Most IV medication errors caused by poor clinical practices
For years, intravenous medication errors ranked among the top medical mistakes at hospitals in New York and nationwide. Experts thought that the advent of the IV smart pump would eliminate the issue, but, according to a multihospital study, IV errors are still common.
Reducing medication errors caused by distractions
Nurses in New York City hospitals have difficult and important jobs, and they are rarely able to complete their shifts without being frequently distracted or interrupted. The errors that such interruptions lead to can be serious, and nurses are expected to focus intently on what they are doing to avoid distractions when performing important tasks such as sorting or administering medications.
Tummy Tuck Complication and Medical Malpractice
In a recent study that looked at about 25,000 people who had abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, between 2008 and 2013, researchers found that 4 percent of the people suffered major post-surgery complications, which is higher than the average rate of 1.4 percent for other cosmetic surgery procedures. According to statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in the United States, abdominoplasty is the 6th most common cosmetic surgery.
When Cosmetic Surgery gives Rise to Medical Malpractice
The prevalence of cosmetic surgery is higher in the United States than any other country. About 14 million people in the country get cosmetic surgery every year, or 40 out of every 1,000 people. In the UK, a 2012 study found that facelifts, breast surgery, nose reductions, eyelid operations, and weight-loss procedures accounted for 80 percent of the increasing number of legal actions against cosmetic surgeons. In 2000, the total amount spent on medical malpractice insurance was $6.4 billion.
What are the Common Types of Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or any other healthcare professional breaches their duty of care to a patient and that breach results in injury or death. Fortunately, these cases happen on fairly rare occasions; but when they do occur, they can have devastating consequences. Like many others, you may wonder what type of treatments might be the cause for medical malpractice.
C-Section Injuries and What You need to Know about Them
Any parent would be devastated to know that their baby has suffered injury or has a medical complication because of c-section mistakes. Healthcare professionals and doctors in the delivery room have a fantastic responsibility of safe and sound delivery of an infant.
New York State Laws for Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice
In New York State, a wrongful death case can be pursued by the deceased person’s family member in a manner, which the deceased person could have pursued in court had that person been alive.
Medication errors can be particularly dangerous
Doctors in New York and around the country often have extremely poor handwriting, but pharmacists generally do a good job of deciphering what they have written and most prescriptions are filled correctly. However, when prescriptions are not filled properly, the consequences can be fatal.
Patients fare better when more nurses are on duty
Hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities in New York and around the country are finding it increasingly difficult to hire registered nurses. The shortage of qualified nurses is a nationwide problem, and it is expected to become worse in the coming years as the baby boom generation continues to retire in ever greater numbers. Projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that more than 500,000 new registered nurses will be needed in the United States by 2022.
C-section anesthesia complications fall while others rise
Many New York mothers-to-be may be planning to deliver via a cesarean section. A study showed that complications due to anesthesia given in C-sections fell by 25 percent between 2003 and 2012 in New York hospitals. However, non-anesthetic perioperative complications rose by about 50 percent.