Archives: Articles
- Sleep Deprivation and Medical Errors in New Jersey
Nov 21, 2016
Will Proposal to Extend Residency Shifts Lead to More Medical Errors? It is undeniable: medical errors are a significant problem facing America today. In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the British Medical Journal, cited medical error as the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Experts have proposed a myriad of solutions to confront this issue, one of which involves the work conditions, and more...Read More - What is Meconium Aspiration Syndrome?
Nov 10, 2016
A baby’s time in utero is a critical period of development that spells long-term implications for his or her health after birth. The way that a single cell grows and evolves into an entire human being with organs, fingers, and toes, is simply miraculous. However, the process by which this occurs is extremely complex and rife with potential complications. One such complication, known as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS), can have serious consequences, including brain damage, lifelong...Read More - Three Mothers Bring Lawsuits Against Doctor, Hospital After Babies Suffer Birth Injuries
Oct 18, 2016
Three mothers have filed lawsuits against a physician and a hospital, for alleged medical malpractice that resulted in two children with severe birth injuries and one who did not survive. These tragic cases are evidence of the catastrophic consequences that may result from medical negligence and delivery errors during child birth. Obstetricians, hospitals, and medical staff are given the extraordinary responsibility to monitor and execute the safe delivery of their patients’ babies and when they fail to...Read More - FDA Warns Against Prescribing Opioids and Sedatives in Combination
Sep 24, 2016
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently required more effective warnings about the potentially lethal consequences of combining prescription painkillers and sedatives. This announcement followed the filing of a petition by health directors of 16 states and 12 cities, resulting from a concern about the increasing occurrence of overdose of prescription painkillers. The FDA has been the subject of much criticism for its failure to react in response to the rapid increase in opioid-related...Read More - Damages for Medical Malpractice Claims in New Jersey
Sep 16, 2016
What Damages are Available to Victims of Medical Malpractice in New Jersey? When you or someone you love has been injured as a result of negligence by a doctor, hospital, or another medical professional, you are entitled to pursue compensation, also known as “damages.” There are two types of damages that a plaintiff in a medical malpractice action may recover, called compensatory damages and punitive damages. In this article, we will thoroughly examine both compensatory...Read More - Hospital Filming, Patient Privacy, and Medical Malpractice
Sep 11, 2016
A $2.2 million settlement was reached between the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, over filming for a television documentary that disclosed the medical information of two patients without obtaining their consent. Specifically, the hospital allowed the ABC Network crew for “NY Med” to film a dying patient and another patient in significant distress. The settlement agreement provides for monitoring of the hospital by the Office of...Read More - Intubation Errors and Medical Malpractice
Sep 3, 2016
Understanding Intubation Errors and Related Injuries in New Jersey Ideally, anesthesiologists administer safe and effective drugs to patients prior to undergoing serious surgical procedures. Unfortunately, intubation errors and anesthesia errors may occur in a variety of situations, despite assumptions that complications are isolated to hospital surgeries. For example, these errors may also occur in urgent care facilities, dentist’s offices, or surgery centers. Although relatively commonplace, the use of intubation can lead to profound complications and permanent harm...Read More - The Risks of Double-Booked Surgery
Aug 28, 2016
The possibility of surgery, especially the potential for errors during surgery, can be stressful and daunting. Risks may be present, even for minor surgery. A patient normally puts his/her faith in a surgeon, believing that person to be trustworthy and completely focused on them during the surgery. Although a reasonable expectation, that may not always be the case. It is possible that the surgeon supervising your procedure could be operating on another patient, during your...Read More - CDC Puts $26 Million Toward Patient Safety Research to Prevent Hospital Infection
Aug 12, 2016
Recently, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committed $26 million to new research aimed at preventing hospital infections and improving patient safety in medical settings throughout the country. This initiative, known as the Prevention Epicenters Program, will be spearheaded by five major academic medical centers between 2016 and 2020. The goal of the research is to craft and experiment with innovative approaches to improving patient safety, with a particular focus on the prevention...Read More - New York Hospital Combats Medical Errors with Video Surveillance
Jul 22, 2016
When you take a look at medical errors in the United States, the numbers are astounding. According to the Journal of Patient Safety, medical errors result in approximately 400,000 deaths each year. So, what to do? How can hospitals and the medical professionals who work within them prevent these errors and their devastating results? One hospital in New York is leveraging technology, specifically video surveillance, to monitor and improve patient care in an effort to cut...Read More