Valleywide Legal Blog

Medical Malpractice or Criminal Conduct?

Last week I wrote about an ICU doctor in Ohio, who was accused of deliberately overdosing 11 of his critically ill patients with a powerful painkiller and thereby shortening their lives.  After nearly a week of deliberations, the jury acquitted … Read More

Posted in Arizona Medical Board, disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Lawsuits, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, Nurses, Prescription Errors, Secrecy |

The Never Event.

In 2001, the concept of “never events” was introduced.  The idea was that a never event was one which was identifiable, caused serious injury or death and was almost always preventable.  The original list has grown and there are now … Read More

Posted in Birth Injuries, blood infections, disclosure of medical mistakes, Health Care Costs, Health Insurers, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Medical Devices, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical mistakes, Medicare, Medication Errors, never events, Nurses, Pharmacy Malpractice, Prescription Errors, retained surgical instruments, Secrecy, Surgical Errors |

“Blame The Patient”

“Blame the patient” is Play #2 in the medical malpractice defense lawyer’s playbook.  Play #1, of course, is “Deny, deny, deny.”  “Blame the patient” is #2 because it is so effective.  It plays into the human nature of the members … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, heart attack, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Lawsuits, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, plaintiff, Prescription Errors, trial |

The Electronic Medical Record.

One of the requirements of federal law is that hospital records be recorded electronically.  The requirement for electronic medical records (“EMR”) has a number of justifications, including portability.  Patients are entitled to have a copy of their medical records.  When … Read More

Posted in Doctors, electronic medical records, Health Care Costs, Hospitals, Lawsuits, medical charts, Medical Costs, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice lawyers, medical mistakes, Medication Errors, Nurses, Prescription Errors |

Never Events Just Keep On Happening.

The term “Never Event” was created in the early 2000’s to denote an event that should never occur in the presence of good medical care.  It is now used to describe events which are clear, which cause serious injury or … Read More

Posted in Arizona Medical Board, disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Health Care Costs, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Lawsuits, Medical Costs, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical mistakes, Medicare, never events, Nurses, Prescription Errors, retained surgical instruments, Secrecy, Surgical Errors |

Once Again The Curtain of Medical Secrecy Parts, If Only Briefly

I have remarked from time to time about the curtain of secrecy the medical profession has erected to hide from patients and the public their medical errors.  Whether it is improperly sterilized endoscopes, settlements with injured patients, hospital investigations into … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, Medication Errors, Prescription Errors, Secrecy, Surgical Errors, Uncategorized |

Check Your Medical Records to Prevent Dangerous Mistakes

I wrote about this topic for the In The News section of our web site but it deserves repeating here.  The Wall Street Journal has some good advice for all of us:  Check your medical records.  The chances are you will … Read More

Posted in Doctors, electronic medical records, health, medical errors, medical mistakes, Medication Errors, Prescription Errors |

Not Just Compounding Pharmacy Malpractice

The recent meningitis outbreak linked to a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts has been cause for a great deal of concern among patients nationwide.  Compounding pharmacies generally service unique clients who have special medication needs which can’t be filled by an … Read More

Posted in Malpractice costs, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, meningitis, Pharmacies, Pharmacy Malpractice, Prescription Errors | Tagged , , , , , |