Drug Shortage is Causing Doctor Errors and Medical Malpractice
The U.S. is currently undergoing a drug shortage due to supply issues that affect how pharmacies are preparing and/or dispensing drug products for patients. This generally occurs when prescribers need to use an alternative drug of a similar agent.
Nursing Negligence is Increasing in Hospitals
In a recent article published on Nurse Journal, it was revealed that nursing negligence medical malpractice lawsuits and settlements are low in comparison to physicians, which many think is due to the positive and personal relationships that nurses have with their patients.
Certain areas of healthcare are more prone to medical malpractice lawsuits than others. This means that nurses that work within the anesthesia, obstetrics, pediatrics, and neonatology units are more at risk of getting sued than their colleagues who don’t work in these areas.
OB/GYNs Pay the Highest Medical Malpractice Premiums
Every year, Medscape conducts its Malpractice Premium Report in the United States of America. The results from 2019 are officially in, and more than 4,300 physicians responded to the survey to give insights regarding how much they pay to protect themselves in the event of a medical malpractice lawsuit and how they feel about those premiums.
According to the report, nearly all physicians (94%) have medical malpractice coverage, and specialists pay significantly more ($21K) than primary care physicians ($12K) in annual malpractice premiums. In terms of specialists, OB/GYN and Women’s Health specialists pay the highest premiums ($46K), and psychiatric specialists pay the lowest premiums ($5K).
Doctor’s Surgical Error at Detroit Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Michigan Paralyzes Girl with Scoliosis
In 2013, a 17-year old girl named Faith DeGrand filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Detroit Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Michigan for a botched spinal surgery that left her paralyzed from the neck down.
Only 10-years old at the time, Faith required spinal surgery for her scoliosis. Unfortunately, what she got instead was a surgical error that caused her intense pain and further injury.
Nursing Negligence Caused Pop Artist Andy Warhol’s Death
When pop artist Andy Warhol was 58-years old, he underwent a routine gallbladder surgery which made him so sick that he passed away prematurely less than 12 hours later.
In 1987, Warhol had this seemingly simple surgery, confident in his surgeon’s reassurances that there was no danger for him to concern himself over. However, it was later revealed after Warhol’s death that gallbladder surgery was, and still is, a major surgical procedure which is not routine, especially if the patient is as sick as Warhol was at the time of his surgery.
Actor Bill Paxton’s Files a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against LA Surgeon
Actor Bill Paxton’s Files a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against LA Surgeon
In February of 2017, famous actor Bill Paxton was diagnosed with two heart-related disorders. One was a bicuspid aortic valve (a congenital condition), and the other was an aortic aneurysm. Though the bicuspid aortic valve wasn’t debilitating, Paxton was told by a heart surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles that his aortic aneurism was life-threatening and that he would need surgery.
The surgery went forward as planned; however, Paxton started to experience complications afterwards. The surgeon was nowhere to be found during his aftercare which caused him to receive delayed treatment that resulted in several injuries. His health continued to worsen, and he sadly died of a stroke 11 days after his surgery.
Stroke Patient Wins $217 Million in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
In August of 2000, a professional basketball player from the Philippines checked himself into the University Community Hospital-Carrollwood in Floridan complaining of a headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and double vision. The man’s name was Allan Navarro, and he informed the triage nurse that he had a personal medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol, as well as a family history of strokes.
When the attending emergency physician saw him, Allan told him that he had a headache that appeared suddenly during the day and that he had felt a “pop” in his head. Even though Allan provided all of this information, the physician attending him did not conduct a full case history examination, nor did he conduct a neurological examination. Allan spent close to 6 hours in the hospital and was discharged with a “sinusitis/headache” diagnosis after two CT brain scans had been completed. The physician prescribed him some Vicodin for the pain and an antibiotic.
Woodhull Medical Centre Pays $15 Million After Failure to Diagnose Makes Woman Blind
In October 2011, Amanda Velasquez, a pregnant 20-year-old, walked to Woodhull Medical Centre to see her obstetrician. She was experiencing blurred vision and worried that she was losing her eyesight. Her obstetrician assured her that she had nothing to worry about, and she went home.
Unfortunately, Amanda’s symptoms of cloudy vision and pressure around her eyes didn’t go away, and she visited the hospital six more times with the same complaint, but her obstetrician chose to fixate on her pregnancy rather than check her eyes and told her that there was no problem at each visit.
Elmhurst Hospital Nursing Negligence Forces Patient to Have Hand Amputated
In 2016, a 41-year-old man named Jose Polanco was admitted to Elmhurst Hospital after suffering a heart attack. Unexpectedly, he began to develop pneumonia during his recovery and soon suffered from a serious infection that saw him become an inpatient for four months.
As his condition worsened, Jose’s infection began to affect his blood pressure, and doctors ordered that a line be inserted in his arm to provide ongoing monitoring. Unfortunately, Jose’s arm soon turned back after having the line inserted, and he was diagnosed with gangrene shortly after.
Apparently, Jose developed two wounds in the area of his bicep. It is believed that these areas did not receive enough oxygen after the line was inserted by a nurse, which caused a lack of blood flow to the area and the tissues to die. This necrotic tissue then caused gangrene.
Exchange Ambulances, Bay Shore’s Southside Hospital, and Cohen Children’s Medical Centre All Responsible for Infant’s Death
In January 2014, parents Sara and Padraig Keenan entered into a nightmare when their 3-month-old daughter was found in her crib choking after being breastfed.
The couple was hosting a houseguest who worked as an EMT and who was able to revive the baby girl and got her breathing again. Frantically, the parents called 911 and emergency medical technicians from Exchange Ambulances were sent to their home.
The family could never have foreseen the terrible string of events that were about to occur.