Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice

In a recent malpractice lawsuit, a New York State Supreme Court Jury, Erie County, awarded $6 million for past and future pain and suffering and $2.8 million for medical expenses and lost of wages to a man who lost his leg as the result of medical malpractice by his surgeon. His ex-wife was also awarded $350,000 for loss of services.

Donald Schultz was a 35 year old public safety dispatcher for the City of Tonawanda, NY, when he broke his ankle in 2004. After initial treatment he still felt pain on the side of his foot near the little toe and made an appointment with Dr. Michael A. Parentis at the Knee Center of WNY. Dr Parentis performed 12 surgeries on his foot and leg. He started with surgeries on the little toe then amputated it. After the patient developed an infection, the doctor also amputated the fourth toe. As the pain continued the doctor continued to operate up until July 2009 when he amputated the leg below the knee.

Read more in Buffalo news

Women are at a higher risk of a stroke than men because they have unique risk factors associated with pregnancy and the use of hormones. The guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association were the first such recommendations aimed at preventing strokes in women. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death for all Americans and a leading cause of disability. It’s the third-leading cause of death for women, after heart disease and cancer.

Read more in the Washington Post

Today Is American Heart Association National Wear Red Day, wear red to show that you support women living longer, stronger lives. Encourage your loved ones to do the same.

A recent study analysed all Medical Malpractice claims related to fires in the Operating Room that have been filed in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Database since 1985 and found that electrocauterization was responsible for 90% of the claims. The study “Operating Room Fires: A Closed Claims Analysis” was published in the Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists” and led by Dr. Karen Domino, Professor & Vice Chair for Clinical Research Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Adjunct Professor, Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Electrocauterization or Electrocautery is a procedure that is used in surgery to burn unwanted or harmful tissues or to seal blood vessels to stop bleeding. During the procedure a surgeon uses heat conduction from a metal probe heated by electric current to burn the tissue.

The study found that most Electrocautery induced fires happen during monitored anesthesia care with open oxygen delivery for upper chest, neck and head procedures with plastic surgery procedures on the face accounting for more than half of them.

Diagnostic Imaging is a medical area that has been developing extremely fast and with it the number of radiological medical procedures has increased tremendously. However high level of radiation exposure from medical imaging may have possible harmful effect on patients.

To prevent medical malpractice, the Joint Commission just approved new and revised requirements for accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care organizations that provide diagnostic imaging services, including those ambulatory organizations that have achieved Advanced Diagnostic Imaging certification. These requirement address:

– Documenting CT radiation doses in patient’s clinical record – Meeting the needs of the pediatric population and considering patient size – Managing safety risks in MRI environment – Imaging equipment maintenance and oversight – Minimum competency for radiology technologists, including registration and certification