The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on most aspects of life, but the healthcare industry probably felt the effects the most. In recognition of the difficulties in diagnosing and treating COVID-19 early in the pandemic, the New York legislature enacted EDTPA (the Emergency or Disaster Treatment Protection Act), which rendered healthcare…
The federal government and its employees have sovereign immunity against tort claims, but the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) waives such immunity in certain cases. Among other things, the FTCA allows people harmed by negligent care in a federally funded medical facility to seek damages through medical malpractice claims. The…
New York’s Vehicle and Traffic laws are designed to ensure that people can safely travel the roads and highways throughout the state. When people fail to comply with these laws, it often leads to accidents, and it may constitute negligence per se or negligence as a matter of law. Recently,…
Slip and fall accidents happen with regularity in superstores, and in most instances, they are caused by liquid or other slippery substances that have spilled onto the ground. Store owners have an obligation under the law to maintain their premises in a safe condition, and they can be held accountable…
While there are risks associated with most surgical procedures, patients are usually aware of the potential complications that can arise and choose to proceed regardless. In some instances, though, mistakes made during surgery can cause a patient to suffer unanticipated injuries that not only cause physical pain but also lead…
Emergency medical service (EMS) providers offer critical care to people suffering from acute health concerns. As with any medical care, however, people have the option of declining the treatment EMS providers offer. As discussed in a recent opinion issued in a New York medical malpractice case, if a person rejects…
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many people, including those living in federal facilities, to suffer irreparable harm. In some instances, such harm was brought about or exacerbated by the failures of medical professionals. While people harmed by the negligent rendering of care in a federal facility have the right to pursue…
Many hospitals and medical facilities in New York receive federal funding. If a patient suffers harm due to incompetent care received in such a facility, they can seek damages via medical malpractice claims, but they are bound by a different set of procedural requirements than those pertaining to claims against…
New York law dictates that people pursuing damages in medical malpractice cases must prosecute their claims diligently. In other words, if they cause unnecessary delays in moving the case forward, they may be sanctioned. In some cases, such sanctions can include the dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. Dismissal is a…
When a patient suffers harm due to a doctor’s negligent performance of their duties, the doctor may be held liable for medical malpractice. Not all harm caused by medical professionals constitutes malpractice, though, as in some cases, an injury may be the result of simple negligence. In an opinion recently…