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Blog Category:

Medical Malpractice

8/30/2010
Medical Research
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Women Should Be Given Antibiotics Within One Hour Before Caesarian Delivery

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a new recommendation on caesarian deliveries. Preventative antibiotics should be administered before delivery to prevent postoperative infections.

8/20/2010
Medical Research
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Family Sues Minnesota Hospital -- Patient Dies After Falling Off Operating Table

The family of a man who fell from an operating table at a Minnesota hospital is suing the hospital for negligence in causing his death. He died after the fall, during which he sustained serious head injuries.

8/17/2010
Medical Research
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Hospital delay in administering angioplasty to heart attack patients almost doubles death rate

"System delay," which is the amount of time between ambulance call or entering ER and receiving angioplasty is shown to nearly double heart attack patient's risk of dying. Those treated within one hour or less had almost twice the chances of survival.

8/2/2010
Medical Research
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Temporary Agencies Often Employ Incompetent Nurses

Where nursing staff is in short supply, agencies supplying temporary nurses often fail to thoroughly check references and pertinent work history.

8/2/2010
Medical Research
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Errors at Doctors' Offices

Almost 20% of errors in doctors' offices result in physical or emotional injury to patients.

8/2/2010
Medical Research
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Death from Stroke While Hospitalized for Heart Attack

Study shows that deaths from stroke during hospitalization for heart attack remains a significant problem.

7/27/2010
Medical Research
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Early Detection of Prostate Cancer with ProPSA Testing

National Cancer Institute validates prior studies, confirming that earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer may be made by blood testing for a certain type of PSA known as proPSA.

7/22/2010
Medical Research
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Patients should be screened for sepsis after surgery, say researchers

More screening of patients after surgery for signs of sepsis (blood poisoning) and septic shock would prevent postoperative deaths according to a newly published research study.

7/21/2010
Medical Research
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High blood pressure drug's link to increased cancer risk studied

ARB drugs used to treat high blood pressure are being linked to possible increased risks of developing new cancers, especially lung cancer.

7/20/2010
Medical Research
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Choline found to be an essential prenatal nutrient

90% of Americans do not get enough choline -- an essential nutrient. Choline is found in eggs and has been found to be important to prenatal health by lessening the risk of heart defects and increasing attention span after birth.

7/18/2010
Medical Research
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Deciding on best prostate cancer treatment options

What next after a prostate cancer diagnosis? A new study under the auspices of the American Cancer Society can help patients decide on the best treatment options.

7/16/2010
Medical Research
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Cardiologists may be misinterpreting echocardiograms

Many cardiologists do not have sufficient training or expertise to accurately interpret and diagnose echocardiograms. This is an area in which a second opinion by an expert in echocardiology is worthwhile.

7/13/2010
Medical Research
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ICU Patients More Likely to Die on Weekends

Perhaps because hospitals are short-staffed on weekends compared to weekdays, patients admitted to the ICU on a weekend are more likely to die than patients admitted to the ICU on another weekday.

7/13/2010
Medical Research
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Public Given More Information About Doctor's Backgrounds in Colorado

Patients and the public generally do not have access to much information about their doctors. One state has now passed a Physician Transparency Law that seeks to give patients information about their doctor's record. To get or renew a license to practice medicine in Colorado, the doctor will have to disclose his malpractice suits, education and business dealings. This will allow the public including the doctor's patients to find out about malpractice lawsuits filed against the doctor and other important facts.

7/8/2010
Medical Research
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3 Signs of Possible Melanoma

Melanoma is the rarest type of skin cancer, but among skin cancers it is the most fatal. It is important to keep an eye out for signs of possible trouble and see a physician immediately, with regular follow-up as indicated, if you have any question about the possibility of melanoma.

7/7/2010
Medical Research
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Promising treatment for precancerous prostate

Precancerous prostate cells may be effectively treated while avoiding major side effects using radio-wave hyperthermia.

7/5/2010
Medical Research
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Epinephrine overdose warning issued

National alert issues of risk for serious or fatal medication error. Shortages of prefilled epinephrine injectors are being experienced throughout the United States due to lack of U.S. manufacturing capacity. The medicine is used by hospitals, EMTs, ambulances and clinics but the lack of availability of prefilled dosages may lead to fatal overdoses. If you suspect an overdose of epinephrine or medication error, call or email Berger & Lagnese P.C.

6/28/2010
Medical Research
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Effect of childhood cancer - survivors suffer ongoing PTSD symptoms

Survivors of childhood cancer are more likely to suffer PTSD as young adults. The severity of the symptoms may relate to the intensity of the cancer treatment the patient had to undergo. These continuing injuries from childhood cancer can be treated so long as the symptoms are recognized.

6/26/2010
Medical Research
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Diagnosing Bladder Cancer

New research is hopeful for earlier diagnosis of bladder cancer through urine testing and bladder biopsy. Delay in diagnosis of this common type of cancer leads to serious injury which may be avoided with early detection and treatment. Get free expert consultation on your injury from delay in diagnosing or treating bladder cancer from the malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese.

