Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice

In New York medical malpractice cases, a plaintiff must prove not only that the defendant failed to uphold the applicable standard of care but also that the defendant’s departure from the standard of care caused the plaintiff’s harm. In other words, the failure to demonstrate causation is typically fatal to a plaintiff’s medical malpractice claim. In a recent New York opinion, a court explained what evidence is needed to establish causation in medical malpractice cases. If you were hurt while receiving medical care, it is advisable to talk to a Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer about what evidence you must produce to present a winning claim.

History of the Case

It is alleged that the plaintiff’s husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident in November 2013, allegedly due to contact with a car operated by another driver. Following the accident, the plaintiff’s husband sought treatment from the defendant chiropractor, among others. While undergoing treatment, he suffered a deep vein thrombosis in late July 2014, which required surgery.

It is reported that the plaintiff’s husband ultimately died due to complications arising out of the deep vein thrombosis. Subsequently, the plaintiff, representing the estate of her deceased husband, initiated legal proceedings against the defendant chiropractor, alleging medical and chiropractic malpractice. The defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing the plaintiff failed to demonstrate causation. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion and the plaintiff appealed. Continue Reading ›

Doctors have an obligation to not only provide their patients with competent care but also to advise them of their treatment options and the potential benefits and disadvantages of each choice. If a doctor fails to adequately inform a patient of the risks of a procedure and the patient subsequently suffers harm, the doctor can be held accountable, even if the patient’s injuries are due to a known danger. As discussed in a recent New York ruling issued in a lack of informed consent case, however, the injured party must present certain evidence to prevail in a civil action against the provider. If you sustained losses due to the incompetence of a healthcare provider, you should speak to a Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer about what claims you may be able to pursue.

Case Setting

The plaintiff, along with her husband, commenced a legal action to seek damages for medical malpractice and lack of informed consent against the defendant, a physician, and the defendant’s employer. They alleged that the defendant caused serious injuries to the injured plaintiff during a physical examination in June 2015, claiming that the examination was aggressive, forceful, and negligent. Additionally, they asserted that the defendant failed to obtain informed consent for the examination. The defendants moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint, which the trial court granted. The plaintiffs then appealed the decision.

Evidence Sufficient to Demonstrate Lack of Informed Consent

On appeal, when considering the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the medical malpractice cause of action, the court highlighted the necessity for the defendants to establish prima facie that there was no departure from the standard of care or that any deviation did not cause the plaintiff’s injuries. Continue Reading ›

It is not uncommon for people who suffer fractures to undergo care with multiple providers; if they subsequently suffer complications, each provider may ultimately be deemed responsible for their losses. Whether a medical malpractice case involves one or many defendants, though, the plaintiff must establish a deviation from the accepted standard of care and show that such a departure caused their harm in order to recover damages. Recently, in a New York ruling delivered in a medical malpractice case, the court clarified what evidence is needed to demonstrate a breach of the standard of care. If you sustained damages because of the negligence of a doctor, it is smart to meet with a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney to evaluate your options.

The Plaintiff’s Injuries and Claims

It is alleged that the plaintiff fractured her left wrist in January 2018. The fracture was treated by the first defendant, an orthopedic surgeon, through a closed reduction. Subsequent X-rays showed mild displacement, and the plaintiff was discharged with instructions to follow up. Over the following weeks, the plaintiff experienced increasing symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome by the second defendant, another orthopedic surgeon.

It is reported that in July 2019, the plaintiff commenced a medical malpractice case against the defendants, along with an orthopedic surgeon and physician assistant. The lawsuit alleged failure to obtain informed consent, negligence, and medical malpractice. The defendants moved for summary judgment; the court denied their motion, and they appealed. Continue Reading ›

In any medical malpractice matter, the plaintiff must show not only that the defendant failed to abide by the prevailing standard of care but also that the defendant’s deviation from the standard of care proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer harm. If the plaintiff does not meet this burden, their claims may be dismissed, as demonstrated in a recent New York ruling. If you were injured due to a doctor’s neglect, it is in your best interest to confer with a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney to discuss your options.

History of the Case

It is reported that the first defendants, a physician assistant, and a physician, respectively, attended to the plaintiff’s left leg pain during his emergency room visit at the defendant medical center. The plaintiff received subsequent treatment from the second defendants, vascular surgeons, and their medical practice, for the plaintiff’s lower left leg vascular disease at the hospital.

