The Missouri Supreme Court has found that the statute that limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases to $350,000 unlawfully infringes on a jury’s constitutional right to determine the amount of damage that a person has sustained from medical negligence. In this Missouri case, Deborah Watts filed suit for medical…
On June 12, 2006, 35-year-old Tracy Ariss underwent an echo-cardiogram stress test at LaGrange Memorial Hospital after a workup for carpal tunnel pain in her arms was found to be inconclusive. Less than 3 minutes into the stress test, Tracy suffered a myocardial infarction — a heart attack. She was…
It has become much more common to find that the known name for a nursing home is not related to its true nursing home ownership. Often, owners of nursing homes are carefully hiding the identity in a maze of ownership. A plaintiff’s lawyers who handle nursing home cases are cautious…
A new Finnish study suggests that high blood levels of lycopene may significantly reduce the risk of stroke. Vegetables, especially tomatoes, are a significant source of lycopene. The analysis was published in the journal Neurology, prospectively followed 1,031 men ages 46 to 55, measuring their blood levels of five antioxidants…
Most of us are urged by our doctors to take a multiple vitamin everyday or some other supplement, such as a B vitamin or a calcium pill. There hasn’t been a lot of evidence, however, that a multiple vitamin has a beneficial effect on our health. That may be changing…
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans. Hospitalization and medical care immediately following a stroke are very costly, as is the rehabilitative care. So the question is how best to prevent a stoke or to help patients recover following a stroke. The National Institutes of Health is…
Thirty-two-year-old Regina Ruff came to the emergency room at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in the morning on July 14, 2007 complaining of shortness of breath. Ruff had a history of congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes and non-compliance with the taking of some of her medicine. At about 11:45 a.m., the…
The American Medical Association reports that a growing number of physicians are choosing to be “hospitalists.” These doctors work in the hospital full time, while their colleagues provide care in local offices. The advantage for the patient is that care is not disrupted when the doctor has to rush off…
A new study shows that shoulder dislocation in older patients is more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed than among younger patients. The study warned that older patients whose shoulder injuries are not treated can face years of persistent pain and disability. Published in the October 2012 issue of the…
The Obama administration wants consumers to be able to report medical mistakes and unsafe practices by doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and others who provide treatment. Some hospital spokesmen say they are receptive to the idea, although they have concerns about malpractice liability, Federal officials say medical mistakes often go unreported, and…