On March 28, Philly.com reported that Crozer-Chester Medical Center was cited using dirty medical equipment. Surgical staff used an improperly cleaned endoscope during a surgical procedure, leaving the patient open to a potential surgical infection. Endoscopes are tubular instruments used to look at various organs inside
The National Academy for State Health Policy recently commissioned a report detailing Pennsylvania’s adverse event reporting system for medical malpractice events. Pennsylvania medical malpractice incidents are reported through a hospital adverse event reporting system. The Pennsylvania Adverse Event Reporting System (system) collects data on medical errors
Consumer Reports recently reported on a data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that suggested 251, 454 people in the United States (US) die as a result of medical errors each year. Medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in
Having a loved one admitted to the hospital can very often be an emotional or traumatic experience due to the sudden nature of the admittance or the degree of the health condition. While hospitals throughout Pennsylvania and the United States have made significant improvements in
A Philadelphia jury’s decision to allow a $3 million award to an 87-year-old woman’s estate has been upheld by the state Superior Court. The Legal Intelligencer reports that the woman was killed by an overdose of pain medication administered to her through her spinal fluid.
Shunts are medical devices that are required for some patients to be implanted into the brain to help treat various conditions, the most predominant condition being hydrocephalus. If a physician fails to diagnose shunt malfunction, a patient can suffer drastic consequences. Hydrocephalus, also commonly referred
The number of medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania is apparently continuing to drop, according to recent news reports. There were 1,533 medical malpractice lawsuit filings in the state, in 2009, compared to more than 1,600 the previous year. Compare that to 2,900 medical malpractice lawsuits
While doctors and nurses balance the pressure of properly diagnosing a condition with the responsibility of saving lives, is administering more tests the answer to preventing mistakes and subsequent malpractice claims? Also, what currently motivates physicians the most in recommending certain tests or even preventative
No one likes going to the doctor. In fact, if a poster showing the errors a doctor could make was hung in every office, you may just turn around and walk right out the door! Here is a list of some of the types of