Allegedly, the plaintiff initiated a legal action seeking damages for medical malpractice from the defendants, alleging that they failed to timely diagnose and treat a thrombosed popliteal artery, ultimately resulting in an above-the-knee amputation. Both sets of defendants separately moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint. The trial court rejected the defendants’ arguments and denied the motions. The defendants appealed. Continue Reading ›

It is not uncommon for a patient to undergo multiple procedures for a single medical issue. While typically, such treatment will offer them relief, in some cases, it will unfortunately result in compounded harm. In such cases, more than one provider may be deemed liable, as demonstrated in a recent New York case in which the plaintiffs sought medical malpractice claims against multiple defendants. If you were harmed due to an improperly performed procedure, it is advisable to talk to a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney about your rights.

Case Background

It is reported that the plaintiff underwent surgery at the defendant hospital involving mesh placement to repair a hernia. Another surgery was scheduled for later that year, with the defendant doctor as the surgeon, to perform a radical prostatectomy to treat the plaintiff husband’s prostate cancer. However, the defendant doctor aborted the procedure upon discovering intraoperatively that the mesh from the previous surgery had migrated, rendering the prostatectomy unsafe. Subsequently, the plaintiff husband’s prostate cancer was treated with radiation therapy.

Allegedly, the plaintiff husband and his wife, commenced an action against several defendants, including the defendant hospital and defendant doctor, to seek damages for medical malpractice and lack of informed consent resulting from surgeries performed on the plaintiff husband. The complaint alleged that the defendant hospital failed to properly implant the mesh and that the defendant doctor failed to discuss treatment alternatives for the prostatectomy, leading to a cause of action based on lack of informed consent. After discovery was complete, the defendants moved for summary judgment. The trial courts denied their respective motions, after which they appealed. Continue Reading ›

In New York, EMTs providing ambulance services constitutes healthcare. As such, if they render their services improperly, they can be liable for medical malpractice. Not all duties performed by EMTs require an analysis of the standard of care imposed on health professionals, however, as some errors merely constitute negligence. In a recent New York case, the court discussed the difference between negligence and medical malpractice, ultimately determining that the plaintiff set forth a malpractice claim. If you were injured by inadequate medical care, it is wise to meet with a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney to determine what damages you may be owed.

Factual History of the Case

It is alleged that in May 2017, police officers had an altercation with the decedent that ultimately resulted in an officer shooting the decedent. The defendant ambulance company was dispatched to the scene to provide the decedent with emergency medical services and to transport him to the hospital following the incident.

Reportedly, the decedent passed away, after which the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the city and the defendant ambulance company, asserting wrongful death and negligence claims. The specific claim against the defendant ambulance company alleged it negligently provided first aid and medical treatment to the decedent, resulting in his death. The defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing that the claim sounded in medical malpractice, and as the plaintiff failed to offer expert testimony in support of her claim, it should be dismissed. Continue Reading ›

Medical malpractice cases often hinge on the qualifications of expert witnesses and the interpretation of applicable standards of care. As such, the disqualification of a party’s expert witness can be devastating to their case. Recently, a New York court discussed expert qualifications in a medical malpractice case in which it ultimately determined that the plaintiffs’ expert was qualified to opine on the issue of whether the defendants violated the relevant standard of care. If you were hurt due to a negligently performed procedure, it is prudent to speak to a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney regarding your possible claims.

Factual and Procedural History

It is alleged that the plaintiffs, a husband and wife, filed a lawsuit against the defendants, alleging that an improperly performed blood draw at the defendants’ laboratory facility caused the plaintiff-wife to suffer severe and permanent. The complaint sounded in failure to obtain informed consent, medical malpractice, and loss of consortium. The defendants moved to strike the plaintiff’s expert, an anesthesiologist, from testifying on the grounds that he was not qualified as an expert witness on the issue of the standard of care for the blood draw procedure.

Demonstrating an Expert Is Qualified to Testify in Medical Malpractice Cases

In this case, the admissibility of expert testimony is governed by Federal Rule of Evidence 702, which requires that an expert possess knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education relevant to the case. Rule 702 serves as a gatekeeper to ensure that expert testimony is both reliable and pertinent to the matter at hand. Continue Reading ›

Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease. A defect causes the heart muscle to become weakened, swollen, or lopsided, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. Cardiomyopathy affects infants eight times more than any other demographic. Cardiomyopathy, like myocarditis, can lead to congestive heart failure, which is caused by fluid buildup in the heart, lungs, or other organs.

Pediatric cardiology is a special type of pediatric medicine. In general, pediatric care has very few medical errors; however, more complicated, life-threatening diseases have twice the number of medical errors as other medical complications. As children’s systems are still developing and they are generally small in size, it is difficult to predict how their systems will react to complex and invasive medical testing and treatments. Furthermore, children are frequently unable to articulate their symptoms in a detailed and understandable manner.  Pediatric cardiology is a very unique condition to treat, resulting in unusual conditions that can lead to errors. Because few children suffer from cardiac problems, the overall possibility of error is low, but it does occur. However, since there are fewer patients, errors are more common in this area. As a result of less experience in treating these diseases, fewer protocols, fewer established diagnostic methods, and a lack of equipment to treat these diseases, medical errors are on the rise.

