Approximately 7,000 prescription medications are available in the United States today. With that number, it is easy to imagine that errors can occur when medical practitioners prescribe or dispense medicines. Mistakes happen sometimes, but when that error occurs in prescription medicine, it can have devastating consequences. How can you know...
Childbirth is a miraculous and joyous event, but it can also be fraught with risks, especially with certain medical interventions. Forceps, or large and curved medical tongs, are tools that doctors sometimes use to assist in the delivery of a baby. While forceps can be life-saving in certain situations, their...
The consequences of surgical mistakes do not just appear in physical forms. They also result in mental and emotional damage to the patient. To fully understand the severity of the impact of surgical errors, it is essential to know which aspects of the patient’s life were affected. This allows for...
The rapid growth of telemedicine has changed healthcare service delivery. It provides accessible and convenient medical consultations. However, this advancement leads to concerns over how telemedicine could impact medical malpractice. Changes in communication Every year, medical misdiagnoses cause conditions that kill or disable nearly 800,000 people, according to U.S. News....
Hospitals are a place to treat your injuries and illness, not suffer further harm. Unfortunately, the lack of fall prevention in many facilities endangers 100,000 to a million inpatients every year. In addition, suffering a fall during your stay as an inpatient could cause severe injuries and delay your recovery....
Cesarean sections, commonly known as C-sections, often serve as a life-saving procedure during childbirth. Doctors choose this type of delivery when complications arise such as when natural vaginal birth becomes risky for the mother or baby. However, if medical professionals delay this procedure, it can lead to severe consequences. Often,...
Having surgery is a major step, but you courageously do it with encouragement from your loved ones. Following your procedure, you might wake up to some discomfort, but your doctor reassures you this is normal. However, you may require immediate medical attention if you start experiencing excruciating pain. Discomforts you...
Prescription drugs are meant to manage chronic conditions, treat health concerns or maintain overall well-being. However, an incorrect prescription or administration can have devastating consequences. Prescription errors harm one out of 30 patients worldwide, with over a quarter resulting in severe injuries or deaths. These medication mistakes vary depending on...
In the tapestry of healthcare, medical errors can lead to threads of consequences that linger far beyond the initial problem. The impact of these errors is not confined to the hospital room. Instead, it stretches into the lives of patients, families and communities. Patient distrust Approximately 400,000 Americans in the...
Patients stay in hospitals to get better and would never expect their condition to worsen. Unfortunately, accidents, such as patient falls, happen all the time within the premises, resulting in additional and severe injuries, such as broken bones and brain injuries, upon patients. However, no matter how common slip and...
When patients need a catheter after hospital admission, the risk of urinary tract infections is significant. Catheter care is a crucial aspect of mitigating that infection risk, but care providers can still make mistakes. There are several common catheter-care mistakes your medical care team can make that increase your risk...
Delayed births stand out as a significant contributor to birth injuries. When labor extends beyond 18 hours, it raises a red flag. This protracted period can have adverse effects on the newborn, particularly impacting the delicate balance within the infant’s brain. The clock ticks: Risks amplify with prolonged labor Extended...
No matter how much trust we put in our doctors, we cannot eliminate the possibility of them making mistakes. Nonetheless, regardless of this possibility, doctors and health care practitioners can be responsible for injuries caused by their negligence. This is where medical malpractice claims come in. Understanding first the elements...
Consent is when an individual or entity gives another party the permission or authority to do something. It differs from informed consent because the person asking for consent may not have a legal obligation to provide information that could affect the person’s decision. For example, a police officer can ask...
Unnecessary medical treatments cause concern for patients regularly. These treatments can pose long-term risks and a financial burden. Unnecessary treatments come in many forms, making it difficult to recognize them in some instances. There are a few common treatments that doctors may order unnecessarily. Unnecessary surgery You would expect a...
After an operation, it’s common to experience a daze for some time. This disorienting feeling could make the simple act of walking or standing dangerous. Ideally, someone should constantly be monitoring you after an operation, but hospital shortcomings could mean fewer resources for effective fall prevention measures. While it is...
Receiving a serious medical diagnosis can be life-altering. While you put trust in your care providers, sometimes a second opinion is beneficial. There are several benefits to seeking a second opinion. New perspectives Seeking a second opinion gives you the chance to gain a different perspective on your condition. Sometimes...
For some, a surgical error is obvious. If you go in for surgery on your right leg, but your bandages are on your left leg, the wrong-site surgical error is apparent. If your surgery was internal and you experienced a bad medical outcome, how do you know if it was...
Stress and fatigue pose significant risks in the medical field. When people do not get enough sleep due to stress or long hours, their thinking can become muddled. This can be especially dangerous in jobs where safety is crucial. For example, tired and drowsy drivers caused about 684 deaths in...
For readers of legal blogs, you likely know that if you slip and fall at a grocery store or other business, you may have a premises liability claim against the business owner. However, what if you fall at a hospital while you are receiving medical care? Is that a medical...
Advancements in the medical field have brought about many devices that help in diagnosis, treatment and improved quality of life for patients. From heart pacemakers to insulin pumps, these devices play a pivotal role in healthcare. However, like any other piece of technology, medical devices are not immune to failures....
