Law Blog
Kernicterus and Untreated Jaundice in Newborns
Kernicterus is a rare form of birth injury which results from a newborn’s inability to process excess levels of bilirubin in the blood after birth. Babies are typically born with a surplus of red blood cells, and their bodies accumulate bilirubin as it breaks these cells down. A newborn’s liver often becomes overworked in processing…
Read MoreProlapsed Umbilical Cord and Birth Injuries
Pregnancy is, as everyone says, a magical time. And it very much is, when you stop and think about how much work your body is doing all by itself. Take the umbilical cord, for example. This cord tethers mother and baby together, providing the fetus with all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow…
Read MoreMedical Malpractice for Endoscopy Complications
An endoscopy is a medical procedure that uses a scope, which is a long tube with a tiny camera mounted on the end, to explore inside a patient’s body. The physician inserts the scope into an opening in the patient’s body, and they can then watch the video feed that captures an up-close view in…
Read MoreMedical Malpractice and Diagnostic Mistakes
Diagnosis is the medical process of determining which conditions or illnesses are causing a patient’s symptoms. Errors during surgery accounted for 24% of medical error claims, and errors in medical management accounted for 14% of the claims. A new study found that diagnostic errors were the largest part of medical malpractice claims during the years…
Read MoreWoman Discovers Her Real Father Was Her Parents’ Fertility Specialist
Biologists James Watson and Francis Crick are credited with having discovered the structure of DNA. This discovery has paved the way for medical and scientific breakthroughs for combatting disease, using fingerprinting in criminal cases, modifying food, and giving the world Jurassic Park. Over the last 65 years, we have come to rely on DNA to…
Read MoreColorectal Surgery Malpractice Is More Common Than You Think
Colon and rectal surgeries, collectively referred to as colorectal surgeries, account for about 24% of all general surgery cases and about 15% of the physicians in this field face medical malpractice lawsuits each year. A study published in the Journal of Surgical Research analyzed 122 medical malpractice lawsuits and found that the most common cause…
Read MoreWhy is the Death Rate so High for Black Women in Pregnancy and Childbirth in the U.S.?
Black women in the United States are more likely to die during or after childbirth due to racial disparities in maternal health in this country. And article published by ProPublica and NPR reveals that the disparity is not about class or level of education attainment, as even college-educated mothers who deliver in local hospitals are…
Read MoreWomen Are Being Over-Prescribed with Opioids After C-Sections
According to a recent study conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, women who undergo Cesarean sections have been routinely overprescribed opioid (narcotic) pain medications. The study looked at 179 patients who had undergone cesareans at VUMC over an eight-week period to examine opioid prescribing practices and consumption…
Read MoreThe Difference Between a Birth Defect and Birth Injury
Parents and other family members of children who are the victims of preventable injuries at birth due to substandard care provided by medical personnel during pregnancy, labor, or delivery have the option to pursue legal action. Cases that involve birth injury often involve an allegation that medical staff fell short in their obligation to deliver…
Read MoreSurgical Malpractice – “Never Events” That Occur Too Often
Even the most simple of surgeries can elicit concern for patients. While surgeons and other medical professionals are highly trained in their craft, human error is always a possibility. Beyond simple errors, there is also the potential for acute carelessness and negligence that can result in serious complications or injury. Surgical malpractice can produce long-term…
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