Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are, as the name suggests, infections that patients acquire during a hospital visit. These infections can be serious and sometimes even life-threatening. Understanding what increases the risk can help patients and families stay...
Medical Malpractice
The dangers of patient confidentiality breaches
One of the cornerstones of any patient-doctor relationship is confidentiality. Patients’ medical records and other health information are protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These federal laws help establish trust between...
Diagnostic errors among children: What to know
Unfortunately, diagnostic errors occur in pediatric practices more often than they should. A child may suffer serious injuries that can affect their life for years. For example, some children have been reported to develop permanent disability because of a diagnostic...
Placental abruption can endanger mothers and their unborn babies
A pregnant woman will likely expect that she will have an event-free labor and delivery. They probably trust the medical team to take good care of them when they have to go in. While most women get exactly that, there are times when things don’t exactly work out that...
Why it takes time to diagnose cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an injury that is often caused at birth. It happens, in many cases, because there’s a lack of oxygen to the child’s brain. This is one of the reasons prolonged labor can be dangerous, for example. However, the average age at which cerebral palsy is...
Common causes of malpractice in nursing homes
Nursing homes provide a vital service in our communities. They ensure our loved ones receive skilled care around the clock, meet their nutritional needs and encourage them to socialize with their peers. The staff at nursing homes know you are entrusting them with your...
4 types of wrong-site surgery
In the medical profession, wrong-site surgery is considered a "never event"—something that should never happen under any circumstances. However, it still occurs, typically due to human error. For instance, miscommunication between medical professionals can result in...
3 ways subconscious sexism can affect medical care
Human interactions differ based on the characteristics and experiences of the people involved. That is as true for an encounter between strangers on the street as it is for those seeking medical care. Characteristics over which a patient has no control can influence...
Will brachial palsy sustained at birth have long-term effects?
If your newborn baby suffered brachial palsy during childbirth due to negligence by the medical team, you may be wondering what the future looks like for them. Brachial palsy occurs when the nerves controlling movement and sensation in the arm and hand are damaged,...
Copy-paste errors in EHRs put patients in danger
Electronic health records (EHRs) were supposed to transform patient care. To some extent, they have – but not always been for the better. While EHRs have streamlined communication between practices when they have compatible systems and made information much more...