There are surgical errors of unfathomable scale that you would think are humanly impossible. Coined by the National Quality Forum chief executive, “never events” or serious reportable events, as the name suggests, are tragic medical situations that should never have happened. Per the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, never...
Surgery is necessary for treating specific conditions, but it usually has risks. Patients may sustain injuries or die, especially if the procedure involves sensitive and vital organs. But if the patient suffers damage not because of these risks but because of the hospital staff’s negligence, the incident may result in...
The pharmaceutical industry has made great strides in developing medications to help people live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. For them to work, a person needs the correct medication and dosage. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration receives over 100,000 reports...
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition where a blood clot forms in the lungs. It blocks the blood flow which may cause serious harm. Patients with PE often exhibit sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or a rapid heartbeat. While these symptoms should raise concern, they can sometimes be...
It is a harsh reality that medical errors can occur, even in the most developed healthcare systems. One such mistake is the misdiagnosis of kidney cancer. This condition is often misunderstood due to its complex nature, which can lead to delayed or inaccurate treatment. By knowing why misdiagnosis happens, you...
Prior authorization is a process that doctors have to go through to get prior approval from an insurance company to provide a service to their patients. A lot of procedures currently requiring prior authorization do not need it. Sometimes issues with this process can even cause delayed treatments and malpractice....
When you entrust the care of your loved ones to a nursing home, it becomes crucial to ensure their safety, health and well-being. According to Human Rights Watch, understaffing of nursing plays a big part in the negligence of patients. Every visit to the nursing home becomes an opportunity for...
The birth of a child is an extraordinary and joyous event. However, complications during childbirth can result in birth injuries that may have long-lasting effects on both the child and their family. In some cases, these injuries may be due to medical malpractice, which occurs when healthcare professionals fail to...
Anesthesia plays a vital role in surgery, allowing patients to undergo medical procedures without experiencing pain. However, errors in anesthesia administration can result in serious complications, even long-term harm. In Pennsylvania, patients affected by anesthesia errors have certain rights and options that they should be aware of. Learn what to...
If you have a senior family member who lives in a nursing home, you put your trust in the staff and the facility to care for him or her. Unfortunately, some facilities will take advantage of senior patients and can cause injury, illness, and psychological damage. If you suspect physical...
Cerebral palsy includes a group of disorders caused by damage to the brain before, during or shortly after birth. Unfortunately, CP can occur due to medical negligence during the birthing process. How can you find out if your child has cerebral palsy? CP affects muscle tone, movement and posture. Most...
When you have a loved one in a nursing home, you expect that he or she will receive the best possible care. Unfortunately, staff shortages, long hours and other factors can lead to patient neglect. Patient neglect can lead to a wide range of problems, including bedsores. Bedsores are a...
When you trust a medical team and facility to help you through birth, you expect them to uphold the highest standards of care. Unfortunately, birth injuries are among the most common forms of medical malpractice, and neurological complications, such as cerebral palsy, can occur. Examples of medical malpractice that can...
When dealing with a medical issue, seeking timely treatment is crucial. Delayed treatment can lead to severe consequences, both for the individual and the healthcare system. It is important to understand the impact of delayed treatment and the need to address medical concerns promptly. Effects of delayed treatment on patients...
Mistakes during surgery could cause ongoing problems and unexplainable symptoms that threaten your quality of life. Ensuring your doctor knows your expectations requires open and honest communication. Knowing some strategies for reducing your risks of surgical errors can help you effectively prepare for your operation. Understand anesthesia Given the complexity...
Welcoming a new baby into your home can be one of your life’s most exciting and fulfilling moments. While most people understand that there are childbirth risks, your doctors and medical professionals should take all appropriate precautions to prevent severe or life-threatening injuries. When it comes to birth injuries head...
Relying on a nursing home to care for your family member requires you to put your trust in someone else to meet basic needs. You should take immediate action if you have concerns that your loved one experiences neglect. Knowing the warning signs of mistreatment can help you identify when...
Prescription errors can cost you your life. Even the slightest misstep can have a damaging outcome that jeopardizes your quality of life. Preventing such situations requires a joint effort between your health care provider, your pharmacist and yourself. Understanding the role your pharmacist plays in protecting you may give you...
Patients trust healthcare professionals to detect serious illnesses like cancer, relying on their expertise to recognize symptoms and provide timely care. Unfortunately, some medical providers may overlook critical signs and fail to diagnose cancer resulting in further harm to the patient. Missed diagnosis When a healthcare provider fails to recognize...
When people put their loved ones in a nursing home, they trust that the staff will look after them in a caring and professional manner. Unfortunately, factors such as lack of training and understaffing can contribute to cases where nursing home employees become negligent to their patients. Here are three...
Considering surgery is already a serious circumstance, mistakes during the procedure could have a life-threatening impact on you. Protecting yourself from errors requires a basic knowledge of what these errors look like. Open and honest communication with your doctor can clarify expectations and build trust. Following protocols for surgical preparations...
Nursing home residents are often vulnerable and in need of constant care. Unfortunately, many nursing homes in the state fail to provide the necessary level of care and safety, leading to neglect and abuse of residents. The Long Term Care Community Coalition has reported that several nursing homes in the...
