly that they don't want this catastrophe to happen to anyone else. While this sense of injustice [...]
Mishkind Kulwicki Law recently settled a case involving medical errors that occurred when a patient was transferred from one facility to another. We often see mistakes made at this critical time. In fact, physicians have a name for this common type of error: "hand-off error." Typically, the error occurs when key information about the patient is not communicated [...]
If an injury occurs during the course of and arising out of employment, an employee in Ohio is entitled to workers compensation benefits. Ohio has a no-fault system for injuries that arise out of employment. The employee does not need to prove that the employer was negligent as long as the injury occurred during the [...]
Nursing homes are required to follow specific rules and regulations in the care of their residents. The law in Ohio is intended to protect the rights of residents in nursing homes and to make sure that they are not neglected or abused. Too often, nursing homes put profits before the best interests of their patients. [...]
Speak up and stay alive is all about your healthcare and the need for you to be an active participant in your healthcare. I recently met Pat Rullo, an author, speaker and trainer on health care issues and surviving hospital care. Her story is not unique. What is unique about her is that she is [...]
Hospital infections remain one of the dark secrets of American hospitals. Rather than becoming rarer, hospital infections seem to be more common. The bacteria Clostridium difficile, also called C. diff., has added to this developing danger in the last several years. USA Today reported that about 350,000 C. diff infections resulted in about 30,000 deaths nationwide in 2010. C [...]