Imagine being in the hospital, recovering from surgery or illness, only to contract an infection that could have been avoided. This happens to thousands of patients every year. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a serious threat to patient safety, and medical...
Medical Malpractice
What are the 3 most common never events in surgeries?
Surgical operations can save lives and provide people with an improved standard of living. However, surgery is relatively risky. All kinds of things can go wrong, such as a patient having an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Some things can occur during the surgery that...
What you need to know about prescription errors
As a patient, you trust your health care providers to prescribe the proper medications for your condition. However, prescription errors can occur, potentially causing serious harm. Understanding these errors can help you stay vigilant about protecting your health....
The potential consequences of ophthalmologist errors
When you entrust your vision to a certified medical practitioner, you likely expect the highest standard of care. Yet, even with a ophthalmologist’s medical certification and experience on your side, mistakes can happen. Ophthalmology is a complex medical field...
How did I get a hospital-acquired infection?
Developing a bacterial infection is common, but we may not expect exposure while already in a hospital. We go to the hospital to get treatment for a health condition. Acquiring an infection while there is the last thing anyone wants to happen. When you have an...
Delayed diagnosis – When lags lead to medical malpractice
Normally, negligence leading to medical malpractice takes the form of medical errors. However, it doesn’t always have to be about administering the wrong medicine or surgical mistakes. Healthcare providers have a legal and ethical duty to diagnose patients' conditions...
What is a standard of care, and why is it higher for doctors?
Most people are familiar with the “reasonable person” standard that applies in general negligence cases. Personal injury laws require you to act with the same care that a reasonable person would use under similar circumstances. If you fail to live up to this standard,...
Older adults can be more at risk of negligence due to ageism
Medical professionals must base treatment on each patient’s unique needs. This means treating the individual, not just considering their age. But, there are instances when doctors may unintentionally provide less than the needed care to older adults. This can happen...
What is causation in the context of a medical malpractice claim?
Causation is a critical component that an injured party must prove if they want to pursue a medical malpractice claim. Causation, in legal terms, refers to the link between the negligent act of a health care provider and the injury suffered by the patient. In a...
How dangerous are foreign objects left in the body after surgery?
Surgical “never events” are medical errors that are too unthinkable that they should have never happened. An example is when a surgeon leaves foreign objects inside a patient’s body after the procedure. Although such errors are preventable, a study shows that a U.S....
