Updates and Insights: Medical Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice and Lack of Informed Consent in New Jersey
Apr 15, 2016
Medical malpractice occurs in a myriad of forms: during surgery, during childbirth, in hospitals and emergency rooms, with medication, in children, adults, and the elderly. The variety of actions (or lack thereof) that may constitute medical malpractice is similarly variable, including misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis, failure to treat, prescription errors, and many more. Among the many forms of medical malpractice that cause undue harm to patients, one such form that is often overlooked is...Read More - New Study Examines Medical Malpractice Claims Against Anesthesiologists
Feb 19, 2016
According to a newly released study, there has been a significant reduction in the number of medical malpractice claims brought against anesthesiologists in the last decade. Although the study reported an overall decrease in the number claims against anesthesiologists, there is a striking difference between the frequency of claims in inpatient versus outpatient settings. The aforementioned study, entitled “Comparison and Trends of Inpatient and Outpatient Anesthesia Claims Reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank,” was presented at the latest Annual Meeting of the...Read More - New Survey Provides Insight into Medical Malpractice in the U.S.
Jan 1, 2016
A recent report outlines the results of a survey involving nearly 4,000 physicians from a variety of specialties, including primary care physicians, OB-GYN’s, and surgeons. The survey investigated the prevalence of medical malpractice lawsuits against these healthcare professionals, as well as the leading forms of negligence claimed in the suits brought against them. The recent report was generated by Medscape, a part of WebMD Health Professional Network that provides current medical information and educational tools to those in...Read More - Malfunctioning Mobile Medical Apps May Lead to Product Liability Claims
Dec 11, 2015
With the constant development of new technologies that supplement our lives, applications (often referred to as “Apps”) have become increasingly common, allowing us to accomplish a variety of tasks ranging from purchasing our coffee to finding directions to the nearest hotel or restaurant. It is not surprising, then, that monitoring our health has become easier than ever, with Apps such as Fitbit and MyFitnessPal helping us to regulate everything from calories consumed to steps taken, all from the...Read More - New Jersey Supreme Court Makes Landmark Decision Regarding Doctors with Insufficient Medical Malpractice Insurance Coverage
Oct 1, 2015
Can You Sue an Uninsured Doctor in NJ? In a landmark decision made by the New Jersey Supreme Court recently, justices barred medical malpractice victims from bringing direct cause of action lawsuits against physicians who treat them without adequate medical malpractice insurance. Further, the Court ruled that a physician’s failure to inform a patient of his or her lack of insurance does not represent a violation of the informed consent doctrine. Although this two-fold decision spells significant implications for victims...Read More - New Jersey Hospitals Falling Behind In Fighting Infections
Feb 26, 2015
Despite some improvements, infection rates remain higher than national rates Although New Jersey hospitals have reduced rates of infections in some instances, a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that much work still needs to be done. According to NJ Advance Media, the report found that some infection rates at many acute-care hospitals in the state remain well above the national average. The report follows recent efforts by the...Read More - Legal Options For Families Who Suffered Medical Error During Pregnancy Or Delivery
Feb 6, 2015
Many birth defects are preventable or detectable early in pregnancy. January was National Birth Defect Awareness Month. The goal of the awareness campaign was to help expecting mothers take measures to prevent birth defects and provide support for parents who have a newborn facing immediate and lasting challenges. Birth defects are a large problem in America. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 33 babies is born with a birth...Read More - Must New Jersey Physicians Disclose A Lack Of Malpractice Coverage
Nov 13, 2014
A recent case in New Jersey will determine whether New Jersey physicians must disclose whether or not they have the required medical malpractice insurance coverage required by law. Every year, thousands of Americans are harmed by medical malpractice, resulting in injuries and death in some cases. Patients harmed by malpractice, or families of those killed by it, have a legal right to seek monetary compensation for their losses from the physician or surgeon responsible. However,...Read More - Medication Errors Continue To Put Patients Health In Jeopardy
Aug 25, 2014
Approximately 450,000 hospital patients in the United States sustain adverse drug reactions annually due to medication errors made by hospital staff. Earlier this year, the New Jersey Hospital Association announced that there was much to celebrate during New Jersey’s annual Patient Safety Awareness Week. According to the Association, New Jersey hospitals are continuing to make great strides in lowering the number of hospital medication errors. While this is certainly welcome news, medication errors unfortunately remain...Read More - The Number Of Malpractice Actions Brought Against Nurses Is On The Rise
Jul 8, 2014
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that doctors are perceived as being the ones “in charge” of a health care team. This is true. However, a physician may only spend 30 to 40 minutes a day with even the most critically ill patients. Nurses are a constant presence at the patient’s bedside. Nurses play the vitally important role of ensuring patient safety by monitoring a patient’s condition and communicating to doctors their...Read More