Medical mistakes are a leading cause of death
Most New York residents would not be surprised to learn that heart disease and cancer are the nation’s two leading causes of death, but they may be shocked to learn that preventable medical mistakes are America’s third biggest killer. Research indicates that over 400,000 American hospital patients lose their lives each year due to doctor errors, prescription drug side effects or unsanitary conditions, and experts say that a sweeping, concerted and comprehensive effort is needed to tackle the problem.
A Closer Look at Bike-Pedestrian Crashes
Since 2000, data shows approximately .45 percent of pedestrian fatalities in Manhattan were caused by bicycle riders striking pedestrians. However, most experts believe that the official reports of pedestrian deaths after bike crashes significantly undercount the real death rate because the statistics are obtained using emergency room data that records the number of people who […]
Most IV medication errors caused by poor clinical practices
For years, intravenous medication errors ranked among the top medical mistakes at hospitals in New York and nationwide. Experts thought that the advent of the IV smart pump would eliminate the issue, but, according to a multihospital study, IV errors are still common.
Advances in tuberculosis testing
New York residents may face tuberculosis testing for various reasons, including preparing to work in food service or in education settings. However, there can be challenges when an individual has been vaccinated for TB because a traditional skin test could produce a positive result. Additionally, current methods for testing can fail to distinguish active tuberculosis from latent cases. A test that has been developed in the Khatri lab at Stanford University may provide an avenue for better accuracy.
Reducing medication errors caused by distractions
Nurses in New York City hospitals have difficult and important jobs, and they are rarely able to complete their shifts without being frequently distracted or interrupted. The errors that such interruptions lead to can be serious, and nurses are expected to focus intently on what they are doing to avoid distractions when performing important tasks such as sorting or administering medications.
New York man claims hospital responsible for wife’s death
The husband of a New York woman who died at a Brooklyn hospital in February 2015 is calling on the state to launch an investigation into her death. He alleges that medical staff mistreated his wife and that she died due to medical malpractice.
The importance of Rare Disease Day
New York residents may be familiar with Rare Disease Day, a campaign effort to raise awareness regarding the affect of rare diseases on many people and their families. The Council of National Alliances and Eurordis started Rare Disease Day back in 2008 in Europe, and, as of 2015, there were 80 countries participating in the event, which occurs annually on the last day of February. While the goal of the campaign is to mainly alert the public to the dangers of rare diseases, its backers also hope to appeal to people such as doctors, researchers, policy makers and public authority figures who may be able to help advance treatments for the diseases.
Personal Injury Awards in Divorce Cases
The divorce rate among the general population is extremely high. In the United States, the current divorce statistics is estimated at 50 percent. The divorce rate for first marriage is 41 percent, while the rate for second marriages is 60 percent. For third time marriages, the divorce rate is 73 percent. According to the Discovery […]
Coal Mine Accidents and Worker’s Compensation Insurance
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coal mining employees have a higher risk of being killed or incurring a non-fatal injury or illness, and their injuries are more likely to be more severe than private industry workers as a whole. In 2007, the fatal injury rate in the coal mining industry was 24.8 per […]
Compensation Claims for Broken or Fractured Bones
According to an analysis from Diederich Healthcare, 2013 marked the first time since 2003 that there was a significant spike in the total number of payouts as well as the total amount for medical malpractice payouts. Compared to 2013, in the most recent fiscal year, there was a significant increase in the number of medical […]