The possibility of surgery, especially the potential for errors during surgery, can be stressful and daunting. Risks may be present, even for minor surgery. A patient normally puts his/her faith in a surgeon, believing that person to be trustworthy and completely focused on them during the surgery. Although a reasonable expectation, that may not always […]
Recently, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committed $26 million to new research aimed at preventing hospital infections and improving patient safety in medical settings throughout the country. This initiative, known as the Prevention Epicenters Program, will be spearheaded by five major academic medical centers between 2016 and 2020. The goal of the […]
When you take a look at medical errors in the United States, the numbers are astounding. According to the Journal of Patient Safety, medical errors result in approximately 400,000 deaths each year. So, what to do? How can hospitals and the medical professionals who work within them prevent these errors and their devastating results? One hospital […]
Bacterial infections can occur in hospitals for many reasons, including because of errors during surgery, misuse of medical tools, or defective medical devices. For example, a medical device manufacturer and a Pennsylvania hospital are facing multiple lawsuits after two patients contracted a bacterial infection following open-heart surgery, one of whom tragically died as a result. […]
A woman recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against an Iowa hospital after a catastrophic surgical error left her paralyzed, neurologically impaired, and in need of 24-hour care. The aforementioned case began in 2014, when 52-year-old Joyce Bohren sought treatment at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for hearing difficulties. Physicians soon identified two benign tumors, called meningiomas, […]
You may wonder why your doctor’s office has you fill out forms asking about diseases your relatives have had. Family history provides indications to physicians about some diseases and conditions, perhaps the most extreme of which is cancer. As such, it is invaluable for those seeking medical care and those providing it, to understand the […]
If you have ever had sleep issues, allergies, neck cancer, or skin disorders, you may have sought diagnostic and treatment help from an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist, known as an ENT. An ENT specializes in otolaryngology, the study of ear, nose, and throat conditions. In essence, these doctors treat diseases and disorders of the […]
The United States Constitution protects religious freedom. Although the nation is historically Judeo-Christian, people of all faiths practice their religions throughout the American landscape. In the last half-century, federal and state laws and policies increasingly bolstered religious protections, especially in medicine. Conscience laws allow medical practitioners to refuse medical care under certain circumstances when their […]
