It is a common misconception that medical errors occur only in hospitals. However, according to a white paper that was recently released by the Foundation for the Innovation and Development of Health Safety, approximately four out of 10 patients are affected by medical errors in the primary care and outpatient health care setting. The study » Read More

Multi-million-dollar medical malpractice settlements associated with birth injuries are having serious financial consequences for health care providers in Maryland. These huge settlement amounts are making it difficult for hospitals like Johns Hopkins to cover the malpractice insurance costs that continue to skyrocket. Self-insured providers also worry that they will have to cut back on obstetric » Read More

After losing their mother suddenly, the surviving family members of a 53-year-old Pennsylvania resident had a lot of questions about how she died. The month before the patient died, she was dancing at a wedding and seemed to be in good health. Two weeks later, she was in the hospital, where she remained for approximately » Read More

When a health care provider prescribes medication for a patient, there are several factors that must be considered before administering the medication. For example, the physician must review the patient’s health history, determine if the patient has any allergies, consider possible drug interactions with medications the patient is already taking, and potential side effects of » Read More

Health care professionals have a duty of care to protect patients from harm. While most health care providers take this responsibility very seriously and provide the best possible care, medical mistakes can happen. In fact, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. » Read More

The number of babies that have been delivered via Cesarean section (C-section) in the United States has been growing steadily for the past few decades. In fact, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there was a 60 percent increase in C-sections from 1996 to 2011. Whether a C-section is planned early » Read More

As patients, we put our health and safety in the hands of doctors, nurses, and other health care providers. We trust that they have our best interests at heart and that they are going to provide the best care possible. However, health care providers are also human and capable of making mistakes. Unfortunately, there are » Read More

If a patient dies after receiving medical treatment at a hospital, the surviving family members may wish to file a wrongful death lawsuit if they believe negligence was involved. Depending on the details of the case, the family members may sue the negligent doctor and the hospital. However, that is not always the best course » Read More

When medical malpractice leads to an individual’s injury, illness, or death, it can negatively impact an individual both financially and emotionally. Those who face injury or illness often lose the ability to work, leading to lost wages. This tends to present a financial burden on a family, especially with high medical bills to fix the » Read More

Patients in need of medical intervention should be in a position to fully understand the risks involved before they undergo any procedure or start treatment. Doctors have an obligation to disclose the risks involved with specific treatments and to be sure that the patient understands the risks and agrees that the recommended treatment is the » Read More