Hospital-acquired infections occur when patients contract infections during their hospital stay that weren't present when they were admitted. These infections typically develop at least 48 hours after hospitalization and affect about 4% of those hospitalized. For...
One of the most extreme examples of medical malpractice is a surgical mistake, such as wrong-site surgery. This type of error can change a person’s life forever. For instance, if a patient undergoes surgery to have their left arm amputated due to a severe infection,...
Distraction is most often mentioned concerning school children and drivers. Distracted schoolkids are not normally a safety issue, but for doctors, as with drivers, failing to stay focused could put people’s lives at risk. How do doctors get distracted? To some...
A heart attack misdiagnosis can certainly be a fatal mistake by a doctor. Say that a loved one goes to the emergency room and says they’re having a heart attack, but the doctor thinks that they are just having a panic attack or experiencing stress, so the doctor tells...
Parents naturally want to protect their children from harm, but when it comes to medical care, they often have no choice but to rely on healthcare professionals to provide safe and competent treatment. Unfortunately, medical malpractice can affect children,...
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the first step in medical treatment. If a patient is misdiagnosed, then they will not receive the treatment they need. Medicine is a very complicated field, and doctors do occasionally make mistakes. However, innocent mistakes and...
Studies have found that doctors definitely have a tendency to interrupt their patients. The patient may come to the office for a consultation or a check up. On average, the doctor is going to interrupt after about 11 seconds. Some do allow patients to talk for longer,...
Medical malpractice is a major cause of concern for patients, as it can result in devastating consequences, including unnecessary pain and suffering, permanent disabilities and even loss of life. The operating room is one of the most sensitive spaces in a hospital...
Anesthesia is one of the biggest medical miracles to ever occur. It makes numerous medical procedures that would never have been possible without it quick and easy for both doctors and patients. However, anesthesia errors cause thousands of injuries to patients every...
There’s no question that medical malpractice lawsuits cost doctors and hospitals and their insurers millions of dollars every year in payouts and increased premiums. When things go horribly wrong due to a medical provider’s negligence or actions, juries are often more...