Updates and Insights
- Woman Awarded $5.1 Million After Contracting Hepatitis C from Contaminated Colonoscopy Instruments
Feb 11, 2016
In a recent case out of Brooklyn, New York, a woman was awarded $5.1 million in damages after filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against two doctors, specifically a gastroenterologist and an anesthesiologist. The woman claimed to have contracted Hepatitis C as a result of cross-contamination during a routine colonoscopy. This case represents just one of the numerous cases involving medical cross-contamination that occur each year during colonoscopies and other medical procedures, often resulting in serious...Read More - Bergen County Judge Rules that Future Medical Expenses Should Not be Restricted Based on the Affordable Care Act
Feb 5, 2016
In a recent case involving medical practice, a Bergen County Superior Court Judge ruled that potential coverage under the Affordable Care Act should not restrict a claim for future medical expenses. The aforementioned decision stems from a case involving a 9-year-old girl who suffers from cerebral palsy. In the medical malpractice suit brought by the little girl’s parents, the plaintiffs claim that her condition was caused by medical negligence at Ridgewood’s Valley Hospital, specifically, delayed performance of a...Read More - Growing Concern as Zika Virus Proliferates, May Cause Birth Defects in Infants
Jan 29, 2016
The World Health Organization (WHO) has scheduled an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to address the recent proliferation of Zika virus, which has been tentatively linked to birth defects in infants. Since the Zika virus outbreak, there has been a significant increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly, a rare condition that causes abnormally small heads in infants and may lead to complications including neurological conditions, developmental delays, and hearing loss. Since the first case...Read More - $10.1 Million Verdict in Hospital Negligence, Delayed Diagnosis Case Involving Young Boy with Meningitis
Jan 22, 2016
In a recent medical malpractice case involving delayed diagnosis, a jury awarded a $10.1 million verdict to a mother who brought suit on behalf of her nearly 7-year-old son. The young boy was only 11-months old when he suffered neurological impairment, hearing loss, and development and learning disabilities after emergency room physicians at a Philadelphia hospital failed to diagnose and treat bacterial meningitis.The suffering of the victim in this case and his family can never truly be compensated...Read More - U.S. Senate Report Cites FDA, Hospitals, Manufacturers for Inadequate Safety of Medical Devices Linked to “Superbug” Outbreaks
Jan 16, 2016
After an extensive investigation, the United States Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee recently issued a report implicating medical device manufacturers, hospitals, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the hundreds of illnesses and deaths involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to endoscope medical devices. Multiple endoscope manufacturers have affirmed their commitment to patient safety, but this issue may provide grounds for significant product liability lawsuits involving medical device failure to warn. Similarly, hospitals that...Read More - “Concussion” Film Release Drives National Discussion about Football Head Injuries
Jan 8, 2016
As Will Smith’s latest film Concussion premiered in theaters on Christmas Day, the subject matter sparked a national conversation about head injuries for football players. Although the film focused on head trauma and the resulting consequences for adult professional athletes, recent data shows that the American public is concerned with these issues for young football players as well. According to Dr. Sharief Taraman, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, California, “There’s definitely an increase in...Read More - New Survey Provides Insight into Medical Malpractice in the U.S.
Jan 1, 2016
A recent report outlines the results of a survey involving nearly 4,000 physicians from a variety of specialties, including primary care physicians, OB-GYN’s, and surgeons. The survey investigated the prevalence of medical malpractice lawsuits against these healthcare professionals, as well as the leading forms of negligence claimed in the suits brought against them. The recent report was generated by Medscape, a part of WebMD Health Professional Network that provides current medical information and educational tools to those in...Read More - Jury Finds in Favor of Woman in Defective Medical Device Case
Dec 26, 2015
A recent case in Philadelphia resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement for a woman who filed a product liability lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) after experiencing complications allegedly caused by J&J’s Prolift pelvic mesh. The case in question involved plaintiff Patricia L. Hammons, who claimed to have suffered serious medical problems after implantation of the Prolift pelvic mesh, which was manufactured and marketed by Ethicon, a division of Johnson & Johnson, to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. A medical...Read More - Malfunctioning Mobile Medical Apps May Lead to Product Liability Claims
Dec 11, 2015
With the constant development of new technologies that supplement our lives, applications (often referred to as “Apps”) have become increasingly common, allowing us to accomplish a variety of tasks ranging from purchasing our coffee to finding directions to the nearest hotel or restaurant. It is not surprising, then, that monitoring our health has become easier than ever, with Apps such as Fitbit and MyFitnessPal helping us to regulate everything from calories consumed to steps taken, all from the...Read More - NJ Supreme Court Says Insurer is Not Responsible for Covering Doctor Who Submitted Fraudulent Application
Dec 4, 2015
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently issued a ruling in favor of an insurance company, stating in a split decision that they are not responsible for compensating a victim of a surgical error because the practicing physician in the case lied on his application for medical malpractice coverage. The case in question stems from a surgery performed by former Ocean County podiatrist, Dr. Sean Robert Stoddard, in 2010. The patient in this case, Lakewood resident Thomas De Marco, filed a lawsuit...Read More