The purpose of a prescription is to reduce the number of symptoms you experience and improve your condition. However, an error could have a reverse impact with potentially fatal consequences. While your pharmacist upholds the responsibility of carefully and accurately assigning you medication, there are also things you can do...
When the time comes that your loved one is unable to live on his or her own, you may need to consider long-term care options in some type of facility. The two main choices are a nursing home and assisted living. They differ quite a bit when it comes to...
A serious injury or illness could land you in the hospital. You may even require surgery. With time and proper treatment, your doctors are optimistic you can make a recovery. Unfortunately, some surgery patients suffer further injury by falling while still in the hospital. Depending on the circumstances, the hospital...
Increasing the efficiency of dispensing medicine is a matter that concerns pharmacies since many patients want their medicine as quickly as possible. However, pharmacists must take care that a measure such as copying old prescriptions does not cause drug errors. An article in Pharmacy Times looks at how copying an...
Medical malpractice claims require evidence to prove injury and who was responsible. Without evidence, it is their word versus yours. A jury needs detailed evidence showing what happened to rule in your favor. That makes evidence very important. However, you might not know what evidence counts in this situation. In...
Your journey through injury and recovery has been difficult, and you deserve compensation. According to Spotlight PA, the Supreme Court will soon allow medical malpractice trials in any venue in the state. This aspect may make it easier for plaintiffs to win. Unfortunately, it is not enough to claim injury...
After a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery, you may feel as if it is now smooth sailing and the worst is behind you. But for some women, the time after the birth becomes the most dangerous. Postpartum preeclampsia is a potentially deadly condition that develops after delivery. It involves...
Some surgery patients experience discomfort after an operation, which may be entirely normal. However, severe symptoms such as harsh pain or a fever could be a sign that something went wrong during the surgery, perhaps because of an item a surgeon left in the body of the patient. You should...
If you have a loved one in the hospital, you should be aware of his or her fall risk. After all, despite often causing catastrophic injuries and even death, hospital falls are alarmingly common. In fact, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 700,000 Americans fall...
If you have a loved one who lives with a chronic illness, you undoubtedly know how frustrating these ailments can be. Indeed, while your relative may seem and feel mostly fine one day, he or she might need a trip to the hospital the next day. Chronic illnesses are those...
It is not uncommon for someone to be on multiple medications at once, even for a single condition. If you suffer an adverse reaction to drug interaction, resulting in injury or illness, because of a healthcare professional’s negligence, you may have a medical malpractice claim. When is a medical provider...
Moving a loved one into a nursing home is often a difficult but necessary decision when caring for an elderly family member becomes beyond your capabilities. While you put your trust in the nursing home to provide necessary care, you also trust that your loved one will be safe in...
Hospital understaffing has existed as an acknowledged problem in the medical industry for many decades by this point. Unfortunately, this problem only worsens by the year. On top of that, can it actually lead to an increase in negligence? The risk of understaffing Stat states that due to changes over...
Though many people have likely heard of the dangers that a serious fall can pose, it is far too easy to think of it as something that only happens to the elderly or disabled. However, falls can happen to anyone at any time, and for any reason. In fact, people...
The misdiagnosis of heart ailments among women has been more common than one may think. The reason behind this is that for decades scientists and medical professionals neglected to include women in numerous research studies about the human heart. With no women in these studies, researchers had no data on...
Cerebrospinal fluid fills spaces in between your brain, spinal cord and the bones surrounding it. It acts as a cushion to help reduce impact and to provide nutrients to these crucial components of the body. However, in certain traumatic accidents, it is possible for the membrane holding this fluid in...
Pregnancy and childbirth is a rewarding and exhausting process that many people will experience plenty of ups and downs during. The pain of childbirth is one thing that most people do not want to experience, though. Fortunately, with modern medicine and technology, it is sometimes possible to numb out that...
Having to go to the emergency room is stressful, and the last thing someone wants to think about is a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional making an error that causes the person to become even more ill. There are ways to recoup damages when this occurs, however, it usually...
Over the course of a mother’s pregnancy, it is possible for her to develop gestational diabetes. This affects the way cells use sugar like any other form of diabetes, but it often resolves after the birth of the child. However, gestational diabetes can still potentially cause harm to the unborn...
One of the worst ways to find out your doctor prescribed you drugs that interact poorly with each other is by taking both and experiencing the results directly. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, drug interactions make up around 2.8% of annual hospitalizations in the United States. While...
If you have an elderly relative who lives in a nursing home, you depend on health care professionals there to meet his or her needs. Still, nursing homes can be busy places, with each resident having specific and unique requirements. With staffing shortages currently gripping the industry, it can be...
Entrusting your loved one to a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions many people will make. However, some simply do not have the facilities, expertise or time that needs to go into caring for the elderly. Unfortunately, though, some of these nursing homes have people within them...
After a surgery, you may begin to notice signs of an injury or complications related to the procedure itself during the time when you should start healing. Dealing with medical malpractice when the staff at a hospital makes surgical errors can leave you feeling exhausted and in pain. One of...
When you go into labor, it is advisable to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. After all, you probably do not want to give birth unassisted at home, in your car or anywhere else. This is because you want to take full advantage of modern medicine. After you...
