Medical Malpractice

• Beware Shoulder Dystocia And Brachial Plexus Injuries in Infants

  Ricky Bagolie | June 14, 2006 9:59 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Shoulder dystocia is one of the most feared complications of any birth. It occurs when the baby's shoulder nearer to the mother's abdomen gets stuck behind the pubic bone. Shoulder dystocia is an obstetrical emergency because often the umbilical cord is compressed, shutting off the baby's oxygen supply.It can lead to serious injuries to the child including Erb's palsy, brain damage, and even...

• Bed Sores Caused By Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

  Ricky Bagolie | June 08, 2006 9:55 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Bed sores are usually only caused by nursing home neglect and hospital negligence. They can be avoided with proper supervision and care.Bed sores, also called pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, are ulcers (sores) caused by prolonged pressure or rubbing on vulnerable areas of the body. Areas most prone include bony areas subject to moisture and friction. Examples include pressure points on the...

• Family of Nursing Home Resident Bitten to Death by Ants Gets Award

  Ricky Bagolie | May 31, 2006 9:18 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Can you imagine anything more horrible than having a loved one be bitten to death by fire ants? The wife and children of a retired postal worker who died from hundreds of fire ant bites in a Florida nursing home nearly four years ago had to endure such a tragedy. They will receive almost $2 million for their loss.Mariner Health Care, the nation's third largest long-term health care company,...

• Senate Rejects Medical Mistake Limitation Bill

  Ricky Bagolie | May 10, 2006 7:43 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  In a victory for consumers and victims of medical errors, the Senate on Monday rejected two Republican backed malpractice bills. The first Bill would have capped jury awards in all lawsuits against doctors and health care institutions; the second would have applied caps only to cases involving obstetricians. Studies have proven that restricting a patient's rights would not reduce a doctors'...

• Knowledge and Involvement Can Help Prevent Neglect In Nursing Homes

  Ricky Bagolie | May 09, 2006 9:56 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Very often neglect and abuse in nursing homes goes on right under the noses of visiting family members. You can help prevent this by knowing what to look for and being inviolved in the care.What Should I Know? Federal and State laws grant specific rights to nursing home residents. These laws state that nursing homes must provide care and services "to attain and maintain the highest practicable...

• Texas Jury Returns $160 Million Verdict for Vicious Beating of 81-Year-Old Nursing Home Resident by Violent Roommate

  Ricky Bagolie | May 08, 2006 9:48 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  A San Antonio jury has returned a verdict $160 million in favor of the family of Tranquilino Mendoza, an 81-year-old man who was viciously beaten by a mentally disturbed roommate at the Comanche Trail Nursing Center in 1997.The jury found that Summit Care Corp., its Texas affiliate, and two of its employees shared responsibility for this particularly brutal beating and its aftermath. Mr. Mendoza...

• Arizona Governor Stands Up For Victims of Medical Mistakes

  Ricky Bagolie | May 07, 2006 9:38 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Three cheers for Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, has had the courage to veto a bill that would have made it nearly impossible for victims of medical mistakes in emergency rooms obtain justice.The law would have punished those least able to defend themselves, emergency room patients and had no proof that it would have helped alleviate any real or perceived doctor shortage. This is...

• Keyboards Source of Contamination in Hospitals

  Ricky Bagolie | May 01, 2006 9:21 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Bacterial contamination of keyboards is a source of pathogenic contamination in hospitals , according to a paper published by the Department of Hospital Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina Health Care System in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Hospital keyboards have multiple users, who do not wash or decontaminate their hands according to these findings. Most hospitals have mobile...

• Another Attack on Victims of Medical Mistakes

  Ricky Bagolie | April 20, 2006 2:03 PM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Republican lawmakers are gearing up to, yet again, further restrict the rights of victims of medical error as they will introduce Medical Malpractice legislation in the US Senate during the first week of May. Republicans must feel that restricting a patients rights is more important than dealing with Iraq, Iran, spying on US citizens, having government officials leak classified material and...

• Malpractice Reported in New Jersey Hospitals

  Ricky Bagolie | April 14, 2006 5:33 PM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  New Jersey's new medical mistake reporting system does not release the names of the hospitals, doctors or nurses involved in any of the mistakes to the public. Despite objections, New Jersey health officials said they believe confidentiality encourages health care workers to speak openly and share what they have learned from their mistakes with other hospitals. Critics say that open...