What are Bacterial Infections?

January 31, 2009

There have been a lot of recent cases of medical negligence involving the missed diagnosis of bacterial infections.  It can often lead to disastrous consequences, such as amputation and even death.  But what exactly are bacterial infections?

Bacteria in and of itself is not bad for us.  On the contrary, many types of bacteria are actually helpful and essential to our daily functions.  For example, some bacteria help to digest food, others destroy disease-causing cells, and still others provide the body with much needed vitamins.

It is infectious bacteria that we have to be wary of.  This dangerous type of bacteria can make us extremely ill, very fast.  They multiply at an alarming rate, and many of them give off harmful chemicals called toxins.  These toxins can cause tissue damage and make us very sick.

Common types of bacterial infections include:

  • Respiratory tract infections – sinusitis, pharyngitis and pneumonia
  • Digestive tract infections – including ulcers
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Nervous system – infections of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
  • Blood infections – sepsis;  any other type of bacterial infection can pass into the blood stream and cause sepsis

Medical negligence comes into play when the symptoms of these infections, such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and pain, are misdiagnosed or missed altogether.  If caught early enough, most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics.  If misdiagnosed or missed, however, the infection can spread and cause grave results.

If you or someone you know has suffered from a bacterial infection that your doctor failed to properly diagnose and treat, and it has led to further illness or injury, you should consult with professional medical negligence attorneys who specializes in these types of cases.  He or she will help you to determine what your rights are and how to fight for them.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Missed Diagnosis Results in Young Model Losing her Hands and Feet, then her Life

January 29, 2009

In a tragic case of medical negligence, a critical diagnosis was missed resulting in the death of a beautiful young model, after having to have her feet and her hands amputated in an attempt to save her life.

20 year old Brazilian Mariana Bridi da Costa sought medical attention in late December and was initially told she was suffering from kidney stones.  Unfortunately, what she really had was an infection termed as pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium, which is often fatal.

When she finally returned to the hospital, the infection had spread.  It was then that doctors discovered that septicemia (dangerous bacteria in the blood) had set in.  Circulation was being cut off to her limbs, and the only way to save her life at that point was to amputate.  Unfortunately, just a few days following the surgery, da Costa died.

It is thought that da Costa was actually originally suffering from a urinary tract infection, which went untreated and ultimately spread, causing the ensuing septicemia.

Another tragedy of a young life cut short by a medical error.  Da Costa was once a finalist in the Brazilian stage of the Miss World beauty pageant, and had also participated in the 2007 Miss Bikini International contest.  Now, she leaves behind what once was a bright future, shattered.

It is unclear whether a medical malpractice or wrongful death suit will be brought, but chances are there will.

Source: FOXNews.com

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Posted by Dave Austin

What is MRSA?

January 26, 2009

MRSA is an acronym for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.  It is a type of the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria which is relatively common and usually harmless.  In fact, it is estimated that nearly a quarter of the population is carrying the bacteria at any given time and may not even know it, as they would not experience any physical symptoms.

However, the usually benign bacteria becomes dangerous when someone’s immune system is weak or compromised.  This usually occurs in a hospital setting, and thus MRSA is often referred to as a “hospital infection”.  When someone with a low immune system is exposed to the bacteria via an open wound and develops an infection, it can lead to serious illness and even death.

So what kind of signs should you look for if you suspect MRSA?  Most of the time the bacteria manifests itself as a skin infection.  Some things to look out for include:

  • Boils on the skin – pus filled hair follicles
  • Abscesses – more serious boils
  • Styes on the eyelids
  • Cellulitis – infections of both the skin and the tissue beneath the skin
  • Impetigo – skin blisters
  • Carbuncles – large infections which can cause openings in the skin

Eventually, MRSA can get into the patient’s bloodstream and urinary tract, causing severe infections.

If you feel as though you or someone you know is possibly suffering from MRSA, it is imperative that medical treatment be sought immediately.  Although the bacteria is resistant to many different forms of antibiotics, it is treatable and the sooner the better, so time is of the essence.

But, do you automatically have a malpractice case if you have been exposed to MRSA?  Not necessarily.  It is an infection, and there are often legitimate instances where a patient has picked up the bacteria through no fault of a medical professional or hospital staff’s negligence.

However, if you became ill from MRSA due to unsanitary conditions of a hospital or medical center, or because of a doctor who did not follow proper cleanliness procedures, you may have the right to fight for compensation for your injuries.

Contact a medical lawyer who specializes in hospital infection cases to discuss your situation today.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Lawsuit Filed in Wrongful Death of Teen

January 25, 2009

The parents of sixteen year old Heather Harkness from Oklahoma City are suing the surgeon, anesthesiologist and hospital under whose care their daughter died during a routine appendicitis surgery.  It is a tragic, clear cut case of wrongful death.

