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When doctors make a mistake, such as missing a critical diagnosis of cancer, it can hit you hard. You count on your doctor to help you correctly identify a physical ailment or the root cause of a condition. You want that diagnosis in a timely fashion so that your illness, injury or condition is treated correctly and promptly. A…
The New York Times (NYT) reports that many nursing homes are offering more amenities in an effort to attract patients that are in need of short-term rehabilitation. Short-term care can be a good option for a convalescing elderly person who has just been released from the hospital. Some nursing home experts are beginning to wonder, however, if the homes…
In today’s digital world, the use of electronic health records (EHRs) is ever expanding. Interestingly, the inherent design of an EHR can significantly impact medical malpractice litigation. What Is an Electronic Health Record? An EHR provides all the same information as can be found in a patient’s paper chart, yet in a digital format, making it immediately accessible to…
When a doctor, surgeon, nurse, dentist, or other health care professional neglects to meet the legal duty of care by failing to provide a level of service at or above the acceptable standard of practice in the medical industry, it is often the patient who will suffer. If a patient suffers injury or harm as a direct result…
When a patient undergoes major surgery, he or she is administered a powerful anesthetic and will be “under” until the surgery has been completed. Each patient will need a specific quantity and type of anesthetic. Determining how much anesthetic is necessary must be determined on a case-by-case basis by a skilled anesthesiologist. The correct dosage can allow a…
Cancer is a serious diagnosis; in many cases it is life-threatening. A doctor or team of medical professionals should be able to accurately and quickly diagnose such a critical disease, in order to get the patient immediate treatment and potentially extend their life. But in many cases, cancer diagnoses are missed or delayed, and several factors are to…
A doctor who does not look into your eyes and actually listen to your complaints and concerns may misdiagnose your medical condition. A diagnosis mistake is a serious error, preventing you from receiving the timely treatment you may need. Electronic medical records are the new norm in doctors’ offices across the U.S., and for the most part that’s a good thing. Electronic…
Experts have long tried to determine how many people die as a result of medical errors in hospitals. In 1999, a report called “To Err is Human” shook up the medical community by suggesting up to 98,000 patients died from preventable errors in hospitals each year. Now a new report says the actually number of deaths from medical errors is…
When a medical mistake happens, and they happen often, doctors and other medical staff often close ranks. We’ve seen it many times when a victim of a medical error is shut out by the people responsible. Several issues are at play here, and one of them is fraternity among doctors and hospitals, where mistakes are not discussed unless…
In the medical world, there are countless conditions, diseases, and medical events, each with unique and sometimes shared symptoms. Determining your diagnosis can be difficult. But with the availability of improved knowledge and technology, doctors and hospital personnel are more equipped than ever to make accurate diagnoses. There are some basic exams that a physician can administer which…