People trust their doctors and other healthcare professionals to make the right decisions for their health. However, these professionals are human and are prone to making the same mistakes as everyone else. Fortunately, those in the medical field receive a lot of training to avoid errors, but they can still...
The delivery room is a place of joy unless something bad happens. It can quickly go from hope and love to uncertainty and sadness if labor or delivery goes on too long. When a doctor fails to assist the birth of a baby after a long labor, it may cause...
It can be virtually impossible to go through life feeling despondent. Still, depression is alarmingly common. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, almost 4% of the population suffers from depression. Among older adults, the number jumps to roughly 6%. Treating depression can be challenging, as not all options...
When dealing with medicine, you may assume that there are no inconsistencies when you visit the doctor and get your prescription. Medication errors can lead to many health complications, including ones that can make it hard for you to work or drive. Learning about why errors happen can help you...
According to AARP, doctors misdiagnose about 12 million adults in the United States every year. These diagnostic errors cause 40,000 to 80,000 deaths. The problem is so common that most people will have at least one missed or misdiagnosed condition in their lifetime. Some conditions are more likely to result...
As you deal with finding a nursing home for your loved one and helping him or her settle into their new life, you may begin to notice signs of neglect as time goes on. Since people tend to need more help for physical and emotional issues as they age, being...
When you need surgery, you are trusting a medical professional to perform an extremely delicate operation on your body. Perhaps the surgeon even claims to have a history of hundreds of similar operations, so you expect nothing to go wrong. Unfortunately, honest mistakes can happen during a surgical operation. However,...
If you have an elderly loved one who requires hospitalization, you expect him or her to receive top-notch care. Still, hospitals and nursing homes can be dangerous places, with patients having an increased risk of developing an infection and sustaining additional injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and...
The time during a birth may feel rushed and confusing. As you push, you may not notice the intense pain you and your baby are feeling until after the delivery. Forceps are one tool that can leave lasting pain for you both if not used correctly. Learning more about what...
Giving a pill to someone in a nursing home who needs medication is not quite as simple as it sounds. Errors related to the administration of medications are common, a troubling fact for families of nursing home residents. Medication standards State inspectors are responsible for identifying the rate of medication...
If your loved one has a serious illness or life-altering injury, doctors may recommend placing him or her into a medically induced coma. This procedure is common when the body requires time to recover. It also may help doctors prevent additional injuries during treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors...
Doctors have a moral and legal responsibility to provide a high standard of care to patients. Yet, CNBC reported that medical mistakes are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. How can a person respond in light of a doctor’s misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a serious illness? Causes...
When you entrust yourself to a medical professional, you expect fair and diligent treatment. The last thing you want is to suffer additional harm due to an unreasonable delay in treatment. Some delays in treatment result from a doctor’s uncertainty on how to proceed, rather than blatant negligence. However, there...
If you are expecting to welcome a new baby into your family, you are probably looking forward to holding your son or daughter for the first time. You probably are not, however, ready for the discomfort that comes with labor. Fortunately, modern medicine offers anesthesia to help mitigate your pain....
Choosing a long-term facility for a loved one can be a daunting task, particularly when there are horror stories about nursing home abuse and neglect. Nursing homes are for those who need round the clock supervision, nursing care and assistance with regular, everyday tasks. Nursing homes may also provide speech,...
Gestational diabetes can develop during your pregnancy. Like other forms of diabetes, it affects the way your cells use sugar. Unlike other forms of diabetes, it may be temporary, resolving with the birth of your baby. Unfortunately, gestational diabetes can cause complications that can harm your baby. The Mayo Clinic...
If you notice lesions on your elderly loved one, you might actually be looking at physical proof of negligence. These lesions could be something known colloquially as bedsores, or pressure ulcers in medical terminology. But what are bedsores? How they come to be may serve as the main indication of...
A medical error may prove costly in many ways. When it comes to protecting yourself or someone, you care for, having a general idea of common malpractice issues may help. Medical negligence is an unfortunate issue throughout the state. While not all mistakes rise to malpractice, those that prove avoidable...
Drug diversion, or the act of medical professionals stealing and using prescription drugs meant for patients for themselves, is a growing problem across Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation. Theft of opioids is of particular concern. However, theft and use of any prescription drug have the potential to hurt...
When pharmacists make mistakes, the results can be tragic. Everything from minor side effects to permanent disabilities and even death can occur. Pharmacists, doctors, and patients alike want to limit the number of prescribing failures. The right preventative actions can reduce these circumstances. When they do occur, the result is...
For most people in Pennsylvania, a trip to the doctor can be a daunting proposition. What typically offers some degree of solace is that the professional treating them often has several years of clinical experience supported by extensive knowledge of their particular field. This assumption may make the idea of...
When your doctor tells you that you need a prescription for your condition, you expect that you will receive the proper medicine from your local pharmacy. Unfortunately, some people end up with an incorrect prescription drug and suffer serious health consequences after taking it. Fortunately, tall man lettering may prevent...
Patients and physicians both have responsibilities to contribute to an alliance based on mutual respect. Your well-being and overall health depend on both you and your doctor living up to your respective responsibilities. According to the American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics, you have certain rights as a patient....
