Pulmonary embolism (PE) is more common in patients with cancer. In addition, patients with malignancy who develop PE are more likely to have a recurrence of the condition. In many cases, PE and related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be prevented in cancer patients. In such circumstances, a physician's failure to take precautionary measures may [...]
PPROM can result in birth injuries and fetal demise. In cases of birth injury following PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes), a detailed factual inquiry is necessary to determine whether the injuries were avoidable and preventable through timely detection and appropriate interventions. Under Ohio law, a parent may recover for injuries to a newborn that occur [...]
The starting point for evaluating medical malpractice claims in Ohio arising out of the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease (VHD) is the 2014 Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines for Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease as published in the journal Circulation. Valvular heart disease involves damage to or a [...]
The Ohio Department of Health's most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey confirms that young drivers continue to text and drive at alarming rates. The survey reflects that almost half of Ohio high school students text or email while driving. These statistics are particularly sobering given that the dangers of texting and driving have been well-advertised. [...]
Medical negligence cases involving children arise in a number of ways. Children can be more susceptible to diseases and treatment errors simply by virtue of their size. These little patients also are not as well equipped to explain their symptoms and are dependent on others to speak for them. One area that falls squarely on [...]
Medical malpractice cases involving amputation of limbs involve a number of special considerations. Amputations are surprisingly common. The Amputee Coalition reports the following statistics regarding amputations in the U.S.: There are nearly 2 million people living with limb loss in the United States. Trauma, such as car accidents and workplace injuries account for 45% of [...]
There are certain things that should never happen when you have surgery. One is that surgical equipment such as sponges, needles and other equipment used during the surgery should never be left behind. If the surgical team is working together and doing their job, all equipment used should be accounted for at the end of the surgery. [...]
The incidence of stroke (also known as cerebrovascular accident or CVA) increases in pregnancy. In light of this known risk factor, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association issued their first stroke-prevention guidelines that focus only on women's unique risks. These guidelines were published this month in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart Association. Among [...]
Truck and car accidents with bikes are on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about 2 percent of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. involve bicyclists. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that the cost of these fatalities to be more than $3 billion each year. In addition, 48,000 bike riders were injured in truck and [...]
Heart attacks remain a leading cause of death in the U.S. Despite being common, a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) shows that emergency rooms are less prepared to deal with hearts attacks when they occur on weekends, evenings and holidays. Should a patient's life depend on whether they are lucky enough [...]