On September 9th, the teenager was undergoing the routine surgery when something went terribly wrong.  According to an autopsy performed after her death, Harkness died from blood loss after her carotid artery was accidently severed during the surgery.

The pending lawsuit names surgeon Walter Bell as being the negligent party, but also indicates that the hospital, Integris Baptist Medical Center, is at fault for allowing Bell to perform surgery there because they also allege that other patients under Bell’s care have been injured or died during his surgical procedures.

The lawsuit is still pending.

Wrongful death is a tragedy that nobody should have to face.  If you have lost a loved one at the hands of a negligent doctor pick up the phone and call an experienced medical attorney today.  Your loved one can never be replaced, but you do have the right to seek justice for them and make the guilty party pay.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Catheter Left in Heart – A Case of Hospital Malpractice

January 23, 2009

According to a hospital malpractice lawsuit filed earlier this week, doctors at the San Mateo Medical Center acted negligently when they left a five inch catheter in Alan Paolucci’s heart after it broke off in 2003.  What’s worse, it’s also alleged that the mistake was then covered up.

The 52 year old was undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when the catheter being used to administer chemotherapy snapped and a part of it was left behind.

The five inch piece eventually became lodged in his heart, resulting in a life threatening infection and permanent damage to the organ.

Perhaps even more egregious is the fact that according to Paolucci’s attorney Derek Longstaff, the apparatus was actually detected as early as March 2006. However doctors didn’t inform Paolucci about the wayward catheter until July 2, 2008.

Paolucci then underwent open heart surgery in August to remove the catheter, but he ended up losing a heart valve in the process.

The failed valve was replaced, however the plaintiff feels that this has weakened the state of his heart, and is a key contributor to his continued battle with cancer, which has returned after being in remission for a year.

Paolucci is suing the county, the medical center, medical center CEO Dr. Sang-Ick Chang and Dr. Thomas Chen.  The damages being sought are for negligence, hospital malpractice, fraud and battery.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Elements of Nurse Malpractice

January 22, 2009

Nurses are often viewed as secondary to doctors, and considered to have fewer “critical” duties to perform when it comes to patients. The truth is the day to day jobs of nurses can be considered just as important as that of any other medical professional and their duties equally as crucial to the wellbeing of the patient. Of course, inevitably this level of care and importance also brings with it cases of nurse malpractice.

So what constitutes nurse malpractice? As with any other form of medical malpractice, there must be four elements present in order for there to be a legitimate case:

  • Standard of Care – just as doctors are expected to provide their patients with a high level of care in their treatment, nurses are also held to a certain standard of care. If nurse malpractice is to be proven successfully, it must be shown that the defendant did not act with the same or similar level of care that another nurse would if given the same situation.
  • Duty – pretty straightforward – nurses are expected to provide attention and care to the patients they are treating, and this must be proven as their “duty”.
  • Legal Causation – it must be proven by the plaintiff that had the proper standard of care been provided, and the duty been upheld, there would have been no injury caused. Keep in mind that this is often the most difficult element to successfully prove.
  • Damages – if nurse malpractice has occurred, it must also be proven that the plaintiff suffered subsequent financial, physical and emotional damages. If there are no damages, there is no case.

Have you suffered at the hands of a negligent nurse? Do you feel that your case meets all four elements listed above? Do you want to seek justice for your injuries and punish the guilty party for their actions? Contact an attorney who specializes in cases of nurse malpractice today and find out what your rights are and how to fight for them.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Women Sue for Wrongdoing While Under Anesthesia

January 19, 2009

According to recent reports, opening arguments are set to begin this week in the trial regarding a New Jersey surgeon who supposedly took advantage of his patients while they were under anesthesia. The oral surgeon, from Andover, is being accused of sexually abusing five of his female patients who at the time were under anesthesia. Anesthesia is a sedative used for a majority of surgeries so the patient is unable to feel any pain or discomfort.

The case has been quite controversial in the community seeing as the surgeon was a trusted physician. However, these five women claim that he is anything but trustworthy and feel that he used the drug to take advantage of them.

Anesthesia Lawsuit Details

Allegations have been brought against Dr. Joel Phillip Kurtz, 64, who has been practicing dentistry and oral surgery in Sussex County from 1974 to 2004. He was forced to stop practicing when the initial charges were brought against him. The first three cases came all at once from three women who claimed they were all separately sexually abused while in his office and under anesthesia. Only months later a fourth woman came forward and finally a fifth weeks after that. All the women decided to file a joint suit against Dr. Kurtz in an attempt to get his license revoked so he is unable to do the same harm to others.

