A recent study released by a nonprofit organization confirms that hospital and medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. each year. This statistic is staggering but unfortunately not surprising! According to The Leapfrog Group, 440,000 patients are dying each year due to preventable hospital errors. "We are burying a population the [...]
"Empathy" is defined by Merriam-Webster, in part, as "the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, ... the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another..." Why would a plaintiff's personal injury and medical malpractice attorney write about empathy? Well, the answer is easy for so many reasons. In this blog, part 1, I will [...]
What causes doctors to misdiagnosis a medical condition? After all, they are trained to diagnose and treat all kinds of medical conditions and we expect them to keep us safe and to accurately diagnose us so that we can prevent avoidable harm. They are taught in medical school to use the differential diagnosis method to [...]
Ohio Surgical errors occur on a regular basis. Why did the surgery fail? Why did the patient die? Why has recovery following the surgery taken so very long? Why was a foreign object left behind? WHY ISN'T ANYONE EXPLAINING TO ME WHAT WENT WRONG? Behind the wall of silence in healthcare are the unanswered questions [...]
Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a horrible disease that afflicts about 300 people each year. The condition is poorly understood but it is believed to be caused by an immunological response to various medications, including the antibiotic Bactrim. The young patient will develop rapid progression of erythromatous lesions that can result in a burn-like state, scarring, sepsis, shock [...]
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 [...]
When you last visited your doctor, did you see a pharmaceutical salesperson with a large briefcase sitting in the lobby? Do you know someone that has been injured due to medication errors? Have you ever wondered why? How about the drug salesperson that shows up with a tray of cookies for the medical office staff? [...]
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is often caused by preventable birth injuries. There are various forms and causes of CP. As attorneys that represent newborn infants and their families when brain damage occurs during the birthing process, we are constantly learning about the various types of CP and the causes and manifestations of the condition. The most [...]
The next time that someone tells you that malpractice premiums are escalating and contribute to runaway healthcare costs, please make them aware of the following information. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners published statistics on malpractice payouts showing that direct losses incurred have dropped from a high of $8,459,389,539 in 2003 to $3,655,161,296 in 2011. Without factoring in inflation, that [...]
I have previously blogged about communication errors leading to medical mistakes. We all are concerned about the quality of our healthcare and whether there has been a decrease in the quality of care. Too little attention to a patient's concerns leads to frustration and a problem with our system of medical care. As a patient [...]
