5 Important Things to Know about Medical Malpractice
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the third leading cause of death in the United States is medical negligence, right behind heart disease and cancer. In 2012, more than $3 billion was spent in medical malpractice payouts, meaning that there is an average of one payout every 43 minutes. It is estimated that approximately 200,000 patients are killed each year as a result of medical errors.
Medical malpractice issues and hospitalists
A New York resident who spends time in the hospital is likely to be treated by a hospitalist at some point. Although this specialty has only been around for approximately 20 years, the role of the hospitalist is prominent in patient care. This party typically acts much like a primary care physician in overseeing and coordinating the involvement of other specialists during a patient’s stay.
Medical mistakes are a leading cause of death
Most New York residents would not be surprised to learn that heart disease and cancer are the nation’s two leading causes of death, but they may be shocked to learn that preventable medical mistakes are America’s third biggest killer. Research indicates that over 400,000 American hospital patients lose their lives each year due to doctor errors, prescription drug side effects or unsanitary conditions, and experts say that a sweeping, concerted and comprehensive effort is needed to tackle the problem.
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.
Advances in tuberculosis testing
New York residents may face tuberculosis testing for various reasons, including preparing to work in food service or in education settings. However, there can be challenges when an individual has been vaccinated for TB because a traditional skin test could produce a positive result. Additionally, current methods for testing can fail to distinguish active tuberculosis from latent cases. A test that has been developed in the Khatri lab at Stanford University may provide an avenue for better accuracy.
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.
New York man claims hospital responsible for wife’s death
The husband of a New York woman who died at a Brooklyn hospital in February 2015 is calling on the state to launch an investigation into her death. He alleges that medical staff mistreated his wife and that she died due to medical malpractice.
The importance of Rare Disease Day
New York residents may be familiar with Rare Disease Day, a campaign effort to raise awareness regarding the affect of rare diseases on many people and their families. The Council of National Alliances and Eurordis started Rare Disease Day back in 2008 in Europe, and, as of 2015, there were 80 countries participating in the event, which occurs annually on the last day of February. While the goal of the campaign is to mainly alert the public to the dangers of rare diseases, its backers also hope to appeal to people such as doctors, researchers, policy makers and public authority figures who may be able to help advance treatments for the diseases.
What is Patient Abandonment?
Each year, an estimated 225,000 people die from some form of medical malpractice, from wrong diagnosis to surgical errors to incorrect dosages. In the United States, medical malpractice ranks third among the most common causes of death. Out of all the people who suffer from medical malpractice, a mere 2 percent file claims for compensation.
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.