12/10/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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Study Shows Patients Unaware of Medications Prescribed During Hospital Visit

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, one in every five medication doses involved some degree of error. 

The researchers conducted the study to assess patient awareness of their in-hospital medications.  Inpatient medication errors represent an important patient safety issue.

The study involved 50 participants between the ages of 21 and 89 who knew their outpatient medications, and were from the community around the hospital. 

The researchers found that 44% of the patients believed they were receiving a medication they were not, and 96% were unable to recall the name of at least one medication that they had been prescribed during hospitalization.  Further, patients younger than 65 were unable to name 60% of medications which they could take as needed, whereas patients older than 65 were unable to name 88% of these medications.

If you or someone you love suffered injury or death because of a medication error during a hospital visit, you should contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese for a free consultation.



12/8/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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Statins May Worsen Symptoms In Some Cardiac Patients

According to a new study presented at CHEST 2009, the annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), statins, which are widely used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders, may actually have negative effects on some cardiac patients. 

The researchers reviewed the charts of 136 patients with heart failure in order to examine the effect of statins on pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in patients with diastolic heart failure vs. systolic heart failure.  A non-statin group of 75 patients was compared with a statin group of 61 patients.

Results of the analysis showed that overall pulmonary function and exercise tolerance of patients in the statin group were significantly lower than patients in the non-statin group. Further subgroup analyses revealed that pulmonary function measures in the diastolic heart failure statin group were 12 percent lower than pulmonary function measures in the diastolic heart failure non-statin group.  Furthermore, the amount of exercise performed by patients with diastolic heart failure who were on a statin was almost 50 percent less than patients with diastolic heart failure not on a statin.

The researchers concluded that statins have beneficial effects on patients with systolic heart failure, however, statins may actually worsen symptoms in patients with diastolic heart failure.

Get free information about cardiovascular disorders including heart attacks and strokes from the medical malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese.



12/7/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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New Technique for Detecting Pulmonary Embolism

According to a study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) , combining a low dose computed tomography (CT) with a form of molecular imaging called single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may provide an accurate diagnosis for pulmonary embolism.  The researchers tested the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT/CT imaging for pulmonary embolism against that of multidetector CT angiography (MDCT) alone. 

Pulmonary embolism is caused when a blood clot travels to a person's lungs from another location in the body, usually the legs. 

The researchers studied a total of 196 patients suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism from June 2006 to February 2008.  Their study found that SPECT plus low-dose CT had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 100%, whereas MDCT alone had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 100%. 

The researchers concluded that having an effective technique for diagnosing pulmonary embolism leads to more rapid and successful diagnosis. 

Get free information about pulmonary embolism from the medical malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese.



11/25/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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Risk of Major Medical Errors When Surgeons Are Burned Out or Depressed

According to the results of a survey published online in Annals of Surgery, surgeons who are burned out or depressed are more likely to say they had recently committed a major error on the job. 

The findings suggest that the mental well-being of the surgeon is associated with a higher rate of medical errors, something that may undermine patient safety. 

Nine percent of the 7,905 surgeons who responded to the survey reported having made a major medical mistake in the previous three months. Overall, 40% of the surgeons who responded to the survey said they were burned out.

Mistakes also varied by specialty. Surgeons practicing obstetrics/gynecology and plastic surgery were much less likely to report errors than general surgeons.

If you or someone you love suffered injury or death because of a medical mistake or surgical error, you should contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese for a free consultation.



11/23/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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Readmission Rates For Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

According to a recent study published in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart Association, approximately 25% of heart failure patients with Medicare are readmitted to the hospital within a month after discharge.

Heart failure occurs when a heart weakened by disease can no longer pump effectively.

The researchers used data from Medicare for 2004 through 2006 to identify all recipients over age 65 that went to the hospital for heart failure and were discharged. 

There were 570,996 distinct hospitalizations for heart failure in which the patient was discharged in 4,728 hospitals in 2004; 544,550 in 4,694 hospitals in 2005; and 501,234 in 4,674 hospitals in 2006.  Readmission rates were virtually identical over this period: 23.0% in 2004, 23.3% in 2005, and 22.9% in 2006.

The researchers concluded that Medicare beneficiaries discharged after heart failure hospitalization have not changed in recent years, indicating that there was neither improvement in hospital readmission rates nor in hospital variations in rates over this time period.

If you or someone you love suffered injury or death because of delay in the diagnosis or treatment of heart disease, you should contact the attorneys at Berger & Lagnese for a free consultation.



10/1/2009
Lisa Wisilosky
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Improperly Sterilized Equipment at UPMC Northwest

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, more than 140 patients who had surgery at UPMC Northwest in Venango County between January and July this year may have been exposed to potentially life-threatening illnesses such as HIV or Hepatitis. 

The problem is being attributed to surgical equipment that was not properly sterilized

The hospital sent letters to patients who are believed to be at risk. 



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