Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Posted in Hospital Negligence

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From our New York medical malpractice lawyers

When the Leapfrog Group released its Fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grades on November 13, 2025, New York patients were given a stark reminder of how uneven hospital safety can be across the state. Out of 143 New York hospitals, only 33 earned an “A”, while 16 received a “D” and 2 were given a failing “F” grade.

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For patients and families who have  suffered serious harm in a hospital, these grades are not just abstract numbers – they can be powerful evidence of broader patient safety problems and systemic negligence.

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The emergency room at Mercy Hospital in RockvilleA shocking incident at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre has once again highlighted serious concerns about hospital safety and staffing standards. According to CBS New York, 62-year-old security guard Gardy Coriolan remains on life support after being brutally assaulted by a patient while working an overnight shift in the hospital’s emergency department.

Security Concerns and Staffing Shortages

Mr. Coriolan, a retired Department of Correction officer and school security professional, had reportedly expressed concerns about inadequate staffing levels in the hospital’s emergency unit prior to the attack. His wife, Sonya Coriolan, told reporters that her husband had repeatedly warned that three security officers were not enough to handle volatile situations in a busy emergency room, particularly when psychiatric patients were involved.

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Patients are at risk of technology hazardsOur Medical Malpractice Lawyers Explain How Data Breaches and Cyberattacks Are Endangering Patient Care in 2025

The landscape of healthcare risk continues to evolve, and in 2025, cybersecurity breaches have become one of the most pressing patient safety concerns. According to the most recent patient safety rankings, cybersecurity now ranks among the top threats to quality care in hospitals and healthcare systems across the United States.

As New York medical malpractice lawyers, we are seeing firsthand how data security failures can lead to devastating outcomes for patients and potential liability for healthcare providers.

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percentage of adverse events for patients undergoing surgeryRecent findings published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) have revealed alarming statistics about the safety of surgical care in hospitals. This extensive study, conducted across 11 U.S. hospitals, highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures to prevent adverse events during surgery. As medical malpractice attorneys, we understand the devastating impact such errors can have on patients and their families, especially when these adverse events are preventable.

Key Findings: Nearly 40% of Surgical Patients Experience Adverse Events

According to the study, adverse events were identified in 38% of patients admitted for surgery. Even more concerning, nearly 16% of these patients suffered major adverse events that resulted in significant harm, prolonged recovery, or even death. The study used a comprehensive review of medical records to assess over 1,000 patients, highlighting the severity and preventability of these adverse incidents.

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Patients have higher risks in hospitals acquired by private equityA recent investigation published in JAMA has sparked serious concerns within the healthcare community, especially among those of us in the field of medical malpractice law. This study reveals that patients are significantly more likely to experience adverse events, such as infections or falls, in hospitals owned by private equity (PE) firms.

Increased Risks for Patients

The study highlights a 25% increase in hospital-acquired conditions among Medicare beneficiaries admitted to PE hospitals. Patients have a nearly  38% increased chance of experiencing a central line infection and a 27% higher likelihood of falls in PE-backed hospitals compared to control facilities.

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120M Verdict by our Medical Malpractice AttorneysIn a landmark decision that highlights the importance of timely medical intervention, a Westchester County jury awarded a record-setting $120 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Westchester Medical Center. This verdict, delivered on November 30, 2023, after a four-week trial, marks the largest award ever in a medical malpractice case in Westchester County.

The case revolved around the hospital’s negligence in treating 41-year-old William Lee, who suffered from a stroke in 2018. Rushed to the hospital by ambulance, Lee was the victim of a critical delay in treatment. The jury found that inexperienced doctors on call were responsible for a three-hour delay in removing a clot from Lee’s basilar artery. This delay led to extensive brain damage, necessitating lifelong care at a residential brain injury center.

The tragedy of this case is underscored by the extent of Mr. Lee’s injuries. The damage to his brain has severely impaired his judgment and short-term memory, rendering him dependent on round-the-clock care and unable to provide for his family. The compensation awarded includes provisions for his future medical needs, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and compensation for his wife for the loss of his services and society.

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The family of Sary Mao, a Khmer-speaking Cambodian refugee, is seeking justice and closure after her body went undiscovered for five days following her tragic death due to a heart attack. The incident occurred at Montefiore’s Family Health Center in The Bronx, NYC.

As medical malpractice attorneys, our professional focus is on advocating for individuals suffering from medical negligence. The recent incident at Montefiore’s Family Health Center in The Bronx, where the body of Sary Mao went undiscovered for five days following her heart attack, resonates deeply with the issues we encounter in our work

In any medical malpractice case, the concept of the “duty of care” is fundamental

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sexual abuser Zhi Alan ChengNew York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital  is grappling with a disturbing case of sexual abuse by one of its former doctors. Zhi Alan Cheng, a 33-year-old emerging gastroenterologist, has been charged with 50 new counts of heinous crimes, including rape, sexual abuse, assault, misdemeanor drug possession, and unlawful surveillance.

The allegations against him underscore the importance of legal advocacy for survivors of sexual abuse and the urgent need to address the systemic failures that enable such atrocities to occur.

Zhi Alan Cheng’s case reveals a chilling pattern of abuse, marked by methodical cruelty and an alarming disregard for human decency

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New York Presbyterian Queens covered up sexual abuse As doctor sexual abuse attorneys in the heart of New York City, we are committed to fighting for the rights of survivors and seeking justice against those people who have caused harm and those institutions, hospitals, schools and religious entities that facilitated the harm. Today, we bring to your attention a deeply disturbing case involving Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, a physician at a major New York City hospital, who has been accused of perpetrating heinous sexual abuse against multiple victims in the hospital.

Dr. Cheng was arrested in December 2022 and has been charged with first-degree rape after allegedly drugging and raping women in the hospital and his own apartment. Incredibly, while Dr. Cheng awaits trial on Rikers Island, another victim has recently come forward accusing Dr. Cheng of sexual assault in 2021 at New York Presbyterian Hospital Queens where he was employed as a physician. The hospital faces accusations of covering up this abhorrent crime, failing to report it to the authorities, and neglecting to take appropriate disciplinary measures against Dr. Cheng.

Seeking Justice for Sexual Abuse Survivors

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Surgery at HospitalWhile too many hospitals in the US are sacrificing patient safety for profit, a small number of them are dedicated to focus on healthcare safety and quality.

NYU Langone Hospitals in New York, NY, Gouverneur Hospital in Gouverneur, NY, White Plains Hospital in White Plains, NY and NYU Langone Hospital Long Island in Mineola, NY are the only 4 hospitals in New York state that have been included in the Best Hospitals in America compiled by Money and the Leapfrog Group.

The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit organization helping consumers to make informed decision. To be part of the list, hospitals that previously received a A grade from a previous assessment went through an additional assessment of  39 performance measures in the 7 following categories: