Valleywide Legal Blog

“The Computer Will See You Now.”

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world and medicine is one of the areas in which it is changing things rapidly with much more to come. Dr. Eric Topol wears many hats.  He is a cardiologist, a professor of genomics, director … Read More

Posted in Doctors, Health Care Costs, Hospitals, medical charts, Medical Costs, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Medication Errors, science news, Secrecy |

To Autopsy Or Not?

When a loved one dies, the family they leave behind are understandably grief stricken.  Senses are numbed, tears are shed, final arrangements are made, often in a haze of grief.  Questions about why the loved one died and whether medical … Read More

Posted in Autopsy, disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospitals, Lawsuits, medical charts, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical malpractice claims, medical malpractice lawsuits, medical malpractice lawyers, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Secrecy |

The Surgical “Black Box” Revisited.

A little over four years ago, I wrote about a Canadian surgeon who had developed a “black box” to monitor events in the operating room and warn surgeons and nurses if they were deviating from best practices.  The goal was … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, medical research, Nurses, Secrecy, Surgical Errors |

To Sue Or Not to Sue?

In the course of my work as a medical malpractice attorney here in Phoenix, I meet and speak to many people who want to know if they have a malpractice case or not.  Despite the fact that many of these … Read More

Posted in Defensive Medicine, disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical malpractice claims, medical malpractice lawsuits, medical malpractice lawyers, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Secrecy |

Jury Awards $14 Million in Malpractice Case.

Here is another large malpractice award that sounds excessive but is probably not.  The facts, as they almost always are in these cases, are sad. A twelve-year-old girl underwent a heart transplant in 2007 at a Seattle children’s hospital.  In … Read More

Posted in Blood Clots, Doctors, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Lawsuits, Medical Costs, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, Medical Malpractice Case Value, medical malpractice lawsuits, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Secrecy, Stroke, Surgical Errors, Valuing Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases, Verdicts |

Incidence of Malpractice in Long-Term-Care Hospitals.

Unbiased information about medical malpractice is often hard to come by.  As I have discussed from time to time, there is a veil of secrecy that surrounds malpractice events and claims.  Doctors and hospitals don’t want to admit they make … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, health, Health Care Costs, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Medical Costs, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Medicare, Medication Errors, Nurses, Secrecy |

You Have a Right to Your Medical Records.

With rare exceptions, there can be no claim for medical malpractice without the medical records.  Juries give a lot of weight to the medical records.  Pretty much, if it is in the medical records, the jury will believe it no … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, electronic medical records, Hospital Negligence, Hospitals, Lawsuits, medical charts, medical errors, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical malpractice claims, medical malpractice lawyers, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, Nurses, plaintiff, Secrecy |

Large Medical Malpractice Verdicts and Settlements.

The first thing to know about large medical malpractice verdicts and settlements is that the data surrounding them is largely unreliable.  The reason for this is at least twofold. With regard to verdicts, the verdict which is reported to the … Read More

Posted in disclosure of medical mistakes, Doctors, Hospitals, Lawsuits, Malpractice caps, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical malpractice damages caps, Medical Negligence, Secrecy, tort reform, Verdicts |

Medical Malpractice and Off-Label Use.

Off-label use is the use of a medication or a medical device for a purpose other than the purpose the Food and Drug Administration has approved for it.  Doctors sometimes prescribe a medication originally developed to treat one medical condition … Read More

Posted in Doctors, drug companies, Informed Consent, Lawsuits, Medical Devices, medical errors, Medical Malpractice, medical malpractice cases, medical mistakes, Medical Negligence, medical research, Medication Errors, Orthopedics, plaintiff, Secrecy |

Never Underestimate The Corrosive Effect Of Money

When I look back on past blog posts, I am surprised at the number of times money is involved in whatever bad thing I am writing about.  Doctors, people to whom we entrust our lives and those of our family, … Read More

Posted in Defensive Medicine, Doctors, drug companies, Fee for Service, Fraud, Health Care Costs, Medical Costs, medical ethics, Medical Malpractice, Medicare, Secrecy, tort reform |