According to a recent survey, about 80,000 “never” events occurred in the United States between 1990 and 2010. These are surgical mistakes which should never happen under any circumstances, such as instruments being left inside patients after surgery. That alarmingly high figure does not include acts of ordinary negligence, which are outlined below. Legally, doctors [...]
This disease’s survival rates have increased significantly since the 1990s. Even rare and aggressive forms of cancer, like mesothelioma, are often treatable if they are caught early enough. Prompt diagnosis, however, is a problem. As many as 40 percent of call cancer patients are initially misdiagnosed. Mesothelioma diagnosis issues are a good illustration of the [...]
Researchers developed oxytocin (Pitocin or “pit”) in the 1950s. Chemist Du Du Vigneaud won a Nobel Prize for his efforts. All these years later, pit is still the most widely-used labor induction drug in Florida. Since most labor and deliveries are scheduled inductions, pit is almost always part of the process. This drug has few [...]
Serious surgical errors, like the ones outlined below, are very rare and hardly ever happen. However, especially given the high duty of care in these situations, they should never happen at all. The doctor-patient duty is one of the highest ones in Florida law. Typically, doctors have a fiduciary duty to their patients. Doctors must [...]
Once upon a time, a doctor-patient relationship was the foundation of medical diagnosis. After the doctor learned about the patient’s symptoms, the doctor formulated a diagnosis. That is no longer the case. The average doctor only listens to a patient for about eleven seconds. It’s almost impossible to obtain any meaningful information during such a [...]
Once upon a time, the doctor-patient relationship was something of a partnership. That’s no longer the case. Today, doctors listen to their patients for about eleven seconds before interrupting or redirecting them. In such a brief exchange, it’s impossible for the doctor to learn anything meaningful about the patient’s symptoms. Compounding this problem, many doctors [...]
Two common mentalities contribute to the thousands of surgical mistakes and acts of medical malpractice which occur every year in Florida. Because of insurance restrictions, many doctors have a “treat ‘em and street ‘em” approach to medical care. They act as aggressively as possible as quickly as possible to make the patient healthy enough to [...]
According to the government, twelve million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. That’s about a 5 percent error rate. A 95 on a grade school spelling test is a very good score. But a 95 in the context of a doctor-patient relationship is sadly inadequate. That’s because this bond is one of the strongest ones in [...]
Each year, medication errors kill or seriously injure tens of thousands of Americans. In other cases, the injuries are not physically serious but the consequences are significant. The wrong dose of medication, or the wrong kind of medication, may prolong an expensive hospital stay. Many times, the medical staff is responsible for these mistakes. Medication [...]
For various reasons, the days of close doctor-patient relationships are over, at least for the most part. Most doctors only listen to their patients for eleven seconds before they interrupt and redirect them. With such limited interaction, it is almost impossible for doctors to assess their patients’ symptoms and properly diagnose their conditions. Compounding matters, [...]
