What is wrong with Ohio hospital care? Why do we hear about never-ending medical errors and mistakes being made in Ohio Hospitals? Every day we hear about or experience needless and countless numbers of tragic deaths and serious and catastrophic injuries in Ohio Hospitals due to system failures and communication breakdowns. Before I venture any [...]
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis is a surprisingly common theme in medical malpractice litigation. We see this as a central issue in many of our cases. Misdiagnosis, wrong diagnosis or delayed diagnosis accounts for a substantial number of claims and frequently can make a significant difference, between life and death. Just last year I handled a [...]
Medical errors are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. each year. We typically hear about deaths caused by cancer, heart disease and auto collisions. The campaign to find a cure for cancer or heart disease is commendable, as is patient safety in the operation of motor vehicles. Safety rules to prevent [...]
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 [...]
Hospital negligence refers to medical malpractice claims that arise out of substandard medical care provided by hospital employees, including nurses and residents. Residents, or physicians-in-training, play a key role on care of hospitalized patients. However, overworked, fatigued and inexperienced residents can be dangerous to a hospitalized patient's health. Residents are doctors-in-training who have graduated medical school but need [...]
A type of brain injury, called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), can occur as a result of complications from use of Tysabri (natalizumab) by patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). PML was first identified in immunocompromised patients, such as AIDS and cancer patients. However, it can arise when Tysabri reactivates a dormant viral illness called JC Virus (also known [...]
Motor vehicle accidents almost always occur due to driver error. We have seen car accidents resulting from driver inattention, texting and driving, drinking and driving, inexperienced drivers and simple neglect. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently published a stunning article about the hazards of "drowsy driving" - where drivers hurtling down the road in a 2000 lbs. vehicle fall [...]
There is an alarming risk of medical malpractice in the treatment of anaphylaxis, according to an article published in the journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). Anaphylaxis is a severe, systemic allergic reaction that affects some people when exposed to certain drugs, foods or bee stings. Anaphylaxis happens quickly after the exposure and involves the whole body, but [...]
In April, 2010, the Ohio State Medical Board issued a Policy Statement that sets for guidelines for the preparation of death certificates in Ohio. The Policy Statement can be read here: http://med.ohio.gov/pdf/position_statements/Death_Certificates.pdf. In brief, a Death Certificate can be completed by the county coroner, medical examiner or the patient's attending physician. The "attending physician" is the [...]
There are two scenarios where a cause of death may be reviewed under Ohio law. First, an attending physician who negligently causes his/her patient's death may be the same physician who prepares the Death Certificate. In such a situation, the attending physician has an obvious conflict of interest. The patient's family may want an independent physician [...]
