The Effect Of Creating And Using A Safety Checklist
In Conjunction With The Performance Of Non-Cardiac Surgery In January of 2009 the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study conducted
Category:
Women Beware
Your rights to proper and regular screening for cervical cancer by pap smears and other means is being attacked. In a recent publication of a
MGUS & Multiple Myeloma
Each year many die of multiple myeloma. It is a cancer principally affecting bone but capable of metastasizing to the lung and soft tissue. A
Death Due To Anesthesia
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, mortality rates for conditions studied were from 0.11% to 1.2%. While these percentages may seem small when one considers the hundreds of thousands of surgical cases performed annually under anesthesia an ominous picture emerges. The average for all patients is 0.38%. This means that out of every 1000 cases, 38 patients die. The mortality rate adjusted by operation does reveal certain patterns. Mortality rates were lower, 10 times lower for mastectomies and hysterectomies than they were for cholecystectomies. In a more recent risk-adjusted study of 117,440 surgical cases in Pennsylvania, Silber, et al.2, observed an increase of 2.5 deaths per 1000 patients when an anesthesiologist was not involved in the case. This statistic is alarming in light of the Institute of Medicine’s Review which concluded: “Today anesthesia mortality rates are about one death per 200,000 to 300,000 anesthetics administered.”
The Negligent Interpretation Of Pap Smears
Published by the American Society of Cytopathology in their Journal, Pathology Patterns Reviews. Cervical cancer continues to kill approximately 4900 women annually. This is a
Hospital Acquired Infections
According to the CDC 99,000 people die annually from hospital-acquired infections. As Betsy McCaughey Ross, the former Lieutenant Governor of New York put it, “You
The Pap Smear Case
A noted cytopathologist, Leopold Koss, has said that the use of the Pap smear should virtually eliminate the chances of a woman developing invasive cancer.
Lessons Hard To Learn If State Requires Secrecy In Medical Malpractice Cases
Originally Published Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA); October 27, 1993; Section: NATIONAL; Edition: SOONER; Page: A-8 Steve Twedt, Post-Gazette Staff Writer When a catastrophic medication error occurs
Eight Steps To Avoid Cervical Cancer
Checklist: Protecting Yourself From Cervical Cancer The best protection a woman has against cervical cancer is to develop a trusting relationship with a gynecologist and
Rx For Doctors Better Bedside Manner Eases Malpractice Suits
Communicate or litigate. That’s the overwhelming advice from lawyers, judges and insurance companies to physicians who want to avoid being sued for medical malpractice. The
Deadly Hospital Mistakes Are Doomed To Be Repeated
Originally Published October 24, 1993; Section: NATIONAL; Edition: TWO STAR; Page: A-1; Memo: MEDICATION ERRORS; Day 1: THE OVERVIEW; TOMORROW: Many hands, many mistakes. Contributing
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Increased Risk of Bile Duct Injury
An injury to the bile duct occurring during the course of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which injury results in recurring problems with the potential for permanent liver damage should be considered a case of possible medical negligence until proven otherwise. In general, when appropriate surgical safeguards are employed in the performance of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy there is no unintended injury to the bile ducts. Unintended injury to the bile ducts when it occurs is often a result of doctors having failed to employ those safeguards deemed appropriate for the performance of such a procedure.