Archive for the ‘Defective Medical Equipment’ Category
New Research Could Have Kansas City Patients Concerned about Hospital Safety
April 15th, 2011
Posted in Defective Medical Equipment, medical errors, Medical Malpractice
As Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know having surgery, even a minor procedure, can be one of the most stressful and scary times during recovery from a serious injury. You put your trust in the hands of your doctor or surgeon to do what is best, what is right and get it done safely the first time. There are many things that can go wrong during a procedure or operation. Some are out of a doctor or surgeon’s hands– others are well within their control.
Apparently things aren’t getting any better either. A recent study done for the journal of Health Affairs claims that if anything, chances of a medical mistake leading to a fatality has actually increased in the past twelve years. A team of researchers for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, MASS. has been studying what are called, “adverse events”. These are injuries caused by medical mistake as opposed to the patients current condition.
The group studied the medical records of 795 patients at three different hospitals. Using a new method called the “Global Trigger Tool”, the team looked for red flags during procedures, indicating something went wrong and found over 300 incidents among the studies patients. Some doctors feel these numbers are high because the Global Method uses a broader definition of “medical mistake” but others feel it is in fact lower than reality simply because reviewing a report on a procedure is much different than being there first hand to witness.
Our experienced Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys know that people have a hard enough time trusting their doctors and surgeons these days without having to worry about possible medical malpractice. But it seems like every time you turn around, you hear about a hospital that has not only made a mistake but has done so repeatedly in the past. The best way to handle your situation is to inform yourself as much as you can. Ask plenty of questions to all doctors, nurses and surgeons assisting in your procedure. The more you know, the more you will be able to identify problems after the operation.
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as the direct result of a mistake made during a medical procedure or surgery and you feel the doctor is at fault for your condition, you may have rights the insurance companies aren’t telling you about. You need someone in your corner you can trust to give it to you straight. Call our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases, we may be able to assist you and your family through this difficult time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to set up a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim. You can get started today by downloading our free book, “The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice Cases in Kansas and Missouri“. We want you to know your rights.
Honest Approach Working for Some Hospitals in Handling Medical Accidents
April 14th, 2011
Posted in Brain Surgery Accidents, Celebrity Medical Negligence, Defective Medical Equipment, medical errors, Medical Malpractice
We know with great experience that dealing with a doctor or a hospital following a questionable procedure or perceived medical accident can be difficult, if not altogether impossible. We’re sure you’ve probably heard all the horror stories and perhaps you’ve been in this situation yourself. Everyone is smiling and nodding until you begin to question what went wrong and all of a sudden those doors close, you’re getting denials and and you’re faced with dealing with their lawyers.
A new direct and honest approach is helping hospitals lessen the amount of medical malpractice law suits.
At the University of Michigan Health System and the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago denial is no longer an option and doctors instead are going with a near full disclosure approach, opting instead to go with a “full transparency” tactic in which doctors open the doors of communication with patients with an explanation of where and why the problem may have occurred, offering a quick remedy of the mistake and immediate plans to improve the area where the mistake was made– and it seems to be working.
Since going with the “disclose and offer”approach in 2001, the U of M has seen a rapid decline every year in the number of incidents that lead to lawsuits, going from well over 200 before the program began to just under 90 for 2007. The U of I began a similar approach in 2006, calling it the “Seven Pillars”.
A debate is ongoing as to whether this approach will work for other institutions across the country, as these medical centers are largely teaching hospitals who typically employ a self-insured staff. The big difference is when there is a medical malpractice claim, it goes against the hospital as a whole, not on the doctor. Several Chicago hospitals are now conducting the U of I’s ‘Seven Pillars’ approach.
The hope is that relieving the burden and fear of backlash will help open up honest lines of communication between patients and doctors.
As Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys, we know it is difficult to lose someone you love, especially when you feel someone else’s negligence is to blame. We are glad to hear that doctors and hospitals are beginning to open their eyes to the problems that have built up by first denial situations. Honesty is always the best policy. No one likes being kept in the dark. With any medical malpractice case, it’s never as easy as going around and point fingers and naming names. Medical malpractice cases need to be handled professionally and aggressively.
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as the result of an unauthorized procedure or a medical malpractice accident in Kansas or Missouri, you should know your rights as a victim. Call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers James Roswold and Heather Lottman. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases including Child Injury Accidents, we may be able to help you and your family get through this difficult and often stressful time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today to set up a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim. You can get started today by downloading our free book, “10 Essential Steps to Protecting Your Injury Claim” and know your rights.
FDA Study Shows a High Number of Recalled Medical Devices Were Never Properly Tested
February 22nd, 2011
Posted in Defective Medical Equipment, medical errors, Medical Malpractice
According to a study conducted by the FDA over the past five years, there have been an alarming number of medical devices that have been recalled, that were rushed past clinical testing stages. In fact, nearly 70% of all recalled defective medical devices over the study period were cleared without actually being tested because they were deemed similar enough to products already on the market. The medical profession is concerned because the terms by which these similar products are being compared have been stretched past its original intention.
Over the course of the study, the findings of which were recently published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, the FDA discovered that nearly one third of the devices recalled between 2005 and 2009 were cardiovascular devices such as defibrillators.
There is a growing concern in the medical community about the number of recalled medical devices it has been discovered were rushed through testing and approval.
During the time of this stud, a 2006 report linked nearly 300 deaths over a ten year period to defibrillator failure.
The next step for the FDA is to determine whether or not high risk devices need to be subjected to stricter guidelines when they go through trials and product approval.
For more information on what to do if you’re a victim of Medical Malpractice in Kansas City, check out our informative articles, “Mistakes in the Health Care System” and “Emergency Room Mistakes“.
At Roswold Law Group in Kansas City, Missouri, our Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice and Injury Attorneys know the importance of following up on recalls of dangerous products, especially when the subject is defective medical devices. From contact with clients on a day to day basis, we know it can be a difficult time to approach a case involving a possible malpractice situation. So when a situation comes up where a doctor made an error, it can be very difficult to determine who is to blame: the institution? the doctor? or the medical equipment supply company?
We believe that medical equipment should definitely go through as much testing as it takes to ensure it is safe to use. Faulty equipment can cause serious injury and even death if and when it goes bad. This can be even more dangerous when you consider that a victim’s life may already be on the line.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury caused by a medical error that led to medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers James Roswold and Heather Lottman. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice Injury Accidents and cases of Defective Medical Equipment, we may be able to help you and your family get through this difficult and often stressful time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today to set up a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim.
