Medical Negligence

Amniotic fluid embolism is a sudden, unforeseeable, unpreventable, and alarming complication of pregnancy. It occurs when a large amount of amniotic fluid abnormally enters the mother’s bloodstream during labor or immediately before or after delivery, resulting in severe damage and, at times, even the mother’s death. What is amniotic fluid embolism? Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE)…

Bowel perforation, also known as intestinal perforation, is a hole in the wall of the intestine. It can occur anywhere in the small intestine or large intestine. Bowel perforation is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. A bowel perforation, or a nicked bowel, occurs when a hole is made in the bowel or anywhere…

Your nerves play a vital part in the function of your body. They are in charge of sending messages and signals that allow you to move and feel certain body parts. Nerves are also responsible for helping the human body digest food, maintain a healthy heart rate, respond to stress, stay balanced, continue to breathe,…

In healthcare, an adverse event is an undesirable outcome in a medical procedure or treatment that is not caused by the initial injury or illness itself. A patient who suffers an allergic reaction to a medication has suffered from an adverse event. So has the patient whose hip replacement has deteriorated, and is now suffering…

The passage of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 has been cause for celebration. For the first time in decades, our armed forces will finally be able to get the care they need for the injuries they sustained from toxic exposure. Most of the news coverage has concerned burn…

There is no doubt that there are hidden costs of healthcare. We don’t mean the premiums or seeking care outside of your network, or even Emergency Room bills. It may sound cynical, but most people are fully cognizant of the shortfalls in their coverage, and expect to receive “surprise” bills associated with their care. For…

Historically, modern medical research has focused on the health of men, based on statute and tradition. Only in the past 2 to 3 decades, have restrictions that prohibited many women from participating in clinical trials been lifted, allowing researchers to thoroughly and scientifically consider how the health outcomes of women differ from men’s. Due to…

When you visit or are admitted to a hospital as a patient, you are entering the confines of a complex health care system in which many communicable diseases and opportunities to acquire those diseases are present. The term used for this occurrence is Hospital Acquired Infection. Of particular concern today are certain strains of bacteria…

It is no secret that the hospitals in D.C. need some work. According to Hospital Safety Grade, an initiative launched by the nonprofit Leapfrog Group, out of the six hospitals located in Washington, D.C. proper, half have earned a “D” rating. The hospitals were evaluated in the following categories: Infections Problems with surgery Practice to…

A court in the country of Amsterdam has issued a ruling that directs Google to remove a list of unofficially “blacklisted” doctors from a discussion group online. The case is noted as the first involving the legal concept of “right to be forgotten” that pertains to the alleged medical negligence of a doctor. The judgment…

Thousands of women give birth every day in the United States, including here in the Washington, D.C. area. Labor and delivery is a common and safe experience for mothers and babies, but occasionally there are complications. If a baby is deprived of oxygen during the labor and delivery process, the child can suffer severe birth…

Every day, babies all over this country are delivered via C-section, and they are happy, healthy and safe. The procedure isn’t easy on the mother – it is major surgery, after all – but most C-sections go off without a hitch. That does not mean, however, that there are no risks to the procedure. A…

Genetic testing is one of the miracles of modern medicine, but it can also become somewhat of a double-edged sword. That is because the technology is so new and evolving every day. A genetic test can tell you if you are at risk for certain diseases, reveal the disease that is causing your symptoms, and…

On December 10, 2017, the Center for Justice & Democracy released the “Medical Malpractice: By the Numbers” briefing book. The 178-page document delves deeply into what types of cases are being filed and why, but also addresses the reasons behind why so few victims of medical errors actually file lawsuits. Their information is based on…

Gestational diabetes is blood sugar condition affecting pregnant women. Unlike Type I or Type II diabetes, gestational diabetes is not permanent, though mothers who develop it may be at a greater risk of developing Type II later on in life. A recent study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, aimed to discover if there was a…

If there is a strip mall near you, chances are good that it includes an Urgent Care facility. These are free-standing medical centers that operate as a hybrid between an emergency room and health clinic. Designed to treat patients with acute medical conditions and minor traumas. They do not serve patients with serious, life-threatening conditions.…