Anesthesia is one of the most impressive advances in modern medicine. There are a range of different medications that can eliminate the sensation of pain and render people unconscious. Those medications make invasive treatments, including surgical procedures, safer...
New Jersey Medical Malpractice Law Blog
New guidance aims to prevent invasive exams of sedated patients
When patients sign consent forms prior to surgery, they often don’t read the fine print. Even if they do, they can’t imagine every scenario that would fall under the things to which they’ve given their consent. In some cases, these might involve undefined procedures...
3 potentially catastrophic consequences of surgical negligence
Surgeons and other medical professionals are required to provide a standard of care that – in accordance with professional standards and expectations – helps to ensure patient safety and well-being. Nevertheless, negligence in the operating room can lead to...
Erb’s palsy: 2 times when it’s your doctor’s fault
Erb's Palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, occurs when the brachial plexus – a network of nerves near the neck – is damaged during childbirth, whether through stretching, compression or tearing. This injury can lead to varying degrees of impairment in a child’s...
Inadequate hospital cybersecurity can prove fatal to patients
Cyberattacks, also known as ransomware attacks, are disrupting operations in all kinds of businesses and other organizations. Hackers can demand hundreds of thousands of dollars and more in “ransom” to give these organizations back access to, and control over, their...
What if a medication error causes a dangerous drug interaction?
Medications subject to controlled substances laws can pose a risk to human health. They are only available when recommended by a prescribing physician and administered by licensed medical professionals, such as pharmacists or nurses at a care facility. Those...
What exactly does “patient safety” mean?
Patient safety is a concept that aims to prevent and minimize risks of harm that occur to patients as they’re receiving medical care. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines patient safety as “the absence of preventable harm to a patient and reduction of risk of...
Premature discharge and medical malpractice
A hospital discharge is a process a patient goes through when leaving a hospital after treatment. It involves several steps to ensure a patient is discharged safely. These include a healthcare provider confirming the patient no longer needs to be in the hospital to...
What is healthcare cognitive bias and why does it matter?
Healthcare cognitive bias refers to the systematic ways in which the thinking and judgment of healthcare professionals can be influenced, leading to deviations from good decision-making or best practices. Put another way, it’s a phenomenon in which a healthcare...
The chameleon cancers: When patient symptoms disguise the truth
The word “cancer” usually conjures images of telltale signs – lump formations, persistent coughs or unrelenting pain. But what if the enemy wore a mask, its true nature hid behind the guise of a seemingly harmless ailment? Welcome to the world of frequently...