Dr. Kurtz’s lawsuit is reportedly the first high-profile suit to be filed in the Newton historic courthouse and many community members have shown their support for the women.

The defendants claim they were heavily sedated when Dr. Kurtz molested them and state that had they not been under anesthesia they would have been able to prevent the abuse from occurring. They also blame the office staff who were negligent for not being more aware of what was happening.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Medical Negligence and Colonoscopies

January 18, 2009

Although colonoscopies are a routine and highly recommended medical procedure to aid in early diagnosis of colon cancer as well as a host of other intestinal diseases, they are complicated procedures that require a high level of training and care.  Unfortunately, there are many cases of medical negligence during colonoscopies that can have devastating results to the patient.

A colonoscopy is the examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel which is performed endoscopically using a CCD or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus.  It is a relatively routine screening test for people 50 years of age or older.

Although colonoscopies rarely result in long-term harm to the patient, complications such as heavy bleeding, intestinal perforation (poking a hole in the bowel), infection, adverse reaction to the sedatives, and bowel infection can occur, leaving the patient with permanent injury or even death.

In one such case, a man underwent a colonoscopy for nausea, vomiting and unexplained weight loss. The day after the procedure, the patient’s wife called the doctor who performed the procedure and explained that her husband was experiencing a lot of pain. The doctor assured the patient’s wife that everything was fine. The following day the patient’s wife called back because her husband could no longer walk due to the pain. Rather than examining the patient, the doctor instead prescribed pain medication over the phone. Unfortunately, the medicine did not provide any relief. The next day, despite three calls to the doctor’s service, the family was unable to get in touch with the doctor. They waited another day to go their local emergency room at which time the patient was diagnosed with a bowel perforation and a severe infection.  Emergency surgery was required to remove a portion of the patient’s colon.  Not surprisingly, there is now a pending medical malpractice suit against the doctor.

When it comes to side effects and post operative complications for colonoscopies, time is of the essence.  Post procedure nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, bleeding, abdominal pain and/or swelling must be reported to a physician immediately.

If you or someone you know has suffered debilitating medical complications following a colonoscopy, it is critical that you contact an experienced medical attorney to discuss your situation and learn exactly what your rights are.

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Posted by Dave Austin

Prescription Errors and the Elderly

January 17, 2009

There may be no greater group in need of special care than that of the elderly.  Unfortunately, one of the more common ways that this group suffers from a medical malpractice standpoint is through prescription errors.

Prescription errors are very serious.  They can cause anything from injury to death.  And the statistics surrounding these types of errors are nothing short of alarming.  According to The Journal of Hospital Medicine, 49 percent of almost 500,000 hospital patients 65 and older have been prescribed one or more drugs known to be unsafe to older patients.

Some of the more common cases of this type of medical malpractice with prescriptions involve:

  • Wrong medication prescribed
  • Wrong medication dispensed
  • Incorrect dosage of medication
  • Failure to consider dangerous drug interactions with other medications the patient is taking
  • Incorrect dosage instructions given to patient
  • Failure to monitor patient’s response to prescribed drugs
  • Medication package mislabeling

Any of these things could spell a recipe for disaster to an unsuspecting patient.  Be sure that all prescriptions are thoroughly discussed with both the doctor prescribing the drug and the pharmacist filling the prescription.  Any other drugs being taken should be clearly stated to avoid possible severe interactions with other medications.

But if it’s too late to prevent it, and you or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice in the form of prescription error, you should contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights.

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Posted by Dave Austin

The Dangers of Shopping Around for Surgery

January 15, 2009

Inevitably, along with the rising costs of elective surgical procedures come people who feel it’s a good idea to travel to other countries to save money on their procedures.  With this also comes the increased danger of medical malpractice, and the laws for pursuing justice in such claims are much different outside of the U.S.

There are many reasons why going outside the country for risky surgical procedures can turn disastrous, but the most common are the lack of training of medical professionals, more lenient regulations, and fewer medical malpractice claims.  Ironically enough, even though there are fewer claims, in many of these countries medical malpractice occurs in much greater numbers than here in the States.  There are simply fewer opportunities or resources for victims to seek justice.

The truth is, the dangers of seeking complicated medical procedures in countries unequipped to handle them is risky and quite frankly, a bad decision.

A few possible negative outcomes of shopping around for surgery include:

  • Infection
  • Wrong site surgery
  • Anesthesia malpractice
  • Botched surgery
  • Wrongful death

If you are considering traveling outside of the U.S. to receive plastic surgery or another complicated procedure, it would be wise to reconsider.  Although there are still cases of medical malpractice within this country, the chance of it happening here is far less likely than if you venture elsewhere.

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Posted by Dave Austin

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