In a prior post, we highlighted a trend in Philadelphia and its suburban counties of fewer medical malpractice claims being brought to trial and even fewer verdicts in favor of injured plaintiffs. The trend in Pennsylvania is an example of an overall trend in New York and across the nation.…
The death of comic icon Joan Rivers is a harsh and tragic reminder that every medical procedure, no matter how routine, comes with its share of complications. Rivers passed away on September 4 after she went into cardiac arrest during a procedure on her vocal cords on August 28. An…
If you have heard commercials asking for women who have been injured through vaginal mesh implants to come forward, you are not alone. A woman in Texas who was harmed by such an implant was reportedly awarded $73 million, which included $23 million in compensatory damages and $50 million…
TV dramas about hospitals and emergency rooms are arguably about art imitating life. This means that some of the scenarios that shock us (and gain our empathy) actually are lived by real people. This also means that doctors who make mistakes may do so in real life. While they may…
Anyone who tells you about finding a doctor who’s right for you knows how difficult it can be. Indeed, doctors are qualified to practice their respective crafts, but they may not have the bedside manner or the natural empathy that makes patients feel secure with their advice. Also, not all…
Earlier in the week we talked specifically about the risk that electronic records could pose to patients, especially when hospitals or medical providers have some kind of hybrid system in place between electronic and paper reocrds. This is such a big concern because of the federal government’s push to get…
Most fields are always changing, and medicine is no different. What is changing within medicine, however, is not necessarily techniques and skills that will reduce serious medical errors or fatal hospital negligence. Instead, it is often finding new medicines or new ways of performing procedures. Yet many of the problems…
There is no doubt that the practice of medicine is stressful. There is immense pressure on getting it right, because failure could mean serious injuries or death. The overwhelming majority of doctors in upstate New York do take this responsibility seriously, but there are some doctors who are reckless or…
According to an annual report by Diederich Healthcare, total medical malpractice payouts in the state of New York amounted to roughly $39 per capita in both 2012 and 2013. That is the highest per capita rate in the nation—fifty percent higher than any other state. Given this information, one might…
Even though doctors still “write prescriptions” they generally don’t give patients in Syracuse a written prescription from the prescription pad anymore. Rather, they send the information to the pharmacy, whether that is the pharmacy in the hospital, the doctor’s office or just down the street. Once it is at the…