When a doctor looks at a mammogram, he or she could mistake a tumor for dense breast tissue. In fact, a 2011 study by the Mayo Clinic showed that in 75 percent of women’s mammograms that indicated dense breast tissue, doctors failed to detect cancer that was present.
A startling report from a health care safety nonprofit might be of interest readers. The study, recently released by a group known as The Association, revealed that nearly 800 surgical tools have been left in patients nationwide since 2005. Sponges, towels and needles are among the items that remained in patients after an operation was completed.
While Yankee Alex Rodriguez is facing his own issues related to the 211-game suspension handed down in August, A-Rod also recently decided to file a lawsuit related to the medical care he received in October 2012. He claims that while an injury was clearly seen on a MRI, the Yankees physician did not tell him about the injury and cleared him to play.
It is frightening for any New York City resident to even think about, but the truth of the matter is surgeons can make mistakes while operating on a patient. Depending, these errors can lead to serious medical complications or even death. This means that a once simple surgery — with a high rate of success — can turn into a life or death situation when a surgeon makes a mistake.
Diagnostic errors may be a bigger problem than the general public realizes. In fact, when researchers from Johns Hopkins analyzed 350,000 medical malpractice payouts — stemming back 25 years — one-third of those payouts were the result of a misdiagnosis. This makes diagnostic errors one of the leading patient safety concerns in the U.S.
When going in for a surgery, the doctor should fully disclose any associated risks. This way, a patient can decide to either consent to the surgery or look into other possible options.
Surgeons are expected to be able to think quickly on their feet. This means that when a patient arrives at a hospital for an emergency, the surgeons and medical personnel on staff should be properly trained in how to best treat this patient.
A doctor’s incorrect action — or inaction — can lead to serious and life-altering injuries for patients. In a number of cases, these mistakes can even be deadly. Many times, these injuries or deaths also lead to medical malpractice lawsuits, which in turn can result in settlements or judgments. Either way, a good number of hospitals and healthcare facilities end up paying out to injured patients or grieving family members.
It is essential to the well-being or an unborn child that a mother is properly cared for during her pregnancy. This means not only making sure the mother is doing the basics — eating right and taking the proper vitamins — but the doctors caring for the woman also need to be weighing all risk factors when providing care during pregnancy.
A new clinic hopes to better improve the lives of those with cerebral palsy. The executive director of this clinic, called the Neuromotor Research Clinic, said the idea is for children from around the world to be treated at the clinic with high-intensity therapy.
