Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Blog

There are approximately 64 million surgical procedures performed each year in the U.S.; however surgical procedure regulation is still lacking. According to a Harvard professor, the absence of such regulation leads to surgical errors and other cases of physician negligence. In his article, published in the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, the professor argues that regulation of surgical procedures is inadequate and that patients would benefit from further oversight. Although indirect regulation exists at state, federal and private levels, there is currently no agency that directly regulates existing surgical procedures or approves the use of new ones. Existing Indirect Regulation There is no federal oversight of surgery itself, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examines the » Read More

Few things are more joyful than the birth of a new baby, but when injuries occur during the birthing process, joy can quickly turn to sadness. Birth injuries that occur due to the carelessness or negligence of the doctor or medical professionals involved can result lifelong disability. Compensation claimed through a medical malpractice lawsuit can help alleviate the financial burdens that result from these types of injuries. The Most Common Types of Birth Injuries It is difficult to imagine that any doctor or medical professional would intentionally harm a patient, but medical negligence and carelessness can severely injure a baby during the birthing process. Cognitive and developmental disabilities are common among babies injured at birth. Birth trauma can result in » Read More

It seems as though the opioid crisis is in the news everyday throughout the United States. Overdoses that often result in death are reported in big cities and small towns alike. And though we know that opioid abuse is rampant, we do not hear about steroid abuse as often, but it is a rapidly growing concern as well. With the increased awareness of the damages these drugs can cause, the prescriptions doctors give their patients are subject to greater scrutiny. In New Jersey, five doctors have surrendered their licenses amid claims that they used their positions to sell dangerous substances. Three were accused of abusing opioid prescriptions; two were accused of improperly prescribing steroids. Two of the five were previously » Read More

In order to be sold in the United States, drugs must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New drugs go through a strict review process to make sure that dangerous drugs are not entering the market and being prescribed to patients. FDA approval does not guarantee that patients will not come to harm, however. A recent study revealed that almost one third of drugs approved by the FDA have required warnings to be added years later because of dangerous side effects or complications. Researchers examined data from 222 drugs approved by the FDA between 2001 and 2010. Of these, 71 had safety warnings added after they received approval. Through post-market monitoring, it was discovered that each » Read More

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is self-described as a “pediatric healthcare facility and primary care provider, offering the best available care and support for kids.” It is highly ranked throughout the country as compared to other children’s healthcare facilities. Even so, 23 premature infants in the facility’s intensive care unit recently contracted viral infections after eye exams. The infections were attributed to inferior equipment cleaning practices, and the failure of medical staff to wear gloves during examinations. Two infants later died. Because very premature infants are already quite vulnerable, many are understandingly shocked that health care providers would fail to employ even the most basic standards when dealing with them – especially at such a highly-regarded healthcare facility. Once » Read More

Cosmetic treatments and medical procedures are not just to keep faces looking young. These days, many women are undergoing vaginal rejuvenation procedures to restore tissue to a more youthful state. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has serious concerns about these procedures, however, and warns women that they may do more harm than good. The vaginal rejuvenation treatments – sometimes referred to as designer vaginoplasty, revirginization, or G-spot amplification – usually consist of three five-minute procedures performed over a period of a few months. A doctor inserts a probe into the vagina, where it radiates laser energy to destroy and reshape the vaginal wall tissue. The laser treatments can be expensive, ranging from $1,800 to $6,000 for the three » Read More