Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of severe, acute lung dysfunction caused by illness or injury that affects all or most of both lungs. Although it is commonly referred to as adult respiratory distress syndrome, it can also affect children. ARDS is caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs’ small air sacs. This makes getting oxygen into the bloodstream difficult. Breathing difficulties, excessively deep and rapid breathing, and low levels of oxygen in the circulating blood are all possible symptoms. ARDS can occur as a result of widespread infection in the body or as a result of pneumonia, trauma, shock, severe burns, aspiration of food into the lung, multiple blood transfusions, and inhalation of toxic fumes, among other things. It usually manifests itself within 24 to 48 hours of the initial illness or injury and is classified as a medical emergency.

Although there is no cure for ARDS, there are treatment options that can aid in lung healing. Even with treatment, the condition is frequently fatal. More than half of those who develop the syndrome die because of it. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a lung injury that can occur as a result of medical malpractice. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cases of ARDS caused by medical professionals’ negligence by a physician’s inability to prevent excessive blood loss, failure to detect, prevent, or treat infections, incorrect administration of a blood transfusion, a surgical procedure error, and medication dosage errors and cross-reactions. If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of ARDS because of a healthcare provider’s mistake, you may be able to take legal action. The highly experienced attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano have obtained millions in verdicts and settlements for medical and pediatric malpractice victims.  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.

Each year, approximately 150,000 cases of ARDS are reported in the United States. The progression of ARDS varies greatly across the country due to different definitions of the disease, demographics, and healthcare system differences. Acute respiratory distress syndrome can affect people of any age who have a lung injury or illness. The incidence rises with age, from 16 affected individuals per 100,000 in people aged 15 to 19 to 306 affected individuals per 100,000 in people aged 75 to 84. When ARDS is associated with sepsis or most other causes, there is no difference in incidence between men and women. When trauma is the underlying cause of ARDS, the incidence is slightly higher in females. Despite advances in our understanding of ARDS over the last two decades, the in-hospital mortality rate remains at 40-50%, with the majority of deaths occurring within the first few weeks of disease onset.

While watching the World Series, the Olympics, or any other major sporting event, it is easy to overlook the tremendous effort that each athlete has exerted to play their sport. Every no-hitter and gold medalist has spent years training, conditioning, and learning how to out-think their opponents. Many of the most inspiring sports tales involve athletes who have recovered from debilitating injuries or learned to transfer their skills. These stories and other dramatic on-field injuries remind us of the extremely important behind-the-scenes players who maintain the health and strength of our favorite players.

When athletes sustain injuries because of strenuous and intense exercise, sports medicine specialists can provide both preventative and emergency care. Frequently, sports medicine specialists provide specialized care for sports-related injuries or help athletes improve their health to enhance their performance. Malpractice in sports medicine occurs when a specialist fails to adhere to the professional standard of care of other specialists in this field. Call the Upstate New York medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano for a consultation if a sports medicine doctor misdiagnosed you or provided the wrong treatment.  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.

Today, more individuals participate in sports than ever before. Physicians who treat athletes face unique diagnostic and treatment challenges, as well as an increased legal liability risk. Physicians must be willing to seek guidance from specialists, especially when cardiac, spinal, or neurological issues are present. Concerns of the physician include the evaluation of potential concussions, spinal injuries, and heat stroke on the field.

The birth of a child is one of the most joyous occasions in a person’s life. Parents have the right to expect that every precaution will be taken to ensure the mother’s and baby’s health and safety during the labor and delivery process. Unfortunately, this does not always occur, and birth injuries occur. For far too many families, a doctor’s error takes away that moment of joy and the lifetime of happiness you had planned. When a doctor or nurse fails to act appropriately and fails to correctly identify or treat neonatal problems, the nurse, doctor, or hospital may be held liable for any harm done to your baby. If you believe your baby was harmed as a result of neonatology malpractice, the experienced birth injury lawyers at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano in Upstate New York can assist you in determining your legal options. We have several convenient locations across Upstate New York.  Our extensive experience in the medical malpractice field is reflected in the results we have achieved for our clients.

