Medical Malpractice

• Medical Errors Claim 200,000 Lives Each Year

  Scott Kappes | August 11, 2009 3:03 PM | 2 CommentsHouston, TX

  Experts estimate that 98,000 people die each year from preventable medical mistakes and an additional 99,000 patients die each year from hospital acquired infections. A highly publicized report...

• Pregant Women Should Cease Use of Paxil and Other SSRIs

  John Ghezzi | October 11, 2006 5:32 PM | 1 CommentHouston, TX

  Recent studies are showing that use of Paxil and other SSRIs (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors) during any part of a woman's pregnancy may cause severe health risks to the unborn child. In late 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning consumers that exposure to paroxetine (Paxil) during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk for congenital malformations,...

• Negligence in the Emergency Room?

  Lindsay Bauer | September 15, 2006 3:55 PM | 1 CommentHouston, TX

  I read an article in today's paper that disappointed me but did not surprise me. If you have ever had to visit the emergency room, you might feel the same way. The article appeared in the Houston Chronicle and centered around a woman in Waukegan, IL who at age 49 was exhibiting the classic signs of having a heart attack.She went to the emergency room and upon evaluation, her case was decided...

• Autopsy Confirms Cheerleader’s Suspected Cause of Death

  Scott Kappes | June 12, 2008 11:53 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  It has been over two months since the nation heard the story about a high school senior who died shortly after experiencing complications during a routine breast augmentation surgery. Now the...

• Investigation of Endoscopy Clinics Turns Up 77 Cases of Hepatitis

  Scott Kappes | May 09, 2008 12:18 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Yesterday Nevada health officials released the findings of a probe investigating the patients treated at Las Vegas clinics that allegedly reused single use medication vials and syringes. This...

• Hepatitis Scare Prompts State Wide Inspection

  Scott Kappes | March 10, 2008 1:54 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Over the weekend the Las Vegas Sun reported that a local clinic might have exposed up to 40,000 patients to a risk of hepatitis and HIV. The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada should have been inspected by state health organizations every three years, but had not been inspected over seven years. In order to lower costs that clinic allegedly reused syringes and vials and skimped on virtually...

• Women Encouraged to Take Folic Acid by CDC

  Scott Kappes | January 11, 2008 4:21 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging women to make sure they take in 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. This week is National Folic Acid Awareness Week and the CDC has taken this opportunity to make more women aware of the benefits of folic acid. Folic acid is a B vitamin the has been shown to prevent birth defects. The National Council on Folic Acid estimates...

• New York Doctor Reused Needles

  Scott Kappes | November 19, 2007 2:40 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Last week the New York state health officials informed over 600 patients of Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, anesthesiologist, after learning that the doctor may have put his patients at risk by reusing syringes. They began investigating Finkelstein back in 2005 after two of his patients contracted hepatitis C. In 2005 officials notified 98 epidural recipients of possible infection after the two cases...

• Birth Injury Paralysis Leads To Lawsuit

  Staff Writer | September 07, 2006 11:33 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  DC InjuryBoard blogger Kevin Goldberg brings my attention to the story of a young girl who suffered a birth injury when her arm was paralysed during delivery. The girl, now 8, had a condition known as shoulder dystocia which prevents an easy delivery.Her parents filed a malpractice lawsuit against the doctor but didn't want any of the $1.1 million award. They wanted all money to be paid to their...

• Dentists' Actions Can Be Medical Malpractice

  Staff Writer | September 07, 2006 9:13 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  People often wonder if dentists can be held to the same standards of care as other doctors when it comes to medical malpractice. Fellow InjuryBoard blogger Jack Landskroner reminds us that, yes, dental malpractice can indeed be medical malpractice:Teeth and other areas of the mouth are frequently injured during dental procedures. While there are risks associated with most medical and dental...