If you or a loved one plans to undergo surgery, it is crucial that you understand the risks of both the procedure and any drugs the surgical team will use to ensure your comfort before, during and after it. One such risk is malignant hyperthermia, which is an adverse reaction...
As your loved one ages or becomes more reliant on healthcare providers or nursing home staff, you have to hope that he or she receives adequate care. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, elder abuse can happen to anyone,...
Cerebral palsy includes a group of movement disorders. If you suspect your child may have CP, he or she may have muscle weakness or an inability to use certain muscle groups. While some children may develop cerebral palsy due to abnormalities, others may develop cerebral palsy due to malpractice. According...
If you have to stay in a hospital, you should feel confident that the staff will provide you with the care you need while helping you recover your health. Unfortunately, some patients suffer serious injuries while in a hospital because of a fall. These falls can result in lengthier hospital...
One type of surgical error is wrong-site surgery. This is when a doctor performs a procedure on the wrong person or place on the body. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains there are three types of wrong-site surgical errors. Wrong-level or wrong-part Wrong level or wrong part surgical...
If your doctor recently recommended that you undergo surgery for health reasons, it is important that you fully understand the risks associated with the procedure. Though it may not cross your mind to concern yourself with the anesthesia portion of the process, you should. Thanks to advances in science, both...
Nursing home safety is a concern for everyone. Tax money often goes to assist facilities that care for the elderly, and many people of this age receive government medical insurance. Because of this, the state has an interest in ensuring facilities offer safe care to patients. The Pennsylvania Department of...
Falls in hospitals happen all too often. Patients may fall for many reasons. Medications can make a person unstable, weak leg muscles develop after time in bed and all the wires and tubes could present a tripping hazard. In any case, a hospital fall is usually preventable. The Patient Safety...
Medication errors are preventable and can lead to serious potential harm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that consumers carefully inspect prescription drugs and report concerns to their doctor or pharmacist. Medical malpractice occurs when prescription drug errors result from negligence by a health care provider. Learn more...
Giving birth to a newborn baby is often one of the most special times of parents’ lives. Unfortunately, there are times when the birth does not go to plan and an injury occurs. When this results from the negligence of a trusted medical provider, it can be extremely traumatic for...
Medical errors can result in significant harm to patients and may be responsible for causing close to 100,000 deaths in the United States annually. What kind of mistakes commonly occur and how do they happen? Misdiagnosis and more There is no single source of information about medical errors because the...
Medical procedures can seem intimidating. Often an area of your body is failing or in disrepair, and you need a solution before it gets worse. In these situations, it can seem like you do not have a choice but to get the proposed procedure. For some, knowing the details of...
Bedsores, often called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, occur when an individual is bedridden or lacks the ability to regularly reposition themselves. The pressure caused when a body part meets the surface of a bed or wheelchair can cut off the blood supply and damage the skin. A negligent or...
Most nursing homes in operation across Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States lack adequate staff. When there are not enough staff members around to tend to residents, it has a direct impact on the quality of care residents receive. Many American nursing homes also misled the government about...
A serious illness resulting from a failed medical procedure or course of treatment is devastating for you or a family member. You may be contemplating a malpractice suit against your doctor. It’s important to have the facts about the differences between medical malpractice and a bad outcome. A bad medical...
Preparing for surgery can cause patients to feel uneasy, but especially so if they do not have adequate support from their health care provider. Because most surgeries require invasive procedures, patients can better protect their well-being when they spend adequate time preparing. Surgical infections can happen when lackluster sanitation processes...
If you have injuries or a serious health issue, a physician or other medical professional may determine you can benefit from drug therapy. The right medications can ease your condition. However, if prescribed incorrectly, they can do more harm than good, and the Pennsylvania prescriber or pharmacist may be liable....
Trusting a nursing home to care for an ailing or aging loved one full-time is a big decision. To put the entire well-being of a family member into the hands of strangers can be difficult. We want to believe that our family members will be safe in their new environment,...
When you leave your loved one in the care of a nursing facility, you expect them to receive the best treatment possible. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Nursing homes and facilities often struggle with cases of abuse. You may feel tempted to keep an eye out for primarily...
When you go to the hospital, you expect to receive expert care, not to incur another injury. Sometimes, though, you may fall during your stay and these incidents can be hazardous. Hospital staff members usually classify falls into three groups. Anticipated physiological falls According to American Nurse Journal, this kind...
The rules for prescribing controlled substances, which are those that have a high level of abuse or are otherwise dangerous when not used correctly, are very strict. If you get a prescription for such a substance, it is essential that your doctor includes all the required elements. The National Center...
If you are facing an upcoming surgery, more than likely you are a bit nervous about it. You want everything to go smoothly. You don’t want to face unexpected complications. You might not like the idea that you have to spend a few days in the hospital as you recover,...
If your labor lasted for more than 18 hours after your contractions began, you may have experienced what the medical community refers to as “prolonged labor.” You and your baby may now also live with the consequences of “failure to progress.” If this is the case, you may wonder if...