Birth injuries are just one example of medical malpractice. There is no reason for any medical or healthcare professional to act negligently and fall short of the acceptable standard of care. When treating patients suffering from a specific disorder or disease, the standard of care refers to the practices and procedures that are generally accepted by a certain class of medical professionals in a specific geographic region. The situation is even more upsetting when it affects a helpless, innocent newborn, severing that infant’s life or severely compromising the baby’s quality of life. Preventable medical errors are a major public health issue that affects people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Medical errors have been identified as the third-leading cause of death by the Journal of Patient Safety, accounting for as many as 440,000 patient deaths a year. Many more sustain serious and long-term injuries.

Neonatologists are trained to handle complex and high-risk situations involving newborns. Neonatologists are doctors who, after medical school, can train for three years in pediatrics and another three years in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They are certified by the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine sub-board and the American Board of Pediatrics. A pediatrician can handle most problems, but some are risky, such as when a newborn is born very prematurely, has an injury, or is suffering from a serious illness. They also provide care for newborns during C-sections or other deliveries in which the baby or mother has a medical condition that requires medical intervention during or shortly after delivery.

Emergency rooms are frequently chaotic environments. Patients are rushed in for emergency treatment for serious injuries or illnesses. As a result, doctors and nurses are responding quickly to patients’ needs and performing emergency procedures. However, due to the fast-paced environment of emergency rooms, errors are frequently made, causing patients further injuries and harm. Emergency room physicians are frequently required to make quick decisions. Sometimes, instead of helping the patient, ER doctors make the wrong decision, resulting in a patient’s condition worsening or death because of an emergency room error. If you have been injured or a loved one has died because of an ER error in an Upstate New York medical facility, contact one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano. 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.

The typical emergency room is understaffed.  Many doctors are overworked and do not have adequate time to spend properly diagnosing each patient. Also, many test results are not reviewed thoroughly because of the staffing situation and patients may fall through the cracks and are being discharged improperly.  Additionally, overcrowded emergency rooms sometimes lack the proper staff.  Patients may have to wait too long in the waiting area without receiving the care they need, and as a result, they may suffer a heart attack or have their health condition worsen because they cannot be seen in a timely manner.  Doctors and nurses work long shifts, and they often suffer from exhaustion. When staff members are fatigued, they can’t think clearly or use their best judgment. As a result, doctors and other ER staff may overlook symptoms or misdiagnose conditions causing patients further harm.  Patients may be passed from doctor to doctor or nurse to nurse multiple times over the course of a shift.  Because there are often so many people involved in a patient’s care in an emergency, from the EMT to the nurse, technician, and surgeon, miscommunication sometimes occurs because someone left something out of a patient’s chart or forgot to pass along important information.

The truth is that doctors are not the only ones who make critical mistakes in the emergency room. Paramedics, nurses, technicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical personnel involved in a patient’s care frequently make mistakes. This creates numerous opportunities for errors, even from well-meaning medical professionals. To make matters worse, many people who visit the ER have urgent medical needs. Errors in this context can lead to serious complications or death. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that a decrease in the number of hospital emergency rooms over the last several years has put more strain on the remaining emergency departments. As a result, there is more crowding, a faster pace, and more opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel to make mistakes in the emergency room. Medical staff members, regardless of their workload, are legally obligated to avoid mistakes by not rushing or cutting corners when diagnosing and treating emergency room patients.

Medical malpractice claims typically sound in negligence. There is a difference between ordinary negligence and negligent acts committed in the course of offering medical care, though, and the failure to recognize the distinction prior to instituting a lawsuit can have negative consequences. For example, in a recent New York case, a court dismissed the plaintiff’s lawsuit against a physician on the grounds that the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, rather than the statute of limitations for negligence claims, applied and operated to bar the plaintiff’s claims. If you were hurt by incompetent medical care, you could be owed compensation, and you should speak to a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney.

The Plaintiff’s Harm

It is alleged that the plaintiff was a patient of the defendant’s allergy practice. During a treatment visit, one of the defendant’s employees injected the plaintiff with an allergy shot intended for another patient. The plaintiff later commenced a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging that she suffered personal injuries due to the error.