Other factors that contribute to medical errors in pediatric cardiology patients include a general lack of awareness of these problems, which frequently results in physicians failing to diagnose or consider cardiac conditions, the frailty of critically ill patients, and the fact that symptoms of heart disease can also correlate with a wide range of other possible conditions. For these reasons, pediatricians frequently test other options before considering a cardiac condition. This significantly delays diagnosis and treatment, potentially causing the child to suffer greatly or even die. If your child was harmed as a result of medical malpractice involving heart failure, you should consult with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Our highly experienced medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano may be able to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.  We serve clients throughout Upstate New York and have offices in several convenient locations. Our extensive experience in the field of medical malpractice is reflected in the results we have obtained for our clients.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging test that uses magnetic pulses in conjunction with radio wave energy to view internal organs and other areas of the body. An MRI is a specialized piece of equipment with unique requirements. The MRI is not the same as a CT scan. During an MRI, the patient’s body is placed in a unit and must remain motionless for some time while the imaging is performed. Medical personnel who operate MRI machines must be properly trained in their use.

According to a recent lawsuit, a woman was injured during an MRI procedure. The woman claims that the machine was not properly operated and that the MRI machine was too small. As a result, the woman sustained physical injuries to the left side of her body. The injuries included burns due to her placement on the equipment. The woman states that the injuries were very severe and very painful. The lawsuit does not indicate whether the injuries were permanent, however, burn injuries often require continued medical treatment including the possibility of skin grafts to repair the damage. Additionally, the woman will likely have scarring and disfigurement because of the burns to her body. These injuries could have been prevented if the technicians were more careful while operating the machine. The equipment may not have been large enough to accommodate the woman, or she may have been positioned incorrectly on the table. Whatever the reason, the woman was injured because of the negligent care she received. The medical personnel should have been more cautious and noticed that the woman was not properly aligned to fit into the machine.

When a patient suffers a serious injury because of negligent care, it is considered medical malpractice. In this instance, the woman may request damages to cover her medical expenses, lost wages, future treatments, and pain and suffering caused by the injury.  If you or someone you love was injured due to an improperly performed MRI procedure, contact our office today.  At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, our highly experienced medical malpractice attorneys may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve.  We help clients throughout Upstate New York, with offices in multiple convenient locations. Our extensive experience in the medical malpractice field is reflected in the results we have achieved for our clients.

For parents, the worries associated with impending parenthood begin long before their child is born. Unfortunately, birth injuries can occur at any time during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, or the postnatal period. One of the most serious birth injuries is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).  Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain for an extended period of time. According to a Newborn Infant and Nursing Review article, HIE occurs in 1.5 to 2.5 of every 1,000 live births in developed countries. Surprisingly, despite advances in obstetric care, the rate of HIE has not decreased over the last few decades.

HIE occurs as a result of an event that deprives the newborn’s brain of oxygen or blood flow before, during, or after birth. When a baby’s developing brain is deprived of oxygen and blood, the cells rapidly decay and die. It is not always clear what event prevents oxygen or blood flow to the brain. However, there are a number of risk factors and potential causes to consider. Problems with blood flow to the placenta, preeclampsia, maternal diabetes with vascular disease, congenital fetal infections, drug or alcohol abuse, severe fetal anemia, heart disease, and lung malformations are all prenatal risk factors. Intrapartum risk factors include umbilical cord problems, placental abruption or uterine rupture, excessive placental bleeding, abnormal fetal position, such as breech position, prolonged late stages of labor, and very low blood pressure in the mother. Severe prematurity, severe lung or heart disease, serious infections, brain or skull trauma, very low blood pressure in the baby, and respiratory failure or cardiac arrest are all postnatal risk factors.

When doctors and nurses miss critical signs that the baby is in distress during delivery, this is considered medical malpractice. The actions or inactions of the medical team can deprive the baby of oxygen, causing profound brain damage.  This would lead to the infant requiring extensive resuscitation before they could start breathing on their own, resulting in permanent brain damage that would limit their mental and physical abilities for the rest of their life. If you or your baby suffered injury as the result of medical malpractice, call our office today.  At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, our highly experienced medical malpractice attorneys may be able to help you collect the compensation you deserve.  We help clients throughout Upstate New York, with offices in multiple convenient locations. Our extensive experience in the medical malpractice field is reflected in the results we have achieved for our clients.