A recent research study reveals that hospital deaths are significantly higher when the patient is admitted on the weekend rather than during the week. The study cites lower staffing levels and less experienced hospital staff working weekends as possible explanations for the higher mortality rate. This same study also concluded…
One of the nation’s largest health insurers was accused of overcharging millions of Americans for healthcare. The company, UnitedHealth Group, has agreed to pay a $50 million settlement after investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s office. The investigation arose after hundreds of patients complained to the state about…
Early detection of colon cancer by colonoscopy may be more challenging than prior studies have shown. A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that nearly 30 to 40 percent of colorectal cancers may not be detected by a colonoscopy. This is a prevention rate far less than…
The use of multiple pain and other prescription medications is leading to deadly results for patients. A recent study indicates that there has been a 700% increase in the number of at-home deaths caused by medication overdoses or errors. The age group most affected were baby boomers in their 40s…
In Virginia Beach and across Hampton Roads, summer is synonymous with going to the beach or pool and catching rays. However, the dangers associated with unprotected sun exposure have been once again highlighted by a government cancer study released yesterday. The study from the National Cancer Institute found that the…
A Virginia child with brain damage and cerebral palsy caused by oxygen deprivation at birth has received a $1.35 million settlement. The plaintiff asserted that the doctors failed to respond to their son’s deteriorating condition in the hours before his birth. The doctors at the University of Virginia denied any…
Virginia active duty military personnel injured by medical negligence at a military hospital (for example, Portsmouth Naval Hospital) cannot sue the government. The law that prevents this type of lawsuit, no matter how negligent or even willfully reckless the conduct by the government in providing medical care, came from United…
In Virginia, medication errors in the hospital setting may be on the rise, according to a recent study. The medical journal Pediatrics will soon publish a study indicating that about 1 out of 15 children who are patients in the hospital are injured by prescription errors. This translates into a…
By now, most people have seen the national study that revealed that approximately 90,000 wrongful deaths were caused in the United States by medical malpractice. How can you, a family member or friend decrease the likelihood of suffering injury or death from medical negligence? One easy way is to ask…