Archive for the ‘medical errors’ Category
Kansas City Hospitals Taking Extra Precautions after Reports of Wrong Site Surgeries
July 12th, 2011
Posted in medical errors, Medical Malpractice
At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know that our local hospitals are staffed with some of the finest doctors and nurses in the country. Although being a well educated doctor doesn’t exactly prevent a preventable mistake from happening on the operating table.
In fact, recent reports suggest that despite the efforts of medical institutions such as the Joint Commission of Chicago, medical mistakes including wrong site surgeries are increasing when they should be decreasing. It was only seven years ago, in 2004 there was a major push for a ‘universal medical protocol’ aimed at using what was called “very simple stuff” to prevent what are deemed to very preventable accidents during medical procedures.
But last year over 90 cases of wrong-site surgeries were reported– up from 49 in ’04.
Our experienced Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys hope you never have to face a situation like this. A great majority of doctors and surgeons working in this country take great pride in their work and know the risks you are taking by putting your life in their hands. In order to protect yourself, be informed. Ask a lot of questions, even if you have to make the doctor repeat him or herself. Make sure you understand completely what is going to go on during your procedure and you are well aware of any and all side affects. The more information you have, the better you will be able to detect if anything is wrong following your 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 experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers James Roswold. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice, we may be able to assist you and your family through this difficult time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to schedule an appointment to discuss your case in confidence. You can get started today by downloading our free book, “The Truth About Medical Malpractice Claims“. We want you to know your rights.
How Much Money are Medical Errors at Kansas City Hospitals Costing You?
May 11th, 2011
Posted in Brain Surgery Accidents, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, Prescriptions
At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys we are well aware of the problems and concerns with our Health Care System. Do you know the biggest problem costing Americans billions of dollars every year? It may surprise you to know that according to a recent report published by the journal of Health Affairs, preventable medical errors are the single biggest factor on the health system. The report published this month reveals that nearly .45 cents of every dollar is going to covering medical errors. The same report lists infection control as the most troubling area within the medical error problem.
The numbers are staggering. Think about this: over 250,000 infection related medical errors racked up a whopping bill tallying well over $3 billion. Obviously, this number is shockingly high, especially when you consider that as recently as 1999, the Institute of Medicine published a statistic that 98,000 people died every year because of medical error. The good news is this statistic more than got the attention of the medical community. The bad news is that despite a more concerned effort to fix these problems, by 2006 that number had increased to over 187,000 deaths and an even more shocking 6.1 million injuries. These fatalities and injuries put a hefty tag of somewhere between $393 and 958 billion.
Our Kansas City Defective Medical Device Lawyers, we are rightfully concerned about the growing number of medical errors at hospitals around the country. This is one reason why we work hard to protect victims of medical malpractice in Kansas and Missouri. As a patient, you have the right to expect the best when it comes to the people you are paying hard earned money to take care of you. If you’re going through a medical crisis and have to undergo a complicated surgery because of it– the last thing you want to be is concerned about how focused the surgeon is or how clean the operating table is.
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as the result of a prescription medication or a defective medical device, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including lost wages, medical bills and legal fees. Before you try and take on the insurance companies, call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer James Roswold. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice and Defective Medical Device Injury cases, we may be able to help you and your family get through this difficult and stressful 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 guide, “The Truth About Medical Malpractice in Kansas and Missouri“. We want you to know your rights.
Are Kansas City Patients on Stronger Medications More Likely to Overdose?
April 18th, 2011
Posted in medical errors, Medical Malpractice, Prescriptions
At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know pain killers like Vicodin and Oxycontin can be addictive which can often lead to an accidental overdose and recent research is beginning to link the increase of these accidental deaths to higher increases in prescription dosages. Now a published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association may back up that claim. A study shows that between 1999 and 2007 the rate of unintentional overdose increased by a whopping 124% in the U.S. and it is strongly believed it is because of stronger prescriptions and greater dosages.
1.5 million people every year are seriously injured because of prescription errors, including right here in Kansas City.
The study conducted by researchers from the Veteran Affairs Department looked at data on 750 accidental opioid overdose deaths that occurred from 2004 to 2008 as well as a random sample of almost 155,000 patients who received opioids to treat pain in 2004 or 2005. The study shows that patients who received a higher maximum daily dose (100 milligrams/day or more) were more likely to overdose than those who received a lower maximum daily dose (between 1 and 20 mg/day).
Our experienced Kansas City Medical Malpractice Lawyers want you to be safe from medication errors that can cause serious injury if not death. If you take a prescription medication, always take it according to the directions given to you by your doctor of pharmacist. Never increase your dosage without first consulting your doctor. These medications are often dosed according to many factors such as body weight, diet and other medical factors. If you feel you are taking a drug and are having side effects because the dosage is too high, contact your doctor immediately. This could be because of a serious and possibly fatal reaction to the medication.
If you or someone you love has suffered as serious injury because of Medical Malpractice in Kansas or Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including lost wages, medical bills and even legal fees. Call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys James Roswold and Heather Lottman. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases including Prescription Errors and Accidents, we may be able to help you and your family get 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 in Kansas and Missouri“. We want you to know your rights.
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.
Michigan Birth Fatality Medical Malpractice Case a Concern in Kansas City
March 12th, 2011
Posted in Birth Injuries and Fatalities, medical errors, Medical Malpractice
Birth injuries and fatalities and Emergency Room accidents can be one of the most devastating experiences someone can go through. It’s a helpless feeling, to lose a loved one during a time that is supposed to be filled with joy. Instead because of a mistake made somewhere along the line, you or a loved one, either a mother or child, has suffered a serious injury. It’s easy to point fingers and name names, but that isn’t always going to get you anywhere. At Roswold Law Group, our hearts go out to a father in Michigan who is suing for damages after his wife died in child birth giving to his triplets in 2007.
