Yearly Archives: 2013
Complications from Plastic Surgery Caused Death of Popular DJ, According to Autopsy
A popular Miami DJ died in August 2013, several months after undergoing surgery to remove silicone injected into her body. Two months later, the medical examiner issued an autopsy report stating that her death resulted from complications during the surgery. Some cosmetic surgical procedures have a direct medical benefit to a patient, while many… Read More »
Ohio Woman Sues Gynecologist For Spraying Her Uterus With Drain Cleaner Chemical
In a horrifying bit of news, a 39-year-old woman from Ohio is suing her gynecologist at Paragon Health in Summit County for damage caused to her uterus after he allegedly sprayed it with a chemical meant for drain cleaning. The woman was supposed to undergo a routine examination at the gynecologist’s office known as… Read More »
Maryland Court of Appeals Reviews Time Limits under State Law for Filing Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Plaintiffs in personal injury matters must file a lawsuit within a time limit set by law, or else risk losing the right to any compensation at all. This time limit is often known as a “statute of limitations,” but some laws refer to it as a “statute of repose.” The key difference is that… Read More »
Appellate Court Affirms $5 Million Verdict for Misdiagnosis Resulting in Amputation
The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a jury verdict that found that a misdiagnosis resulted in the loss of the plaintiff’s legs and awarded her $5 million. The defendants argued on appeal in Howland v. Wadsworth that the trial court committed several reversible errors, including allegedly confusing jury instructions and wrongful denial of their… Read More »
Australian Midwife in Hiding Ordered to Pay $6.6 Million to Family Whose Son Suffered a Birth Injury
This past month, an Australian midwife was ordered to pay $6.6 million (Australian) in damages to a family whose son was left with severe physical and intellectual disabilities after a home birth gone wrong. Earlier in 2013, the New South Wales Supreme Court upheld a judgment in a civil suit against 68-year old Akal… Read More »
Verdict in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Includes Apportionment of Fault Between Doctor and Hospital
A doctor’s handwriting, combined with a hospital pharmacy’s failure to notice an erroneous prescription, caused a patient’s death, according to a jury in San Antonio, Texas. The family of a woman who died after receiving a fatal dosage of potassium during recovery from surgery sued the doctor and the hospital for medical malpractice and… Read More »
A Controversial New Study Claims That Late-Term Premature Babies Face Major Socioeconomic Disadvantages Throughout Their Lives
A controversial new study has found that babies considered to be “late-term preemies,” or babies born between four to six weeks early, may suffer socioeconomic disadvantages for the rest of their lives. The study, conducted by the University of Helsinki, looked at 9,000 Finish men and women born between 1934 and 1944. The researchers… Read More »
New Study Links Maternal High Blood Pressure to High Levels of Air Pollution
It turns out that for pregnant women, one of the best ways to avoid pre-eclampsia — or maternal hypertension — may be living in an area with low levels of air pollution. A new study out of the University of Florida at Gainesville found that pregnant women who live in neighborhoods with high levels… Read More »
UK Family Wins £4 Million After Medical Errors Cause Daughter’s Serious Brain Injury
The recent case of a girl in the United Kingdom highlights the serious harm that can come from birth injuries caused by preventable medical errors. Earlier this month, Hollie McDowall’s family was awarded £4 million ($6.46 million) by the High Court to compensate them for her serious brain injury, attributed to mistakes made by… Read More »
Secret Conversations in Medical Malpractice Cases
Maryland medical malpractice attorneys must follow certain pre-lawsuit requirements before pursuing a medical malpractice case in court. One such requirement is to certify with the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office of Maryland, through a qualified physician, that the defendant doctor’s medical negligence caused injury to the plaintiff. This is a useful prerequisite because… Read More »