Medical Malpractice Lawsuits and How Settlements Work
Biopsy robot could improve accuracy of breast cancer detection
What’s being called the world’s smallest 3D-printed biopsy robot could improve the accuracy of biopsies needed to take a tissue sample to confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women. This technology could also make the process of getting a biopsy less time-consuming for women in New York while also minimizing the potential for human error. Nearly 2 million women have the procedure each year to examine a suspicious lump or an imaging abnormality.
Misdiagnosed diseases
New York residents that suffer from certain medical conditions may be at a higher risk than others of being misdiagnosed. According to research, a misdiagnosis is the end result for millions of visits to the doctor each year. Medical conditions that are misdiagnosed or missed have the potential to worsen or become fatal.
McDonald criteria revised by international panel
Multiple sclerosis affects many New York residents. This condition is often misdiagnosed, leading people to receive unnecessary or incorrect treatment. Now, the McDonald criteria, which are used to diagnose MS, have been revised to help to improve the accuracy of diagnoses of the disease.
Lavern’s Law could change statute of limitations for malpractice
On Dec. 14, it was reported that a bill that could make it easier for cancer patients to file medical malpractice claims was sitting unsigned on the governor’s desk. Called Lavern’s Law, this bill would extend the window of time that patients in New York and elsewhere around the country could initiate medical malpractice cases concerning cancer to when they discover the error. As the bill stands, the two-and-a-half-year time limit starts when the mistake actually happened.
Incomplete history leads to misdiagnosis of optic neuritis
According to a recent study, more than one-half of patients diagnosed with optic neuritis may have another condition affecting their eyesight. The study also suggests that the misdiagnosis is usually due to a limited patient history. Individuals in New York receiving this diagnosis may consider a second opinion.
2nd HIV test for infants increases accuracy of diagnoses
Patients undergoing medical tests in New York might not realize that many tests are not 100 percent accurate. Factors among people, such as genetics, could result in inaccurate results and a misdiagnosis. A study conducted by PLOS Medicine revealed the potential cost savings on health care when infants in South Africa received two tests for HIV instead of one before continuing treatment.
AI outperforms radiologists for diagnosing pneumonia
Despite advancements in medicine, some New Yorkers die from pneumonia every year. With prompt diagnoses and proper treatment, more people could survive bouts of pneumonia. Unfortunately, pneumonia is sometimes misdiagnosed by radiologists when people go to to the emergency department.
HIV diagnosis rates still have room for improvement
New York residents may be interested to learn that, according to US Centers for Disease Control study, many Americans live with HIV for some time before getting diagnosed. What makes this study surprising is that this includes Americans who regularly visit their doctor.
Teens at risk from misdiagnoses of throat infections
Parents of teenagers in New York may want to be alert for complaints of sore throat from their kids. Serious sore throats that require a trip to the doctor could be caused a type of infection that many doctors don’t test for. If this infection goes untreated, it could lead to serious illness or even be fatal.