Agency’s decision makes it more difficult to find the best hospital
A federal agency has made it more difficult for the public to access the rate of “never events” in hospitals nationwide. When you have a serious medical condition, you understandably want the best care available. Like most others in your position, you rely on Internet research to find the best hospital with the lowest number […]
Hospital superbug scares linked to dirty endoscopic equipment
On behalf of Daniel C. Minc Suits have been filed for injury and death from infections from difficult-to-clean medical equipment. We all get routine medical tests from time to time and need to be able to trust that the equipment our doctors and hospitals use for diagnostic testing is safe. It has been unsettling to […]
New study reasserts the importance of PSA testing for men
Recent controversy over prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer has left many men confused. In May 2012, a report was released with new government guidelines regarding PSA testing. The guidelines discouraged the use of the blood test that looks for PSA in high levels as an indication of prostate cancer. This controversial statement has been challenged by many medical professional who reassert the need for this testing.
The new guidelines
In the new guidelines, the concern was that with routine PSA testing, men were being unnecessarily treated for small tumors that were not life-threatening. With treatments such as surgery to remove the tumor and radiation therapy, patients sometimes risk complications for a tumor that would have been fine if left alone. This study found that only about one out of 1,000 men would survive prostate cancer because of a PSA test discovery.
The recommendation was met immediately with opposition from many doctors and cancer survivors. They warned that skipping PSA testing might be more dangerous than having the testing done. They also felt that the new guidelines were irresponsible because there was no other testing method more effective than PSA testing for men.
Surgical errors place lives in danger
Surgical errors caused by time constraints and medical negligence are prevalent in the U.S., and may put lives in danger. People who prep for a surgical procedure in New York or anywhere throughout the United States put their lives in the hands of trusted medical professionals. From anesthesiologists to surgeons and surgical technicians, a medical […]
An easy way to prevent dangerous newborn mixups
When hospital patients receive medication, monitoring or other treatment meant for someone else, the results can be harmful or even fatal for either patient – the one who received the treatment in error as well as the one who did not get the treatment that he or she needed. Newborns can be particularly at risk […]
How do I know if I need a second opinion?
New York residents who may not feel comfortable with a diagnosis should learn when and how to seek second opinions. It would be a wonderful thing if people could have completed trust in the care they receive from doctors, nurses, surgeons and other health care providers or facilities. But, sadly, this is not possible. Errors […]
New York hospitals fall far behind in latest national rankings
In the latest nationwide hospital rankings, New York’s hospitals have fallen from 40th place to 47th. A recently released ranking of hospitals across the country shows that New York’s hospitals are falling far behind in terms of patient safety. The highly anticipated report by the Leapfrog Group ranked New York in 47th place, down from […]
Tech Tools Help Surgical Teams Detect Retained Surgical Devices
In 2008, a 47-year-old man had a cancerous kidney successfully removed. However, surgeons left two 11 x 14 inch surgical towels inside him – an error that led to serious medical complications, multiple surgeries and more than a year of recovery time. According to the National Quality Forum, this kind of surgical mistake, known as […]
Are Patients Really Providing Consent that is Informed?
In many circumstances, before doctors and other medical professionals can provide patients with a course of treatment or other procedure, it is necessary (even required) to obtain the informed consent of the patients. One common way for medical professionals to obtain and document that the patient’s consent has been given for the procedure is by […]
Insufficient education could be to blame for rising maternal death rates
Labor complications continue to cause serious – sometimes fatal – injury to new moms. A recent study published in The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing revealed huge gaps in the knowledge provided to new moms about potential post-delivery complications. These complications, sometimes brought on by high blood pressure, reactions to anesthesia, blood clots or heavy […]