Reportedly, after discovery, the defendant moved for summary judgment on the grounds that the plaintiff’s claims were not filed within two years and six months of her harm, as demanded by the statute of limitations. The plaintiff argued that her claims sounded in ordinary negligence and not medical malpractice. The court granted the defendant’s motion and the plaintiff appealed. Continue Reading ›

Breast cancer is a devastating illness that impacts many women. As such, it is recommended that women undergo regular breast cancer screenings. Even if a woman submits to such tests, they may nonetheless develop cancer. Whether a doctor’s failure to conduct more frequent screenings to prevent cancer from progressing constitutes malpractice, however, depends on the facts of the case. This was illustrated recently in a New York matter in which the court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims on the grounds that she could not establish that her harm arose out of the defendant’s negligence. If you were injured by medical errors, you have the right to pursue claims against your doctor, and it is wise to meet with a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney.

History of the Case

It is reported that the plaintiff treated with the defendant gynecologist, who referred her for a screening mammogram in 2015. The radiologist that interpreted her mammogram recommended an ultrasound as well. The defendant discussed the recommendation with the plaintiff and advised her that he agreed.

Allegedly, the plaintiff underwent an ultrasound and a diagnostic mammogram, the results of which were probably benign and benign, respectively. It was recommended that she follow up in six to twelve months. In June 2106, she visited a breast surgeon due to pain and swelling and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. She then filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the defendant. The defendant moved for summary judgment, and the trial court granted his motion. The plaintiff appealed. Continue Reading ›

The federal government funds many medical facilities in New York; as such, the healthcare providers that work in such facilities are often considered federal employees. Whether a physician works for a private or public corporation matters, in part, if the physician engages in behavior that constitutes malpractice, as it impacts how a plaintiff must pursue claims against them. This was demonstrated recently in a New York medical malpractice case in which the court dismissed the plaintiff’s lawsuit on the grounds that she failed to exhaust her administrative remedies prior to pursuing claims against the defendant. If you suffered harm because of a doctor’s carelessness, it is advisable to consult a Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your possible remedies.

Procedural Background of the Case

It is alleged that the plaintiff treated with the defendant doctor during her pregnancy. Tragically, the plaintiff’s son suffered injuries at birth, including brain damage, cerebral palsy, seizures, and the inability to walk. The plaintiff attributed the infant’s injuries to the defendant’s failure to perform an emergency C-section. During the relevant period, the defendant worked for a health center that received federal funding.

Reportedly, approximately two years after the infant’s birth, the plaintiff submitted an administrative claim to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Six weeks later, she instituted a medical malpractice claim against the defendant in state court. HHS did not issue a written determination regarding the claim at that time. The United States removed the case to federal court. It then moved to substitute itself as a defendant and dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint due to her failure to exhaust her administrative remedies. Continue Reading ›

After people undergo surgical procedures, it is critical that they receive appropriate care. Thus, if healthcare providers fail to take the post-surgical measures necessary to prevent them from developing infections and other complications, they may be liable for medical malpractice. The standard of care imposed on medical professionals providing post-operative treatment was the topic of a recent opinion delivered by a New York court in a medical malpractice case. If you were hurt by inadequate medical care, you have the right to pursue claims against the parties that caused your losses, and it is wise to talk to a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney promptly.

The Facts of the Case

It is reported that the plaintiff sought treatment from the defendant doctor for arthritis in his right hip. The defendant doctor recommended that the plaintiff undergo hip replacement surgery; the plaintiff consented to the procedure, which the defendant performed without incident. The plaintiff remained in the hospital for several days following the surgery, where he was monitored and cared for by the defendant doctor and defendant physician assistant.

Allegedly, the defendant developed a decubitus ulcer on his buttocks during his admission that required further hospitalization and extensive care. He subsequently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the defendants, arguing they deviated from the standard of care, causing him to develop the decubitus ulcer. The defendants moved for summary judgment, but the court denied their motion. The defendants appealed. Continue Reading ›