Yearly Archives: 2013
Misdiagnosis is the Leading Cause of Medical Malpractice Claims and May Contribute to Up to 40,000 Annual Hospital Deaths, According to Studies
Misdiagnosis is the leading cause of payouts in medical malpractice claims, according to a recent study. It may also be the cause of, or a substantial factor in, more than 40,000 deaths in hospitals nationwide every year. A misdiagnosis may occur when a doctor or other medical professional makes an incomplete or inaccurate diagnosis,… Read More »
New Report Finds That Male Babies Are More Likely to Be Born Premature Than Females
A new report, based on a series of international studies, finds that boys are just slightly more likely to be born prematurely than girls, and also tend to have worse outcomes. This was true regardless of the country of their birth. While the difference between boys and girls is not large – for instance,… Read More »
West Virginia Hospital Settles Birth Injury Case for Confidential Amount
Recently, a lawsuit against St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia was confidentially settled and dismissed from federal court. The case involved an infant who was allegedly injured during delivery. The situation began back in August 2011, when Kayla Christy was in labor and admitted to the hospital. Nursing employees of United Health… Read More »
Texas Military Hospital Agrees to $6.5 Million Settlement for Birth Injury Lawsuit
A military hospital at Fort Hood, Texas recently settled a birth injury lawsuit for $6.5 million. The case involved a brain injury that the parents claimed could have been avoided if the hospital employees had responded sooner. The situation began in September 2008, when Kassie Rivera was pregnant with her and Higinio Rivera’s first… Read More »
Lawsuit Alleges Medical Neglect by Private Prison Company
A federal lawsuit by a prison inmate claims that prison officials denied her adequate medical care. Lester v. Hickson, et al, No. 1:13-cv-01118, complaint (D.N.M., Nov. 20, 2013). The case also demonstrates how medical malpractice can intersect with civil and constitutional rights. Medical professionals must maintain the same standard of care for inmates. When… Read More »
New Study Significantly Increases the Estimated Number of Annual Deaths Involving Hospital Errors
When people go to the hospital, whether for routine care or an emergency situation, they unfortunately face more risks than just the injury or condition that brought them there. Medical mistakes contribute to a substantial number of injuries and deaths in the U.S., but definitive numbers are very difficult to establish. A recently-published series… Read More »
Doctors and Hospitals Sued for Allegedly Unnecessary Cardiac Procedures; Claims Include Medical Malpractice and Medicare Fraud
How These Cases Differ From Medical Malpractice A series of lawsuits around the country have sought to involve the federal government in claims that doctors and hospitals performed unnecessary surgical procedures on patients, putting those patients’ lives at risk and, in some cases, allegedly causing patient deaths. These lawsuits, filed under the federal False… Read More »
Federal Judge In Missouri Denies Disability Status to Woman With Birth Injury
One reason medical malpractice lawsuits for birth injuries are so critical is because if someone receives a birth injury, the effects can last for a lifetime. The individual may lose income and other opportunities due to an ongoing physical or neurological disability that may cost thousands — if not millions — of dollars to… Read More »
Twelve-Year-Old Girl in Ireland With Cerebral Palsy Awarded 2.6 Million Euros Due to Birth Injury
Recently, a 12-year old girl in Ireland received an interim settlement of 2.6 million Euros ($3.5 million) for brain damage caused by a birth injury, as well as an apology from the Health Service Executive. Roisin Conroy currently suffers from cerebral palsy, which has been traced to her birth trauma in 2001 at the… Read More »
Misdiagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes Results in Death, $7.5 Million Verdict for Punitive Damages
A doctor’s incorrect diagnosis of a six year-old child’s diabetes resulted in the child’s death, according to a jury that awarded the child’s mother $8 million in damages last summer. Punitive damages accounted for all but $500,000 of the damage award. The jury determined that the doctor, who began treating the child several months… Read More »