Medical Errors: 3rd-Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.
When people seek medical treatment, they do so with faith that everything goes well. Yet, medical errors do happen.
A recent study revealed that the 3rd-leading cause of death in the U.S. is a medical error. It is a form of medical malpractice, following heart disease and cancer.
Heart attacks, stroke a risk after noncardiac surgery
A study published in JAMA Cardiology shows that those who undergo noncardiac surgery may develop complications that lead to heart attacks, stroke and even death. New York residents who are hospitalized for non-heart-related surgery will want to know what’s involved in this trend; after all, more than 300 million noncardiac surgeries are performed worldwide every year.
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.
What to do after surgical errors
New York residents who undergo surgical procedures might be victims of surgical errors. When this occurs, it is important that the patients understand why the error occurred, how the surgeon can correct the errors and injuries and what legal steps should be taken.
Failed back surgery syndrome causes, symptoms, treatments
Patients in New York who are suffering from new and chronic pain following spinal surgery should know that they may have what’s called failed back surgery syndrome. Patients who are suffering from the after-effects of neck surgery are also said to have FBSS.
The medical errors a patient could experience
For the most part, surgeries and other procedures done in New York and throughout the United States are relatively safe. However, there is always a chance that a doctor or other medical professional can make a mistake. According to one study, the wrong person was operated on at least 25 times over a period of 84 months in Colorado. Assuming that the right person is being treated, it is possible for a patient to receive the wrong blood.
When gallbladder surgery leads to injuries
In an estimated 1 percent of all gallbladder operations, patients come away with some form of injury to their bile duct, the organ that leads bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Those in New York who are suffering from bile duct injuries should know that these could have resulted from malpractice.
How durotomy factors into malpractice suits
Durotomy refers to a tear in the dura mater, or outer membrane, of the spinal cord and is often a consequence of spinal surgery. While these dural tears are often inevitable, they can usually be detected and repaired in a second surgical operation, leaving patients with no long-term problems. On the other hand, dural tears often form the basis for medical malpractice suits in New York and elsewhere in the U.S.
Surgeons don’t always follow error disclosure rules
A New York surgeon who makes a mistake is supposed to inform the patient of that error. However, a survey published in JAMA Surgery found that some surgeons only follow some national guidelines related to disclosing such an error. The survey involved more than 60 surgeons who worked at various VA medical centers. Of the eight national guidelines for error disclosure after a surgery, most who participated in surgery said that they followed five of them.
Malpractice awards and settlements are often significant
Medical malpractice victims in New York and around the country often suffer catastrophic harm and are sometimes awarded significant damages by juries. A Baltimore hospital agreed to pay $190 million to 8,000 litigants in 2014 after it was revealed that one of their most senior gynecologists had used surveillance equipment to secretly photograph his patients. Another 2014 medical malpractice case involved a 29-year-old woman who was left brain damaged and paralyzed in part because paramedics lacked the equipment needed to treat her anaphylactic shock. A jury awarded her $172 million for her past and future medical expenses and pain.
