Screening changes in prostate cancer may affect early detection
New York residents who are concerned with recent changes in recommendations for breast cancer screening might want to consider the latest statistics related to another cancer screening scenario. The instances of prostate cancer screenings were more frequent prior to a change in recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. In 2012, the group announced that there might be more harm than good coming from systematic screening for prostate cancer. Among the issues of concern was the fact that most cancers being detected were slow-growing. In fact, more men died of other issues after a diagnosis of prostate cancer than actually died of prostate cancer at the time of this change.
Heart patients often wrongly diagnosed with aspirin allergy
According to a new study, cardiac patients in New York and nationwide are often misdiagnosed with an aspirin allergy and taken off of aspirin therapy without ever being tested by an allergist. This means that many patients needlessly lose the benefits of an effective and inexpensive cardiovascular treatment that has few side effects.
Hospital slip-and-fall accidents
A New Yorker who slips and falls in a hospital may end up suffering bruises, broken bones and other injuries. Hospital slip-and-fall accidents may fall under medical malpractice in certain cases, while in others, they may be able to proceed under a theory of premises liability.
Lawsuit claims that labelling error caused unwanted pregnancies
Many women in New York rely on contraceptive pills to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but a strict schedule must be followed if the drugs are to be effective. The Alabama-based pharmaceutical company Qualitest recalled several of its birth control pills in 2012 after discovering that they had been labelled incorrectly, and the company is now facing litigation from 111 women who claim that the error led to unwanted pregnancies. The company is also being sued by two women who did not become pregnant.
Hysterectomy Errors can Cause Lifelong Suffering and Financial Loss to a Patient
A hysterectomy is performed to remove a woman’s uterus, and may involve the removal of other reproductive organs too. Hysterectomy is done for various reasons that include:
Medical Equipment Failure is an Unsuspecting Hazard to a Patient’s Life
Patients often don’t realize the magnitude of technology that is used in a hospital, starting from basic blood pressure monitors to life-support systems. The patient is exposed to various medical devices during his treatment in a hospital, such as IV pumps, blood sugar monitors, heart monitors, anesthesia machines, defibrillators, and several others.
Retained Surgical Instruments (RSI) can Potentially Destroy a Patient’s Health
Surgical instruments get retained when a surgeon or a member of the surgical team forgets to remove a surgical device used inside the patient’s body during surgery. These devices can include sponges, scalpels, clamps, needles, and several other items used during the procedure.
Bowel Perforation during Surgery is Medical Malpractice that May have Fatal Consequences
Bowel obstructions happen when a tear or rupture in any gastrointestinal organ that results in a leak of its contents into the abdomen. Sometimes a bowel condition left undiagnosed may lead to organ perforation. In majority of cases, bowel perforation is found to commonly occur during surgery.
Bed Sore Negligence is an Avoidable Life-Threatening Condition
Bed sores, also referred to as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, comprise an area of damaged skin that turns into an open wound. They tend to develop faster than the time they take to heal, especially in the case of diabetics. They are painful, debilitating, and have fatal consequences if not treated on time. Bed sores occur in different levels of severity, according to which their stage is graded:
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are Paralytic Injuries that could Result from Medical Malpractice
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia