Posts by Samantha L. Peters
Hidden Dangers: How Unsterilized Medical Equipment Causes Infections
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), millions of people in the USA have been suffering from Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), which have become widespread over the past several years. These infections are often spread by improper cleaning and unsterilized medical equipment. Let’s explore key ways unsterilized medical equipment causes infections, provide examples of infections,…
Read MoreHow AI Chatbots Help Doctors Make Better Diagnoses
Artificial intelligence (AI) has many potential benefits, along with risks. One area where artificial intelligence is already having a positive effect is in the practice of medicine. AI is helping physicians have a better bedside manner with their patients, providing better documentation, recommending optimal medical staff levels, and even drafting readable medical notes. AI’s ability…
Read MoreWhat to Do After a Surgery Goes Wrong: Steps to Take if You Suspect Medical Malpractice
Patients have the right to understand the benefits and risks of every type of surgery they may need. Hospitals and surgeons should anticipate the likely complications that may occur – and be ready to handle those emergencies quickly and competently. Sometimes, patients will know within a few hours or days that something went wrong during…
Read MoreCommon Hospital Errors That Can Lead to Legal Action
Patients can suffer injuries or die when hospitals fail to act competently. Competency involves anticipating health dangers, providing quality staff and equipment, and fully monitoring the care of everyone in the hospital for emergency care, scheduled surgeries, or other reasons. Our medical malpractice lawyers work with hospital administrators, physicians, and other medical experts to show…
Read MoreWhat is Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)?
The New York Times recently published an informative article about MASLD, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. The article centers around one woman’s diagnosis (and eventual death) from MASLD. We thought it was important for our readers to know more about this disease, and why it seems to take so much time to diagnose. From…
Read MoreWhen Delayed Diagnosis Becomes a Life-Altering Mistake
When an individual does not feel well and decides to visit a doctor, they usually trust and depend on that doctor to correctly and promptly provide a diagnosis and successfully treat them for their condition. As patients, we should be able to expect as much from our providers. These professionals must go through years of…
Read MoreCan You Sue a Hospital for Getting Sepsis?
Although sepsis is a dangerous and deadly condition that is known to emerge quickly and suddenly, it is almost always preventable with proper care and treatment. If you or a loved one developed or were diagnosed with sepsis while in or shortly after leaving the hospital, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice…
Read MoreWhen Medical Malpractice In Washington DC Leads To Paralysis
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to deliver the standard of care expected in the medical community, leading to injury, harm, or death of a patient. Medical malpractice can lead to paralysis when a healthcare provider’s negligence or error causes significant harm to the patient’s spinal cord or nervous system. Here are some…
Read MoreDelays in Patient Care Increase Since Amazon Took Over One Medical
Amazon might be efficient at delivering packages, but the company’s approach to health care appears to be endangering patients’ health. Internal documents leaked to the Washington Post indicate that care has suffered for elderly patients of One Medical, the primary care service Amazon acquired in 2022. Since taking over the service, Amazon has been routing…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About Placenta Accreta
Pregnancy is a remarkable journey, where a mother’s uterus and placenta nourish the developing fetus with oxygen and nutrients. Ideally, the placenta should attach to the uterus during pregnancy so that these essential life requirements can pass without harm to the mother or child. However, the medical team caring for the mother and child must…
Read MoreA Washington, DC Regulator Reports That the Metro Is Failing to Provide Quality Safety Practices
In January 2024, The Washington Post reported that the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission released an audit analyzing the Metro’s Automatic Train Control (ATC) and Signals Program. According to the report, Metro workers responsible for maintaining safety systems designed to prevent collisions were found to be non-compliant with internal procedures. The audit highlighted instances where overseeing…
Read MoreNew Guidelines Recommend Mammograms Should Begin at Age 40
The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released new guidelines concerning mammograms – most specifically, that women should start breast cancer screenings at age 40. States Wanda Nicholson, MD, MPH, MBA, and USPSTF Chair: More women in their 40s have been getting breast cancer, with rates increasing about 2% each year. By starting to…
Read MoreIs It Hard to Sue a Washington, D.C. Hospital for Medical Malpractice?
Suing a hospital for medical malpractice can be very difficult in Washington, D.C. These types of lawsuits usually involve complicated facts, details, and legal issues, which must all be addressed appropriately. In addition, hospitals and their insurance companies are known to put up a fierce defense, often resulting in lengthy and drawn-out trials. However, with…
Read MoreWomen Are Getting Pregnant on Ozempic, Much to Their Surprise
The newest trend from women taking Ozempic: surprise pregnancies. Women across the country are reporting unexpected pregnancies despite birth control or history fertility problems. These babies are dubbed the “Ozempic babies.” While many women happily welcome their unexpected pregnancies, many also experience alarming side effects, leading many health experts to ask: is Ozempic a dangerous…
Read MoreCan a Massage Cause a Carotid Artery Dissection?
According to an article published by NBC News, a 41-year-old mother, Stefanie Smith, recently died while returning home on a plane from the Dominican Republic. Reports say, she started having convulsions in the middle of the flight. Convulsions typically indicate that a person is suffering from a seizure, infection, traumatic brain injury, or a high…
Read MoreWashington, DC Is #4 for Fetal Deaths
For the past 15 years, fetal deaths, also known as stillbirths, have declined in the United States. However, stillbirths in the District of Columbia have exceeded the national average for the last 10+ years. According to the 2022 DC Health Infant Mortality Report, non-Hispanic Black babies were three to five times more likely to die in…
Read MoreWhat Are the Four “D”s of Medical Malpractice?
The four “D”s of medical malpractice are: Duty, Deviation from standard of care, Damages, and Direct cause. All four of these elements are legally required and must be established in order to file a medical malpractice claim and pursue damages successfully. If you’re unsure if your experiences fit within these boundaries, the best thing you…
Read MoreMedical Malpractice and Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a helpful tool, especially for folks who live in rural and remote areas, or who cannot afford to take a day off work to visit a doctor’s office. Telemedicine can also be beneficial to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals as they do not have to come into direct contact with so many…
Read MoreOlympian Allyson Felix’s Highlights the Risks Black Mothers Face
Allyson Felix, renowned Olympic sprinter, recently shared her personal experience in an interview with Meet the Press, shedding light on the significant risks Black mothers face during pregnancy. Felix expressed her surprise at being at risk and emphasized the importance of being informed about potential complications, particularly preeclampsia, a condition she was unfamiliar with. Despite…
Read MoreCan Medical Negligence Lead to Preterm Birth?
Having a baby should be an exciting time for a mother. While many babies are delivered without a problem, there are also many instances where there is a problem or issue during the pregnancy, leading to an early delivery. Having a preterm birth is a scary time, as it can be dangerous for the baby.…
Read MoreDrugs Like Ozempic Shouldn’t Be Prescribed to Children
The world has always focused on appearances. The beauty of the human body and what it should look like in order for it to be admired has shifted over the centuries. Most recently, reaching popularity in the 90s, there has been a growing desire to be thin. With that desire came the production of weight…
Read MoreDangerous Mistakes Tripled in Maryland Hospitals
In the realm of healthcare, trust is the cornerstone upon which every successful patient-provider relationship is built. We rely on hospitals to be sanctuaries of healing, places where expertise and compassion converge. However, recent revelations about patient safety in Maryland have cast a sobering light on the state of affairs within its hospitals. Between 2019…
Read MoreEPA Moves to Limit Lead Fuel in Aviation
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has found that lead from airplane fuel is a danger to public health, opening the doors for the agency to limit lead fuel in aviation. According to the Washington Post, “More than 170,000 smaller planes, known as piston-engine aircraft, still use leaded gasoline, according to the EPA, and…
Read MorePaulson & Nace, PLLC Named to Best Law Firms for 2024
The team at Paulson & Nace, PLLC is pleased to announce our inclusion in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms, 2024 Edition. We were named a Tier 1 firm in Washington D.C. for outstanding work in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation for plaintiffs. Additionally, we were also selected as…
Read MoreThe Long-Term Prognosis of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that can affect a person for the rest of their life. While the condition itself will not worsen, the symptoms and risks associated with this disorder can become worse over time, causing individuals to develop long-term complications. As a result, many children with cerebral palsy may experience chronic pain,…
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