Recently, a doctor who lost his leg due to a medical error spoke out about what happened to him, hoping his experience can end up making a difference and lead to a decrease in medical errors.
Bringing a baby into this world is supposed to be one of the happiest days in parents’ lives. However, when a child is injured due to medical negligence during delivery, the once joyous day can suddenly turn tragic.
A proposed monumental law for New York City patients died last week in committee. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, said that once she realized it was not going to get passed by the Senate, she decided to put the bill on hold.
A wrong-site surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City recently made headlines when the wrong kidney of a 76-year-old was removed. In this case, while it is unknown what caused the wrong-site surgery, it turns out wrong-site surgical errors are more common than many might realize.
Many of the patients in hospitals are already in vulnerable states. Whether it is due to disease, infection or injury, many of these patients just want to be properly treated and no longer in pain. Many of these same patients also do not know that much about medicine and rely on the nurses in the hospital to give them the proper medications, in the right amounts.
Doctor errors happen for a number of different reasons. In New York, many physicians are seeing what feels like a constant stream of patients and in turn can feel rushed. Others can make a simple mistake or overlook a key part of a patient’s medical history. However, what may seem like just a small error can end up being deadly for a patient.
A 2012 study found that 40,500 people die every year in the U.S. due to diagnostic errors in intensive care units. This study, among others focusing on misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, point to a bigger issue in the medical field, one that is putting New York City patients in danger.
New York City women will agree that the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better. Early diagnosis means treatment can start right away, which in the long run can mean less invasive surgeries and less aggressive forms of chemotherapy than if a diagnosis is delayed.
Having a baby is supposed to be one of the happiest days in a mother’s life. Yet, a recent survey found that many women are undergoing medical procedures and allow interventions with their delivery without being properly informed of the possible risks and possible complications.
Medicine and treatment has come quite a way. However, for the optimal chance of survival, it is critical patients receive a diagnosis in a timely matter. This means that a delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis can be the matter between life and death for a New York City resident.
