Blog: Medical Malpractice
- 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 - Three Things to Know about Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Rules
Apr 20, 2016
Certain Pennsylvania laws can affect the outcome of a person’s medical malpractice claim – and even whether that claim can be filed at all. Below are three important rules that apply to Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases. 1. Time Limits for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim Statutes of limitations limit the amount of time person has to file a lawsuit. In Pennsylvania, the deadline to file a medical malpractice claim is two years after the date the plaintiff...Read More - Effects of NJ Statute of Limitations on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Apr 19, 2016
New Jersey limits the amount of time injured patients and their families have to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit. It’s important for those who suspect they were harmed by malpractice to know about these laws to ensure they are able to protect their legal rights. A state’s statute of limitations refers to specific deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In New Jersey, a person injured by medical malpractice must file suit within two years of the alleged...Read More - Medical Malpractice Involving Drug Errors May be Higher Than Reported
Apr 13, 2016
Since 1992, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received nearly 30,000 reports of medication errors. As these reports are voluntary, the Agency believes the number of medication errors that actually occur is much higher. A medication error is “… any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer,” according to the National Coordinating...Read More