Nursing homes provide an invaluable service both to many elderly individuals who need long-term care and to their families. Unfortunately, because of staffing shortages and other issues, residents in nursing homes do not always receive the care they need and deserve. A lack of adequate care often stems from a...
You have an upcoming medical procedure that brings you no end of anxiety. How do you avoid becoming a statistic and suffering a surgical error? OR Today provides insights into preventing mistakes during your procedure. Understand how to advocate for your health and peace of mind. Prevalent surgical mishaps One...
Moving a family member into a nursing home is often a stressful transition. It can be difficult on everybody involved. Nursing home abuse and neglect are very real problems that affect thousands of seniors across the United States. However, as a caregiver, it is important to discern whether or not...
In the process of giving birth, new mothers are usually confident that their medical team has everything under control. However, if a newborn suffers from a lack of oxygen, brain damage can follow. What kind of problems can cause this to happen? About infant brain damage According to the American...
Many Pennsylvania women who are preparing to give birth neglect to consider the fact that they may end up doing so via a Cesarean section. However, as of 2018, almost a third of all American-born babies underwent delivery through this method, so you would be wise to do some research...
Most people in Pennsylvania likely understand that health care does not come with a guarantee of satisfaction. The complexity of the human body makes it nearly impossible for clinicians to be entirely confident in the outcome of any medical procedure. At the same time, however, patients do expect to receive...
If you or your baby experiences an injury before, during or after labor and delivery, this incident constitutes a birth injury. Minor birth injuries like scratches and bruises are common, but other injuries can lead to permanent disabilities. Review the risk factors for birth injuries so you can discuss your...
When you entrust your loved one with a nursing home, you believe they will make decisions that benefit the residents. You want to think that they will prioritize your loved one’s health and safety. You hope that they have a pleasant stay where staff meets all their needs. Unfortunately, this...
Regardless of a person’s age or physical condition, consuming water is essential for having good health. According to the Mayo Clinic, men should drink 15.5 cups of fluids every day, while women should consume 11.5 cups. Dehydration is often an early sign of nursing home neglect. Because the condition may...
You want to help take care of your aging mother and father, so you start looking at nursing homes in Pennsylvania. You know a few things about physical abuse in nursing homes, but what do you know about financial abuse? The National Institute on Aging describes the many ways in...
Falls in the hospital may seem like something that should never happen, but the reality is they occur all too often. The worst thing is that most are completely preventable. At Marzella & Associates, we understand that if you suffer a fall during a hospital stay, you deserve proper representation...
Prescription errors are very common, which is unsettling because they are almost always completely avoidable. Human errors are usually the cause. According to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, prescription errors can occur on all levels with the patient, doctor or pharmacist. Patient errors There is a potential for you...
An organization that represents Pennsylvania health care workers has asked Gov. Tom Wolf to temporarily grant them immunity in medical malpractice claims during the COVID-19 crisis. However, some personal injury attorneys have concerns about the request from the Pennsylvania Medical Society. The group urges the governor to sign an executive...
There is a common perception among the general public that robotic surgery is risky. People feel that involving artificial intelligence in a surgical procedure leaves too much room for error, and due to the involvement of robots, if an error occurs, it would be catastrophic. U.S. News and World Report...
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common disabilities affecting young children. It results from damage to the brain that affects a child’s ability to move and maintain posture and balance. Mistakes by your physician before, during or after birth can cause cerebral palsy in your child. Damage to the...
One of the most common signs of nursing home neglect is the development of bedsores. According to John Hopkins Medicine, bedsores often occur when an older person is not mobile or can no longer sense pain. They may occur along with neglect when the individual in another’s care is not...
Whether you are at home, in a shopping mall or on the street, injuries caused by falling can be severe. When the fall is caused by factors out of your control, however, the injuries might seem needless and frustrating. If the fall occurs in a hospital or other medical facility,...
A recent medical mix-up has you thinking about ways to prevent a similar mistake. If a medical crisis lands you in the emergency room, how can you help avoid a medication error? U.S. News & World Report offers several tips to help patients sidestep avoidable prescription errors. Learn how to...
You have had no problems with your pregnancy so far, but your last checkup cast a few dark clouds on the horizon. Your doctor informed you that you may need a C-section to bring your baby into the world, and the news made you nervous. The American Pregnancy Association explores...
You felt that the nursing home you and your family selected for your mother was one of the best in the area. However, it was alarming to learn that she suffered a misdiagnosed MRSA infection. What happens now? About MRSA The official name for MRSA is Methicillin-resistant S. aureus. It...
It sounds like a scenario that only exists in old stories: someone being declared dead only to be revived just before body preparation procedures that truly would be lethal. It is hard to imagine that someone could be incorrectly pronounced dead in this day and age. But while rare, it...
One of the most frustrating things that victims of medical malpractice and their families can experience is being left in the dark about what happened. Due to doctors’ and hospitals’ fear of litigation, they often will provide patients little or no information about the medical mistakes they committed. Traditionally, they...
When getting bad medical test results, it can be easier to hear them from a primary care physician or some other medical professional with whom you already have an established relationship. It is very common practice for testing physicians (such as lab technicians and radiologists) to communicate test results to...
Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, taking over 650,000 lives every year. The most common heart condition is coronary artery disease, affecting nearly 7% of people over 20 years old. Heart conditions can wreak havoc on the other systems of the body, especially in pregnant...
In our last post, we began a discussion about a Pennsylvania man who suffered cardiac arrest and severe brain damage after being injected with a chemical meant to improve contrast in a routine MRI. He had an allergic reaction to the chemical known as gadolinium. His treatment was unacceptably delayed...
When treating patients, medical professionals typically cannot know ahead of time how individuals will respond to a treatment or drug. But if there are known serious risks with a certain drug, physicians need to warn patients about those risks and be fully ready to respond to them if they occur...
Bedsores are one of the most common signs of neglect in a nursing home. Some residents are not able to move frequently on their own. When caregivers fail to regularly rotate and adjust a resident with mobility limitations, bedsores can develop due to long-term pressure. However, families of residents might...
Medical malpractice can happen in many ways, and the treatments a patient does or does not receive may be a source of malpractice. The more informed a patient is about what kind of malpractice they can suffer from, the more likely they are to prevent an unnecessary injury or illness....
Sometimes, your doctor must read between the lines to determine how to best test, diagnose and treat patients. This is particularly true for conditions that rely on accurate self-reporting. Conditions such as fibromyalgia might not show clear evidence beyond your own personal experience, for example. However, Pennsylvania medical staff need...
The term polypharmacy refers to an individual who was prescribed more than one medication at the same time to either control a serious condition or treat numerous conditions at once. For more than 150 years, people have understood that taking numerous medicinal treatments at the same time could cause dangerous...
From a physical viewpoint, birth injuries are often very devastating. Mothers as well as their children often suffer in different ways in terms of their physical well-being as a result of injuries during childbirth. However, the emotional impact of these injuries is often devastating for mothers as well as entire...
Preeclampsia is a very serious condition that can arise during the latter stages of your pregnancy, generally after your 20th week. The Mayo Clinic explains that preeclampsia represents a life-threatening situation for both you and your unborn child. Preeclampsia has to do with your blood pressure level and occurs when...
Millions of people in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation put their lives in the hands of surgeons and other professionals when they enter the operating room. You trust that the surgical professionals performing your procedure are well-trained, detail minded and will not make a mistake. Yet, surgical errors occur more...
If you have suffered a serious injury or developed a life-threatening medical condition, you may have to undergo surgery as part of your treatment plan. In the pre-operating room, a nurse or another health care professional may ask you to sign a waiver. If your surgical procedure results in additional...
Patients in Pennsylvania should feel confident going into surgery that their surgeon is going to do everything in their power to ensure that the surgery is a success. While patients do assume the potential for some risk during many medical procedures, that does not release providers from the responsibility of...
As you go through your pregnancy, you likely have concerns regarding the possibility that your baby will sustain an injury during the birthing process. Per the Birth Injury Guide, only 3% of American births result in a birth injury to the baby. In addition, the vast majority of these injuries...
Anesthesia is an essential tool in the operating room that allows a patient not to feel the pain that results from their surgeries. Despite the benefits of this loss of sensation, it is not without its risks. There are many forms of injuries that a patient can receive just from...
Pennsylvania surgeons and anesthesiologists are generally talented, dedicated medical professionals who routinely satisfy their oaths to do no harm. However, every surgical procedure encompasses much more than the doctors’ knowledge and skill. Success in the operating room requires a team to work together seamlessly and communicate effectively. Moreover, providers have...
Horner’s syndrome is a condition involving the sympathetic nerves of the face. These nerves run to the face from the hypothalamus in the brain via the spinal cord. Damage to the nerve fibers can interrupt their function and cause a specific set of symptoms. Though a rare condition, Horner’s syndrome...
It is vital that parties affected by malpractice or those loved ones devastated by a wrongful death seek the fair compensation owed to them. It may be a long process, but that kind of loss deserves justice. A woman who died during an outpatient spinal surgery in 2018 sees her...
Dismissal of a patient’s symptoms and failure to appropriately diagnose and treat may constitute medical malpractice. When a person experiences advanced illness and poor outcomes in this situation, the doctor may be legally negligent. Learn more about how the court evaluates medical malpractice in this type of situation. The reasonable...
When you sue your physician, pharmacist or any other professional on your health care team for medical malpractice, you must present clear and convincing evidence at trial to support your allegations. FindLaw explains that simply sustaining an injury or developing an illness soon after your hospitalization, dental procedure or prescription...
Of all the states affected by the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19, Washington has been the hardest hit thus far with over 160 confirmed cases. A nursing home in the town of Kirkland is the epicenter of the outbreak in Washington, with at least 70 staffers...
Errors are a legitimate concern for anyone taking medication. Whether it is happening at home through a prescription or during a visit to a medical facility, the risk is real. Mistakes can lead to serious complications, including the possibility of a long-term injury or even death. Just how big of...
Surgeons are often the most accomplished and gifted individuals in the medical field. Becoming a surgeon requires extensive schooling, lengthy residencies and constant dedication. As such, the surgical profession draws only the most elite candidates from across the medical world. However, surgeons are often notorious for treating patients and colleagues...
