Famous Actress Never Sings Again Due to Medical Malpractice
Actress Julie Andrews is a well-known and well-loved star in Hollywood. Made famous from leading roles in movies such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music,” Julie Andrews had a gifted singing voice which was her pride and joy. Sadly, an unfortunate case of medical malpractice in 1997 caused her to lose her singing voice and resulted in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
After consulting with two doctors at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital due to discomfort whilst singing, Julie Andrews found out that she had noncancerous nodules on her vocal cords. Whilst these nodules can generally be treated without surgery, Julie Andrews opted to have a throat operation in 1997 to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the operation was botched, and she was left with hoarseness and permanent vocal cord damage. She could no longer sing on a professional level – something which had been the foundation upon which her livelihood and fame were built.
Nursing Negligence Leads to Cancer Patients Getting Rare Blood Infection
In the summer of 2018, six patients at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, developed a rare infection after they received injectable opioids diluted with tap water. This resulted in the patients developing bloodstream infections with Sphingomonas paucimobilis.
Thankfully, all of the patients were treated with antibiotics and no deaths resulted from the infections, though some patients later died from causes related to their cancer. However, the question still remained: how did a bacterium, which naturally lives in soil and water, find its way into the bloodstreams of these patients?
How to Distinguish Between Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death
Wrongful death and medical malpractice are two terms that confuse many people. They’re very closely linked, with the key distinguishing feature being that as a result of a medical practitioner’s negligence, you or a family member dies a premature death. Examples of types of medical malpractice that lead to wrongful death include:
Pregnant Woman Has CT Scan After Doctor Error
In 2008, the Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, AZ, experienced a “never event” due to a doctor error that prompted a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Kerry Higuera was three months pregnant when she erroneously underwent a CT scan meant for another patient. She went to the hospital’s ER after experiencing bleeding and was surprised when a nurse came to the waiting room and told her that her doctor wanted a CT scan to be done. Kerry states that she questioned the decision, but the nurse reiterated that the doctor wanted an abdominal and pelvic CT scan conducted.
Nursing Negligence and Dementia
A startling trend of nursing home neglect has begun to emerge in recent years. Even worse, cases of nursing home neglect have been shown to be treated far less severely than the neglect of children and even that of animals. It has been revealed that the number of nursing home deaths and injuries caused by neglect or abuse is severely underreported.
Some of the harrowing statistics of nursing home neglect include:
Failure to Diagnose Caused Ed McMahon Months of Pain
In 2007, Ed McMahon, a TV show host, suffered a fall at a Los Angeles home which resulted in a fractured neck. He went to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center the following morning for assessment. Doctors at the hospital did not take an X-ray and failed to diagnose his neck fracture. They discharged him without further investigation.
When Ed continued to experience increasing pain and discomfort, he returned to the hospital. A full assessment was conducted, and it was revealed that he did, in fact, have a fractured neck. Ed underwent two spine surgeries to repair the damage, however, he later claimed that these two surgeries were both botched. He suffered great pain and discomfort for months as a result and indicated that he interrupted his activities of daily living and regular functioning.
Birth Injuries and Erb’s Palsy
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, is a condition whereby your baby cannot use one or both of their arms, shoulders, or hands adequately. The condition presents through the affected limbs being weak, lacking feeling, or completely paralyzed. It is caused by the collection of nerves around your baby’s shoulder being damaged during a difficult delivery.
Unlike cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy results from direct damage to these nerves as opposed to damage to your child’s brain. Because this injury occurs around the time of birth, it is considered a birth injury.
Anesthesia Errors and Brain Damage
Any medical procedure that you undergo is likely to be conducted with the use of anesthesia. The type of anesthesia that is administered depends on the severity of your medical procedure, and most anesthesia errors tend to happen with general anesthesia and occasionally regional anesthesia.
What are the Types of Anesthesia?
Medical Malpractice Led to Infection Outbreak
As of 22 July 2019, it has officially been reported that an infection outbreak has occurred in patients across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. In a shocking case of medical malpractice, the outbreak was caused by a Mount Sterling doctor who allowed his unlicensed wife to mishandle vaccinations.
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure is aware of the situation and has placed Dr. Paul E. McLaughlin on five years’ probation. He has also been ordered to pay $5,000 for assigning the task to his wife who does not have a medical license – ultimately causing the public health crisis.
When Do Anesthesia Side-Effects Become Anesthesia Errors?
The purpose of anesthesia is to ensure that you are comfortable and pain-free during any medical procedure or surgery. There are 4 different types of anesthesia that are used for specific procedures, and the type of anesthesia you receive is entirely dependent on the procedure you are having done as well as your general health and possibly your own preferences.
Types of Anesthesia
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is used for minor, common procedures in which you are fully alert and awake. The anesthesia only numbs the small area of the procedure – such as when you receive stitches