$3.34 million malpractice settlement after man loses arm
When people seek medical care in New York, they expect health care personnel to make reasonable treatment choices. The case of a 30-year-old man who ended up losing his right arm illustrates the extent of damage that can occur when medical errors take place. The outcome of arbitration produced a settlement of $3.34 million for his pain, suffering, medical expenses and the compromised ability to earn a living.
The role of communication issues in medical errors
If medical errors were classified as a cause of death, they would be ranked below heart disease and cancer as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. A 2016 study in the BMJ estimated that 250,000 deaths occur each year in this nation because of medical errors. New York residents should know that many of these errors grow out of simple communication issues.
Study looks at accuracy of cancer test
When New York men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, doctors might also use a test known as prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography imaging to determine whether the cancer has metastasized. When PSMA is detected as a highly expressive enzyme in tissue, it can be an indication that the cancer is spreading.
Study shows many acute optic neuritis patients misdiagnosed
People in New York typically approach eye doctors when they are experiencing eye pain or vision problems. Time constraints on doctors and their failure to think about alternative diagnoses could result in diagnostic mistakes when patients present with symptoms somewhat out of the ordinary. An analysis of 122 patients diagnosed with acute optic neuritis and referred to a university neuro-ophthalmology clinic determined that 59.8 percent of them had received the wrong diagnosis.
Overlooked factors that could lead to a medical error
Patients in New York and throughout the country could be exposed to a wide range of medication errors. These mistakes could result in a worsened condition or other negative consequences. However, not all types of errors are accounted for unless there is an adverse event. For instance, many medical offices and hospitals use electronic health records. One problem that can occur is ordering medication for the wrong person.
NPA’s quarterly report shows increase in pharmacist errors
The National Pharmacy Association has released its quarterly report on patient safety errors among community pharmacists. The three-month period between April and June 2018 has seen a startling 64 percent increase in the number of such errors compared to the previous quarter. Patients in New York will want to know what some of the factors are.
Study finds failure to diagnose AMD
Some older people in New York who are in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration may not be properly diagnosed. A study by researchers at the University of Alabama, Birmingham that was published in “JAMA Ophthalmology” found that one quarter of patients who had signs of the condition were not diagnosed.
Doctor sued for removing woman’s healthy kidney
New York readers know that all surgeries come with risks. Unfortunately, one of those risks can be the surgeon who performs the procedure. For example, an Iowa woman has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a South Dakota doctor for allegedly removing a healthy kidney during a botched surgery.
Study says radiology-related malpractice often ends in death
Coverys, the provider of liability insurance for medical practitioners, has released a report that may be of interest to New York residents. After studying over 10,000 radiology-related medical liability claims filed between 2013 and 2017, researchers found that the misinterpretation of clinical tests was behind 80 percent of all diagnosis-related claims.
Guidelines issued for diagnosing minimally conscious states
New Yorkers who suffer brain injuries may fall into vegetative or minimally conscious states. For people who have prolonged periods of problems with consciousness, getting the proper diagnosis is vital for their chances of recovery. Now, guidelines have been released for the proper diagnosis of people who are in minimally conscious or vegetative states.