A misdiagnosis can certainly be fatal. You trust your doctor to make a quick diagnosis and get you the help that you need. If you come in with a serious problem and the doctor misses it, you know that the results could be very serious. A delayed diagnosis is similar,...
Year: 2022
Understanding what it means to give “informed consent”
As adult patients, we have the right to decide how a medical condition or injury will be treated (with the exception of some emergency situations). We can go along with our doctor’s recommendation, ask to hear about alternatives and get a second opinion. However, if...
When you get the wrong amount of the right drug
When people think about prescription errors and medical malpractice, the first thing they often imagine is a doctor who gives a patient the wrong medication. Maybe the patient needs some medication to help thin blood clots, for example, but they're given a mild...
Have you suffered an infection after surgery?
You’ve been dealing with a health issue for some time now. You’ve tried different medications and treatments, but nothing has had the desired effect. Your medical team has discussed your options with you, and they’ve decided that surgery is in your best interests. ...
Medical Claims A To Z #6
NOT YOUR REGULAR CASE SURPRISING TWIST LEE S. GOLDSMITH, M.D., LLB Over the years we have handled many cases in which there was a failure to diagnosis breast cancer due to a radiologists failure to appropriately read and interpret either a mammogram or an ultrasound....
Can a doctor legally use a drug for a non-approved purpose?
As someone without a medical education, it can be hard for you to understand when your doctor's behavior might be medical malpractice. After all, malpractice occurs when someone fails to meet the established standard for their industry or fails to do what another...
Why it takes time to spot cerebral palsy
If a child's brain does not get enough oxygen during the birthing process, they can sometimes be afflicted with a condition known as cerebral palsy. This is a condition that can have a lot of different symptoms depending on what parts of the brain are impacted, but it...
Medical Claims A To Z #3
UNNECESSARY DEATHS Lee S. Goldsmith, M.D., LLB Every year thousands of individuals die of cancer that could have and should have been diagnosed earlier. The three most common cancers associated with unnecessary deaths and litigation are Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer and...
Allergic reactions to drugs can lead to serious consequences
Many of us experience allergy symptoms to things like pollen, animal dander and dust. Usually, these allergic responses are only mildly annoying, requiring us to pop a decongestant or antihistamine so we can carry on with our day. There are those of us, however, who...
Women are more likely than men to deal with misdiagnosis
Medical professionals should treat all of their patients with the same regard and respect. They take an oath to do no harm, regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, the reality of modern healthcare falls far short of that idealized vision. Doctors make mistakes...