Is the deck stacked against patients trying to win a medical malpractice verdict or settlement in Pennsylvania? Many attorneys who represent those harmed by hospital and medical malpractice have been finding that this is the case. In the early 2000s, there were accusations by medical providers that too many lawsuits were being filed. Barriers in […]
Category Archives: Medical Malpractice
True Dialogue Between Patients and Doctors Would Reduce Harmful, Dangerous Medical Errors
Patients seeking medical care can wind up being harmed instead from medical errors made by medical professionals and institutions. A May 2016 Johns Hopkins study indicated that 10 percent of all U.S. deaths are due to medical error, which has become the third leading cause of death, behind only heart disease and cancer. Studies have […]
Find out How Pennsylvania Hospitals Fare in New Survey
Too many patients are injured in hospitals, where safety standards are often below those in other industries. In fact, more than 1,000 Americans die each day from preventable hospital errors, according to The Leapfrog Group, an organization that collects and reports hospital data and gives hospitals a grade of A to F for patient safety. These […]
Mental Health Procedures Act, Immunity, and Gross Negligence
Dean v. Bowling Green Brandywine, 2018 Pa. Super. LEXIS 762 (July 2, 2018) Panella, J. The Act applies to voluntary inpatient treatment of mentally ill persons. The Act does not define the term “mentally ill person.” Andrew Johnson was 23 when he voluntarily applied for admission to Bowling Green Brandywine Treatment Center. He was suffering […]
Injury To a Third Party
Laura L. Maas v. Presbyterian, 2018 Pa. Super. LEXIS 752 (June 29, 2018) Bowes, J. The facts giving rise to this cause of action are as follows. On May 29, 2008, Terrence Andrews attacked and killed Lisa Maas, a neighbor who lived four doors away in his Oakland apartment building. Mr. Andrews had a long […]
Medical Malpractice Copays
Mulberry Square Elder Care and Rehabilitation Center v. Department of Human Services, 2018 Pa. Cmwlth. LEXIS 352 (July 26, 2018) Simpson, J. Mulberry Square Elder Care and Rehabilitation Center (Nursing Facility) petitions for review from an order of the Secretary of the Department of Human Services (Department). The Secretary affirmed the Bureau of Hearings and […]
Anticoagulation therapy and Corporate Negligence
Gintoff v. Thomas, et al., No. 16 CV 2155 (C.P. Lackawanna May 4, 2018) Nealon, J. In this medical professional liability action alleging negligent prescription and monitoring of anticoagulation therapy that caused a right occipital hemorrhage which warranted an emergency craniotomy and resulted in permanent harm, the defendant-hospital has filed a motion for summary judgment seeking […]
Judge’s Personal Involvement In Jury Selection
Trigg v. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 2018 Pa. Super. LEXIS 499 (May 14, 2018), Kunselman, J. Mendy Trigg (Jillian Trigg’s mother) and Smithfield Trust, Inc. filed this appeal following a jury verdict in favor of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The Triggs claim that Allegheny County Civil Division’s jury selection process deprived […]
Quality of Care May Depend on Nurses’ Health
Unhealthy healthcare workers can be dangerous to your health. For example, nursing is a high-pressure and stressful profession, and nurses are constantly exposed to germs and diseases, so it is no wonder that a recent study found that more than half of nurses reported poor physical and mental health. The study, in the online Journal of […]
Is the VA Concealing Medical Malpractice?
Veterans who receive medical care through the Veteran’s Administration (VA) system have the right to believe the care they will receive from the VA doctors and hospitals will be competent and comparable to the care they would receive at private facilities. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As a result, the VA has come […]