Medical Malpractice

• Pressure Ulcers Are a Problem at Hospitals

  Ed Normand | September 27, 2007 12:39 PM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  The Hill-Rom Company has published a study indicating that half of all hospital patients risk acquiring pressure ulcers or bed sores during the hospital stay. First to blame are the hospitals for not taking precautions to prevent the sores from starting. This study follows the recent U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' decision to stop reimbursement to hospitals for the cost...

• University of South Florida Prepares for Bacterial Meningitis Outbreak

  Joe Saunders | September 24, 2007 5:35 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  After a USF student, Rachel Futterman, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, the university has braced itself for more cases of the rare but potentially deadly disease. Bacterial meningitis, an infection of the brain and spinal cord lining, is a rare but potentially fatal illness. Early symptoms can resemble the flu, including fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and...

• Bush Threatens Veto for Expanded Heathcare Coverage for Kids

  Joe Saunders | September 23, 2007 1:44 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  In a move that's been expected for weeks, President Bush has threatened to veto a bill that would expand healthcare coverage for children. The child healthcare program is set to expire September 30 and Congress will most likely vote to renew it, setting a showdown with the President. The program covers children, many of whom would not have access to healthcare without it. Bush has argued that...

• Defibrillator Recall

  Sandy Grinnell | September 18, 2007 4:15 PM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  The FDA is recalling the MRL/Welch Allyn AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillator that is used by emergency personnel in hospitals, at fire stations and other risk management departments to treat heart attack victims. The defective equipment may show an error message (Defib Comm) which can result in the medical personnel giving improper treatment. Hospitals, fire departments, and ambulance...

• Study Finds 15% of Docs Implanting Defibrillators Had No Formal Training

  Staff Writer | September 12, 2007 11:55 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  A 2006 registry of Medicare patients has found that 15% of doctors implanting defibrillators have had no formal training in the procedure. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (or ICD) is the small device implanted beneath the patient's collarbone and connected to the heart through insulated wires. The device is designed to provide an electric shock to the heart if its rhythm is...

• Medical and Health Industry Admits Malpractice

  Ed Normand | September 10, 2007 2:42 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  For years patients have been forced to sue physicians and hospitals because they just could not get a straight answer from them about what happened and why. Many times an apology and an offer to correct the problem would have prevented a lawsuit. Other times, especially in cases of clear negligence a fair settlement offer at the outset of the injury would prevent the time, expense and...

• Do You Know About Florida's Medical Malpractice Caps?

  Patricia Doherty | September 02, 2007 10:54 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  The 2003 Florida Legislature with former Governeor Jeb Bush's backing passed caps on medical malpractice cases taking the decision of the amount of fair compensation of injuries away from the jury. Florida law has a $150,000.00 cap for "pain and suffering" for emergency room negligence and $500,000.00 caps for other cases. If medical negligence causes the wrongful death of a patient the cap may...

• Medicare Will Stop Paying for Negligent Care

  Ed Normand | August 30, 2007 6:09 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  Well the Federal Government finally seems to be starting to do something about the extensive malpractice occurring in our hospitals. Up until now, if malpractice was committed on a patient at a hospital the hospital would actually profit from the malpractice by billing for and getting paid from Medicare for the cost of the care stemming from the malpractice that they caused. Now Medicare...

• Cancer Check harder to get than Botox

  Ed Normand | August 29, 2007 3:33 PM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  According to a recently published online study by the American Academy of Dermatology, patients that want to see a dermatologist for an evaluation of potential cancer in a mole must wait much longer than it takes to get an appointment to the same dermatologist for a cosmetic Botox injection. Given the malignant melanoma is so very deadly it is disappointing to see that patient health care is...

• Illinois Man Wins $1.6M in Medical Malpractice Case

  Shannon Weidemann | August 28, 2007 10:30 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  A doctor failed to diagnose a man with bladder cancer so the man filed a medical malpractice case against the doctor. A jury found the doctor responsible and awarded the man $1.6 Million. Between June and November 2003, Kordek saw Dr. Marwaha for issues with frequent urination and other symptoms. Kordek's kidneys became obstructed by a mass in his bladder, which eventually caused a drop in his...