Category: Medical Malpractice

In a move that seems confusing to say the least, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has stopped publicly reporting when hospitals leave foreign objects in patients, along with other serious mistakes. These errors are part of a list of what are called “Hospital-Acquired Conditions” (HACs) which are considered preventable. According to CMS, […]

For the second year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have released data showing what hospitals charge Medicare for their services. The numbers reveal important information for consumers, and show that hospital charges are increasing – some much faster than the rate of inflation. The list of charges, called the “Medicare Provider Utilization […]

Starting this fall, the Medicare program will start penalizing hospitals that have high rates of infections and preventable injuries. As part of the Affordable Care Act, all eligible hospitals will be ranked and those falling in the bottom 25%, Medicare billings will only be paid at 99% — resulting in a 1% penalty for the […]

In late April, Johnson & Johnson announced it was suspending sales of its morcellator device used for laparoscopic hysterectomies and myomectomies. This action came soon after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety communication about the device used to remove uterine fibroids. Some are already arguing that J&J should go further and recall […]

In mid-April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning about the use of certain types of laporoscopic techniques. The devices – called morcellators – use small blades to break apart tissue so it can be removed through small incisions. This procedure has been widely used to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) or to […]

In an earlier blog, I reviewed a Consumer Reports article highlighting the continued problem of patient safety in U.S. hospitals. New data shows that up to 440,000 patients die each year after suffering a medical error in a hospital. How can you protect yourself the next time you’re admitted to a hospital? AARP lists some […]

A recent Consumer Reports article highlights the continued problem of patient safety in U.S. hospitals. The Journal of Patient Safety, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published a recent study that found that 440,000 patients die each year after suffering a medical error in a hospital. The study was spearheaded by a scientist whose own son died […]

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 25 patients will develop an infection while staying in a U.S. hospital. A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that more than 600,000 patients each year contracted infections and that more than 10% die from the infection. While […]

A new study suggests that U.S. hospitals have a serious problem with medical staff making serious and preventable errors. This fall, an article in The Journal of Patient Safety estimated that “the true number of premature deaths associated with preventable harm to patients was estimated at more than 400,000 per year.” This new study makes […]

In 2010, a woman who had planned a home childbirth ended up at Johns Hopkins Hospital for an emergency C-section. At some point during the delivery, the baby was denied enough oxygen to cause severe and permanent damage. At the end of a jury trial, the hospital was found negligent and the family was given […]

Many of us are now accustomed to seeing physician’s assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) when we go to see our primary doctors. These so-called “mid-level” professionals rank high on customer satisfaction surveys, in part because they tend to spend more time with patients. They may also actually help reduce the risk for malpractice claims […]

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reduced the number of continuous hours that doctors-in-training could work without a break. In 2011, the organization lowered the number of hours again. An article published on the JAMA Internal Medicine website on March 25th, however, shows that the new rules might not actually improve conditions […]

In a recent study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine, which surveyed 7,288 physicians, it was discovered that 45.8% of doctors reported having at least one symptom of burnout. Researchers noted that there were substantial differences between the various medical specialties, with the highest rates of symptoms coming from physicians in the areas of […]

A new study, published in an Australian Medical Journal, has found that more than one-third of all hospital patients are discharged before tests that have been ordered by physicians have been performed. In many other cases, the results of tests that had been performed were never read by physicians. Sadly, in one of seven of […]

A new study reveals that medical malpractice claims significantly dipped for a group of Massachusetts physicians after they began using electronic records, according to a U.S. News report. Electronic records, or e-records, allow physicians to utilize computers to track patients rather than relying on paper files. Supporters of this advanced form of record keeping assert […]