Blog: Medical Malpractice
- Medical Negligence and Errors Account for 250,000+ Deaths Per Year
May 23, 2016
Medical errors in hospitals and other health care facilities claim the lives of 251,000 patients in the United States each year. Tragically, these deaths may be linked to just a few common mistakes made by medical professionals. According to a study conducted by The Doctors Company, three common errors may make up more than two-thirds of all medical malpractice claims against hospitalists — meaning in-patient physicians who work exclusively in hospitals. The study reported that 78 percent of...Read More - Study: Medical Malpractice Injuries Caused by Hospitalists More Severe
May 20, 2016
Claims arising from poor care by hospitals’ in-house physicians (called hospitalists) may be more likely to result in a higher injury severity than those arising from other physician specialties, new research has found. The study, titled “Hospitalist Closed Claims Study: An Expert Analysis of Medical Malpractice Allegations,” found that 72 percent of claims arising from hospitalists are found to be highly severe, compared to 34 percent from all physicians. These findings are based on claims reported by...Read More - Problems that can Cause Brain Damage at Birth
May 19, 2016
Parents-to-be rightfully expect their medical care provider to detect and respond to any condition that may injure their unborn baby. When certain dangerous situations go undetected and/or untreated, it is unfortunately the newborn and his or her family who must suffer the consequences. Below are a few problems that can lead to preventable brain damage during birth. Contact Anapol Weiss to speak with a highly qualified birth injury attorney if your child sustained brain damage at...Read More - Medical Negligence Factors Contributing to Patient Injuries
May 18, 2016
Patient assessment issues, communication errors, and treatment errors may be the most common factors that contribute to patient injuries in hospitals, according to a new study. A study conducted by The Doctors Company reported that 38 percent of all claims against hospitalists, meaning in-patient physicians who work exclusively in hospitals, involve patient assessment issues. Inadequate assessments, according to the study findings, include: Failure to establish a differential diagnosis Failure to or delay in ordering diagnostic tests Failure to consider...Read More - Most Medical Malpractice Claims Attributed to 3 Common Errors
May 17, 2016
Three common errors could make up more than two-thirds of all medical malpractice claims against in-patient physicians who work exclusively in hospitals (called “hospitalists”), according to new research. A study conducted by The Doctors Company reported that 78 percent of all claims against hospitalists include medical misdiagnosis, improper management of treatment, and medication mistakes. The study, titled “Hospitalist Closed Claims Study: An Expert Analysis of Medical Malpractice Allegations,” found that 36 percent of the errors involved...Read More - Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Birth Trauma
May 13, 2016
Birth trauma happens unexpectedly, but it can forever change a family’s life. While the details leading to a birth injury can differ greatly, many situations involve poor prenatal care or a medical care provider’s failure to take action in connection with problems that arise during labor and delivery. Conditions That Can Result in Birth Trauma Include: Decreased or lack of oxygen during birth Fetal distress Hypertension in the mother during pregnancy Improper use of forceps or other medical devices Macrosomia (large...Read More - Complications Caused by a Lack of Oxygen during Birth
May 10, 2016
Reduced oxygen before, during or after a baby’s birth can cause severe and potentially fatal injuries. When signs of oxygen deprivation arise, health care providers must identify the cause and take immediate action and contact a birth injury lawyer at Anapol Weiss. Birth asphyxia is a condition in which a baby’s brain and organs are not receiving an adequate amount of oxygen. Without enough oxygen, cells in the body quickly begin to malfunction and can die...Read More - Medication Errors in Nursing: What Can be Done?
Apr 28, 2016
Nurses are integral in the prevention of medication errors. They are directly involved in the prescription process including advising on dosages as well as detecting errors and taking corrective action before a medication is administered to a patient. While they provide a safety defense against hospital medication errors, nurses can also make dangerous mistakes that have deadly consequences for patients. Drug errors are among the most common medical mistakes in the U.S. In addition to the...Read More - Hospital Inpatient Falls: Medical Malpractice vs. Slip and Fall Lawsuits
Apr 25, 2016
A patient can be badly hurt in a fall in the hospital. Injuries from falling can exacerbate the preexisting condition, or it can cause a whole new set of health problems. Depending on the circumstances of the patient’s injury, negligence could be to blame. A falling incident could be a “slip and fall” injury or a medical malpractice issue. Falls that are unrelated to a patient’s condition – such as slipping on a wet floor that...Read More - Is Patient Abandonment a Medical Malpractice Issue?
Apr 22, 2016
Patient abandonment refers to a situation in which a health care provider terminates a relationship with a patient, fails to provide a reasonable excuse or notice, and fails to assist in selecting a qualified replacement provider. In certain situations, patients who were abandoned and suffered injuries may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. There are a few general elements of patient abandonment cases: The doctor and patient have established a relationship. The patient was abandoned while he...Read More