Handwashing to prevent the spread of disease is not a new idea, and you are probably used to seeing signs posted in restaurants and other public places in New York reminding people to wash their hands. In health care, where providers come in contact with bacteria frequently, it is particularly important for all staff to sanitize their hands before engaging with a patient. However, according to the New York Times, low compliance is a problem that may be[...]

Choosing to go to the emergency department of a hospital is usually a spur-of-the-moment decision for people in New York who need immediate medical attention. Part of the responsibility of health care providers includes taking careful stock of symptoms, even in a situation that must be resolved quickly. This includes paying attention to what patients and family members have to say about the problem to prevent making a critical medical mistake. The family of a deceased woman believe[...]

If you have suffered a severe medical event in New York, once you reach the doors of the emergency room, you should be able to let the health care providers take charge. Hopefully, you have the ability to answer questions as they seek the signs that lead to the identification of your health problem. Even if you are not able to communicate, they should be able to run tests that help them discover the issue. Unfortunately, according to[...]

According to a new study from Johns Hopkins University, medical mistakes may be the third leading cause of death in the United States. This would make medical errors a more frequent cause of death than emphysema and bronchitis, common lower respiratory diseases that can lead to death. The only two causes of death more common than medical error? Heart disease and cancer. The doctors from Johns Hopkins who authored the study estimate that there are at least more[...]

You may have seen or read ads blasting the possible passage of this law which opponents have characterized as a gift to trial lawyers. This is simply not true. This law corrects a cruel, grave injustice to victims of medical malpractice. Laverne Wilkinson was a real person who died from a curable type of lung cancer. She was the victim of medical malpractice leaving behind a severely retarded and autistic daughter. She was 41 years old. In 2010[...]

When a person goes to a health care provider seeking relief from symptoms, the correct identification of the underlying problem is essential for effective treatment. Especially when it comes to cancer, any delay can lead to more stringent treatment methods, and may even make recovery impossible. A previous blog post discussed the language of the New York statute of limitations on medical malpractice. This two-and-a-half year time limit begins the day the mistake was made, not the day[...]

Pregnant women in New York should be able to rely on their health care providers to respond correctly to health problems. However, according to CNN, the doctors in the state often rely on their personal preferences for treatment of unexpected medical events rather than referring to medically proven safety guidelines. Some medical professionals believe the lack of standards is one of the reasons the number of maternal deaths in childbirth has increased in the past few years. The[...]