Birth injuries are one of the most common examples of Medical Malpractice cases in Kansas City.
Jeff Hagenbuch, of Comstock Township, Michigan is suing Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo Anesthesiology and the delivery doctors involved in the delivery of the triplets for medical malpractice. Hagenbuch claims his wife, Tina Hagenbuch, had a tissue condition that caused massive bleeding and that despite the fact that doctors had prior knowledge of the condition, they failed to have enough blood on hand in the delivery room to keep his wife alive. He is suing for $25,000 in damages.
If you see a mistake being made, don’t be afraid to ask question., even if you feel like you are repeating yourself. Make sure doctors and nurses are on the same page and that you understand everything that is happening in your treatment, whether you or a loved one are the patient or you are the parent or guardian of a patient. Everyone makes a mistake but unfortunately that mistake could cause you serious injury if not your life.
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. Cases like this are tricky. It’s not as easy as it sounds to just go around and point fingers and naming names. Medical malpractice cases need to be handled professionally and aggressively. Birth injuries and fatalities like this are not uncommon.
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 Lawyer James Roswold. 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. Don’t forget to download 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.
Woman Sues Hospital After Being Discharged While in Active Labor
February 15th, 2011
Posted in medical errors, Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice is extremely tricky. There are many things that can go wrong during a medical procedure or even a diagnosis. Something gets read wrong. A number gets flipped. A decimal point gets ignored. Mistakes happen, to be sure, but in the case of medical negligence, that mistake could cost you your life. In the case of a Texas woman, it could have cost her baby’s life at birth.
A lawsuit has been filed against an East Texas hospital after a woman was discharged from the hospital allegedly while she was in active labor. The incident happened in February of 2009, at the Columbia Medical Center of McKinney. Wendy Cherry checked into the ER complaining of severe pelvic pain. Cherry say she was discharged without being stabilized or being given a proper medical screening, which would have revealed she was in labor. Cherry ended up actually giving birth at her home a short time after she was discharged from Columbia Medical. Thankfully she had the assistance of Emergency Medical Technicians.
The lawsuit, which has been filed against the Columbia Medical Center of McKinney Subsidiary and Columbia North Texas Subsidiary GP claims that Cherry’s infant child suffered injuries that would not have been received had the baby been born in the hospital. The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering, medical expense, mental anguish, loss of familial consortium, physical impairment and reimbursement of court costs.
Our Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys talk to people every day who have had a horrific experience with a medical operation or procedure gone awry. There are many things that can go wrong during a medical procedure and it is important to know what to do if you suffer a serious injury because of negligence.
We’d like to remind you to do your own homework before you go in for your operation. For more information read our library article, “Seven Tips to Help You Avoid Being a Victim of Kansas City Hospital Error“.
If you or someone you love have suffered a serious injury caused by medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses including lost wages, medical bills and legal fees. Call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer James Roswold. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases, we may be able to help you and your family 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.
Rhode Island Hospital Sued for Drill Bit Accident; Are You at Risk of Medical Malpractice During Your Surgery in Kansas City?
October 22nd, 2010
Posted in Brain Surgery Accidents, medical errors
Undergoing a medical procedure or surgery, no matter how minor, can be a scary situation. There are so many things that can go wrong as is, without worrying about your doctor or surgeon making a stupid preventable mistake and making things worse.
Rhode Island Hospital is being investigated after a neurosurgeon accidentally left a 1/4″ drill bit in a patients skull during a surgical procedure on August 4, 2010. The hospital removed the drill bit piece two days later and has since suspended the surgeon and surgical staff involved in the incident.
Our Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys hope you never have to face a situation like this. A great majority of doctors and surgeons working in this country take great pride in their work and know the risks you are taking by putting your life in their hands. In order to protect yourself, be informed. Ask a lot of questions, even if you have to make the doctor repeat him or herself. Make sure you understand completely what is going to go on during your procedure and you are well aware of any and all side affects. The more information you have, the better you will be able to detect if anything is wrong following your 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 experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers James Roswold. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice, including Brain Injury related cases , we may be able to assist you and your family through this difficult time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to setup your free consultation.
Should Kansas City Parents be Concerned of a Repeat of the Florida Circumcision Case with their Newborn Child?
September 23rd, 2010
Posted in medical errors
Parents of newborn babies have enough to worry about without wondering if doctors and nurses are respecting their wishes on how their newborn infant is treated. Because of a huge misunderstanding, a Florida family is facing a legal battle against South Miami Hospital, after the couple’s newborn son was circumcised against the families repeated wishes against the procedure. The hospital blames a misread consent form, but the family doesn’t think an apology is enough. The family instead is suing South Miami Hospital, not for medical malpractice, but for gross negligence and batter.
As Kansas and Missouri Medical Malpractice Attorneys, unfortunately we see cases far too often that happen because consent forms or patient wishes go either unheard or ignored. We encourage all new parents in Kansas City to make sure you are getting the right papers, including consent forms, signed and authorized to avoid any possible mis-communication.
Always ask questions even if you feel like you are repeating yourself, just to make sure doctors and nurses are on the same page and that you understand everything that is happening in your treatment, whether you or a loved one are the patient or you are the parent or guardian of a patient.
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 can help you and your family determine the best way to proceed with your claim.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.