When someone has a medical procedure, there is an expectation that the provider will do the best and follow the standard of care. Unfortunately, medical errors happen, and many of them result in harm to the patient. In some cases, this error may be due to medical malpractice. According to...
Even the most experienced physician can make a mistake that has dire health consequences for the patient. When you have reservations about a diagnosis, treatment or another recommendation made by your doctor, you may consider seeing another provider for a second opinion. These are some common reasons to consult with...
Pennsylvania medical professionals work hard to ensure a safe environment for every patient. This is especially true for expecting mothers. But they are human and are as susceptible to making mistakes as anyone else. Today we will look at one type of birth injury that impacts newborn children. It is...
There is no excuse for negligent behavior in any profession. It is especially dangerous in a medical facility. No matter how busy staff members are, it is important for them to follow established protocol to ensure at least a reasonable standard of care. A study published by the U.S. National...
Many individuals feel that giving birth is one of the most exciting and meaningful experiences of their lives. However, childbirth may also be a physically traumatic experience for both the mother and the baby. Birth injuries may range from mild to severe, and some may have lasting consequences. While some...
Your loved ones need a lot more help as they grow older, but many may not realize just how much help. Millions of older adults experience abuse, but the same conditions that put them in a vulnerable place may also make it hard for them to ask for support. 10%...
Medical negligence occurs when a medical professional fails to take appropriate measures when dealing with a patient’s condition. As a medical practitioner, therefore, it is important to understand what constitutes medical negligence to avoid getting into trouble with the law. Here are some of the actions that fall under medical...
Every medical practitioner in Pennsylvania must take care of their patients by following a set of standard care procedures from consultation until the post-care of the patient. It is when a doctor deviates from these set practices that they conduct malpractice. A big part of medical malpractice arises due to...
It may come as no surprise to you that people can slip or fall in healthcare settings. After all, hospitals are where people go for surgeries or to recover from illnesses, and it is not easy to get up and walk while recovering. You can expect falls even more in...
When your Pennsylvania doctor assesses your symptoms, performs an exam and still cannot diagnose the issue, he or she may tell you that the condition is “all in your head.” Such a diagnosis can be both insulting and frustrating, and you may wonder what more you can do to receive...
Taking a malpractice lawsuit against a medical professional may be a very long and unexpected ride. Chances are you are entitled to receiving financial compensation, or the doctor was right, and you are wasting your time. To determine the truth behind medical malpractice, you need to get the help of...
Health care providers and medical facilities have a system of checks and balances to help prevent dangerous prescription medication errors. Despite these precautions, however, mistakes can still happen. If you or a loved one takes one or more prescription drugs, identify and avoid potential errors with these safety tips. Check...
There is a significant responsibility that comes with being a doctor, surgeon or other health care professional in Pennsylvania. People who are suffering from discomforting symptoms, diseases and illnesses rely on these medical professionals to provide them with thorough care and to treat them in ways that are safe and...
Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is a common occurrence in the medical field. A doctor might mistake one disease or condition for another, simply because the symptoms can be similar or the same in the early stages. But other times, the symptoms you are experiencing point directly to a condition that your doctor...
You rely on healthcare professionals to care for you and provide treatment when you need it most. But unfortunately, some doctors make mistakes that can lead to serious issues. Whether you experienced a misdiagnosis that led to ongoing health problems, or you suffered a surgery error that caused added pain,...
When you have surgery, doctors put you under with anesthesia. Anesthesia makes sure you can’t feel the pain of surgery. It also keeps your body relaxed so doctors can operate without you moving. But doctors can make mistakes when giving a patient anesthesia. These mistakes can affect the brain and...
Patients, whether it is in-patient or out-patient care, trust that their healthcare team in Pennsylvania will do no harm. While most medical providers do their best during the course of care, mistakes do happen, and many errors are preventable. According to the Collegian, medical negligence is one of the leading...
If you have an elderly loved one in your care, at some point you may need to find a nursing home to provide a higher level of attention. While this can be a challenging decision, it may be in the best interest of your family member, especially when experiencing the...
You know your upcoming surgery at a Pennsylvania medical facility is for the betterment of your health, but that most certainly does not mean you are not nervous about it. You hate to think about something going wrong during the surgery, but know it is a possibility. HCA Healthcare has...
Both mothers and babies are at risk for injury before, during and after labor and childbirth. These incidents, defined as birth injuries, often cause mental and physical disabilities that last for years or even a lifetime. While not all birth injuries constitute medical malpractice, you may be eligible for legal...
One of the most common medical mistakes is a prescription error. There have always been jokes about the horrible handwriting of doctors, but in reality, horrible handwriting could have devastating consequences. If a pharmacist or other medical professional cannot read what a doctor writes in regards to a medication, it...
Pennsylvania residents who live in nursing facilities expect a certain level of care from their caregivers. However, as a recent incident at a Pennsylvania facility illustrates, staff errors or negligence may result in serious injuries or even death. Becker’s Hospital Review reports that a child died at a nursing facility...
Hospital-related injuries, accidents and fatalities are not unique to Pennsylvania residents. There are medical patients across the United States who suffer harm due to negligence among healthcare personnel. A lawsuit filed against Tennessee doctors who operated on a patient’s wrong kidney is an example of how easy it is for...
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