Patients are entitled to the best medical care available when illness strikes. New Yorkers realize that doctors and hospitals generally live up to that tenet. Unfortunately, substandard hospital care does surface at times. When it does, those affected may seek compensation from those responsible. Accountability can be the catalyst of improvement.
Near the end of January, a $1.9 million settlement awarded by a New York jury was widely reported in different venues like the Gothamist. The case involves a homeless man who suffered the loss of one foot when an MTA train hit him. According to reports, the MTA is going to appeal the decision of the court, partially because of evidence that the individual involved may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident. Legal professionals involved in the case claim that the man could not recall how he ended up on the subway tracks and there is other evidence
When there is a shortage of qualified medical staff, available providers may feel rushed or overwhelmed when trying to see to every patient’s needs. Medical experts in New York and across the country are raising concerns about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on emergency room numbers, and it seems logical to question whether overcrowded ERs will lead to increased doctor errors.
One person is dead after a tractor-trailer hit a pedestrian in New York’s Southern Tier around 3 a.m. this morning. The accident left portions of Route 17 closed for more than three hours. Other than the one fatality, few details are known about the crash. People usually understand the potential risks associated with driving a car. However, pedestrians often don’t expect that their lives will be in danger on the road. Unfortunately, an inattentive driver can turn a quiet stroll down the street into a tragedy. Whether you live in New York City or beyond, drivers of every kind of vehicle must exercise caution. Truck
Most expectant parents in New York have no reason to believe their children won’t be born healthy. Families move on to enjoy all the ups and downs of parenting as little ones grow and thrive. However, for a few moms and dads, a birth injury changes everything.
Late last month, we wrote about a crane collapse along the Queens waterfront. No one died in the accident. However, seven construction workers were injured. Weeks later it has been revealed that the equipment was not inspected and that the crane was used improperly. A crane operator and a contracting company now face more than $60,000 in fines apiece. Violations were also handed out to the developer and a site safety manager. “Neither the crane operator nor his supervisors made sure the operation was being performed according to approved plans,” a Buildings Department official said. Officials say that the crane operator was trying to lift
When individuals in New York seek medical attention, they expect a certain level of professionalism and care. Even when entering a busy emergency room, residents expect that doctors and other staff will attempt to make the best possible decisions for the situation at hand. A lawsuit filed across six states against one of the top hospital chains in the country brings to light the fact that financially based decision making sometimes supersedes patient needs. It also raises the question: When patients are needlessly admitted or treated to bolster financial numbers, does it increase the chance of hospital negligence through exposure to hazards and
Monday, February 4, 2013. Readers of this blog likely remember the horrific elevator accident that took the life of a 41-year-old advertising executive in late 2011. The woman was on her way to work when the elevator in her Madison Avenue office building shot upward as she was stepping into it. Repairmen working on the elevator in the building that day reportedly shut off a safety switch. They failed to turn the safety switch back on or warn people not to use the elevator when they stepped outside to take a break. The accident was tragic. However, it has prompted officials in New York City
For residents of Manhattan, New York, a botched surgery that impacts work ability could mean loss of income, financial issues and even bankruptcy. When doctor negligence or other medical errors cause future loss of life, income or enjoyment, victims can file medical malpractice claims. One woman in another state is claiming that a medical error is impacting her ability to perform as an opera singer.
Even routine medical procedures can go wrong, though serious issues are statistically rare. In the case of a Brooklyn woman who was injured in a surgical procedure, a routine surgery resulted in days of pain and, ultimately, the loss of both legs and the partial loss of her hearing. The woman filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and doctors, and was awarded $62 million by a jury on Friday, Jan. 10.
