New York Personal Injury Attorneys Blog

Published on: December 5, 2014

The Department of Justice conducted an independent review that found systemic police brutality and Incompetence in Cleveland PD

Cleveland%20Police.jpg A 12 year old boy who was killed by a Cleveland Police Officer is the last victim of a long history of police brutality in the city of Cleveland. A year and half ago the feds launched an investigation of the Cleveland Police Department after several high profile use of force incidents and numerous public demands for a federal investigation by civic leaders and local politicians. The Justice Department released their report Thursday afternoon. The report found that officers used on a regular basis unjustifiable force not only against criminals but also against innocent victims of crime. Among the allegations, the feds report that Cleveland officers in recent years punched a handcuffed 13 year old boy who was shoplifting. They also shot an unarmed kidnapping victim who was only wearing his underwear.

40% of individuals who suffered first-episode psychosis are not prescribed adequate medication treatment according to new study

By GGCRBHS&M

medication%20error.jpg Medication error in psychiatric practice can be medical malpractice. In a recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and funds from the Recovery Act, researchers found that patients between the age of 15 and 40 years old who suffered a first-episode psychosis were not prescribed a medication treatment complying with the recommended guidelines for their condition. According to the guidelines, patients with a first episode of psychosis should be treated differently than those with recurrent episodes.

Researchers are calling for more prescriber education after they studied 404 individuals suffering from an initial schizophrenia episode and found that 159 of them were not prescribed an appropriate treatment. Among these 159 people, 8.8 percent were prescribed higher-than-recommended doses of antipsychotics; 23.3 percent were prescribed more than one antipsychotic; 36.5 percent were prescribed an antipsychotic and an antidepressant without a clear need for the antidepressant; 10.1 percent were prescribed psychotropic medications without an antipsychotic medication; and 1.2 percent were prescribed stimulants. In addition, 32.1 percent were prescribed olanzapine, a medication not recommended for first-episode patients. Some of the 159 fell into multiple categories.

Published on: December 4, 2014

A new documentary on The National Geographic Channel demonstrates the danger of sleep deprivation

By GGCRBHS&M

sleep%20depravation.jpg Sleep deprivation is not only responsible for many traffic accidents daily but experts now believe that it also played a role in previous catastrophic accidents such as the Exxon Valdez Oil spill, the Staten Island Ferry crash and the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown. In “Sleepless in America” a two hours documentary that started Sunday, The National Geographic Channel in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and The Public Good Projects indicate that 40% of people in America do not get enough sleep. Not only can this condition lead to irreparable health damage but it can also have dramatic consequences especially for people who are operating heavy machinery or for people who are on the road.

Read more in the Washington Post and see trailer below

Published on: December 3, 2014

A 10 year old died and her 33 year old pregnant mom was injured and rushed to the hospital where she gave birth to a baby girl after they were struck by a van in Brooklyn

By GGCRBHS&M

Blima Friedman died and her pregnant mother suffered personal injury after they were hit by a 22 year old driver who was working as a valet parker yesterday night around 9 pm in Brooklyn. The two pedestrians were crossing 60th street midblock between 17th Ave and 18th Ave when the accident happened (read more in the NY Daily News.

Published on: December 2, 2014

The ECRI Institute just released its 2015 top 10 medical technology hazards faced by hospital patients

By GGCRBHS&M

Health%20tech.jpg Device-related hazards can lead to medical malpractice. In its 2015 top 10 Health Technology hazards, ECRI Institute lists 10 safety topics deemed crucial for hospitals to address. Here is the list of the top 10 technology hazards;

1. Alarm hazard: inadequate alarm configuration policies and practice 2. Data integrity: incorrect or missing data in EHR’s and other Health IT Systems 3. Mix-Up of IV lines leading to misadministration of drugs and and solutions 4. Inadequate reprocessing of endoscopes and surgical instruments 5. Ventilator disconnections not caught because of mis-set or missed alarms 6. Patient-handling device use errors and device failures 7. “Dose Creep”: unnoticed variations in diagnostic radiation exposures 8. Robotic surgery: complications due to insufficient training 9. Cyber security: insufficient protections for medical devices and systems 10. Overwhelmed recall and safety-alert management program

In future blogs we will look at each of these medical technology hazards in detail.

Continue reading →

Published on: December 2, 2014

Today on Twitter join a chat on sports-related head injuries in children

By GGCRBHS&M

Recent research has demonstrated that concussions and head injuries in young athletes are even more dangerous than previously thought. Today between 1pm and 2 pm EST, a panel of researchers, athletes, doctors and public advocates will participate in a Twitter Chat on sports-related head injuries in children, tweeting under the handle @safetymd. The chat is hosted by Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma (@injuredkids) in partnership with Richard Childress Racing. Anybody is welcome to join and share their #HelmetSelfie.

Children%20Head%20Injury.jpg

Published on: December 1, 2014

A boy and his dad who were injured in the Harlem gas explosion say thank you to the rescuers, doctors, neighbors and strangers who helped them

By GGCRBHS&M

16 year old Oscar Hernandez suffered severe personal injury and his mother and sister died in the Harlem gas explosion that destroyed a building on E. 116th street in Harlem, NYC on March 12th this year. The young man spent 11 days in a coma and when he came out of the coma, he needed several surgeries that kept him in the hospital until June 27th. Oscar, his dad and his little sister are the only members of the family who survived the gas explosion. On Thanksgiving all three are happy to be alive and thank all the people who helped them.

A young woman who was driving under the influence of alcohol was critically injured in a car accident in Brooklyn NYC during the Thanksgiving week-end

By GGCRBHS&M

22 year old Irina Danilyuk was hospitalized in critical condition after her car burst into fire following an accident during which she first hit a car and then a tree while driving drunk on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, NYC. The young woman suffers from multiple injuries including cuts to her head, burns on her back and legs as well as internal injuries. The car accident happened early Saturday morning around 3:45. (Read more about this accident in the NY Daily News)

In another incident of drunk driving, the Staten Island police found a drunk driver asleep at the wheel with an open can of beer in his cup holder in the middle of traffic on the West Shore Expressway (Read more in the Staten Island Live)

Over the year statistics show that accidents related to drunk driving always increase during the long Thanksgiving week-end and also during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day so please drive safely!

Continue reading →

Published on: November 20, 2014

A case against a male nurse who alledgelly raped a 64 year old woman with dementia in a NYC nursing home was adjourned for the sixth time

By GGCRBHS&M

Last February a 64 year old patient from a nursing home in the Bronx, NY, was allegedly raped by a a nurse. The victim suffered from dementia and couldn’t speak because of a previous stroke. The abuse happened at the Manhattan Healthcare Center in Marble Hill in the Bronx, NYC. The nurse, 42 year old Nanic Aidasani, was caught in the act by an aid who walked into the room of the patient and found him on the top of the victim.

The family of the woman was back in the courtroom yesterday after the case had already been adjourned five times. They were extremely disappointed to hear that their case had to be adjourned for the sixth time as the lawyer for the alleged rapist is now calling for a psychological evaluation of the nurse. Among the people who came to support the family was NY State Senator Ruben Diaz. The Senator and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization held a prayer vigil to support the family and friends of the victim.

To prevent fatal bicycle accidents in Central Park, the City cut the speed limit to 20 mph instead of 25

By GGCRBHS&M

Central%20Park.jpg
Picture: courtesy of Wikipedia

After a pedestrian was killed by a reckless cyclist in Central Park a few months ago, the city decided to lower the speed limit to 20 mph from 25 mph in Central Park. Signs will be installed in the next few days and the new speed limit will be in effect immediately after their installation is completed.