All too often, we see the life-changing consequences caused to patients as a result of delays in diagnosis. While delays in diagnosis can occur in numerous areas of medicine, a particular concern are delays in diagnosis of infection in pregnant women. Maternal deaths from pregnancy related to sepsis (blood infection) while uncommon still occur at an unacceptably high rate.
An infant’s entrance into the world is a challenging time. Going from intrauterine to extrauterine life results in many physiological changes; the lungs take over gas exchange and become filled with air rather than fluid, and blood flow to the lungs is substantially increased. If appropriate care is not provided to the newborn during delivery or while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), many different complications, sometimes life threatening, can occur.
Doctors that rely too heavily on pulse oximetry screening to identify congenital heart defects in newborns may be committing malpractice if they fail to undertake an adequate physical exam of the child.
During and after birth, infants are at risk of contracting serious infections. Many neonatal infections can lead to devastating consequences if not detected and treated soon after birth. If your infant developed an infection at birth that was not properly recognized and treated, this may have been medical malpractice and you may contact our office to request a free case evaluation.
Delays in diagnosing congenital heart defects can lead to serious injuries and the need to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are structural abnormalities present at birth that affect the heart’s proper functioning. While medical advances have improved diagnosis and treatment, delays in identifying CHDs can have severe consequences, including serious injuries or even death.
A six-year-old child known only as I.O. in court documents suffered permanent brain damage and severe disability from prolonged deprivation of oxygen immediately before birth. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit on her behalf.
Among the most unfortunate legal cases that our law firm handles are those involving death or injury to a fetus or newborn child. Too often what should be a time of great joy is instead filled with sadness because obstetricians, nurses or hospitals fail to assure that mother and child receive appropriate medical care during labor and delivery.
Patients thankfully do not frequently suffer a brain injury during the course of a hospitalization. When such injuries do occur, medical personnel are quick to
To The EditorRegarding: The Value of Disclosing Medical Error I write this in response to an article* posted by ALICIA GALLEGOS, of American Medical News,
January 1, 2010 Journal Watch summarizes a remarkable article entitled “Investigation of incidental findings on cardiac CT.” The article was based on a study conducted
Originally Published January 9, 2004 Bill Vidonic, Times Staff Writer BEAVER – Richard Miller will be on anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life
Originally Published October 24, 1993; Section: NATIONAL; Edition: TWO STAR; Page: A-1; Memo: MEDICATION ERRORS; Day 1: THE OVERVIEW; TOMORROW: Many hands, many mistakes. Contributing
