Wilmington Medical Malpractice Law And Car Accident Law Blog

Consequences of misnaming doctors in surgical errors cases

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in surgical errors on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

It is important for patients who are victimized by medical malpractice to have recourse. However, the damage to Delaware doctors who are wrongly found to be responsible for surgical errors can be long-lasting and devastating. A surgeon who was accused of lying to a patient about an issue with her operation is now working to revive his career after the accusation was withdrawn by the patient in question.

The woman who filed the lawsuit recanted her claims by issuing a statement via her attorney. In the statement, she advised that her accusation of the surgeon lying to her to cover up a surgical mistake was in fact attributed to the wrong individual. The retraction came after the woman's lawyer identified inconsistencies with her story.

The frequency, causes and outcomes of surgical errors

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Saturday, August 11, 2018.

When people have to undergo surgery, they may have concerns about the possibility of surgical errors. Mistakes that doctors make during surgery can result in serious injury to the patient, and in some severe cases, even death. This can be very worrisome for those who are anticipating an operation.

Generally speaking, surgical errors are relatively rare. However, even once is too often.

Birth injuries and defects can be the result of negligent care

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in birth injuries on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

The arrival of a new baby is one of the most joyful events in life. Though the majority of births go as planned, there are times when the actions or decisions of medical providers can result in children suffering the negative consequences of birth injuries. Delaware families who are struggling to care for an injured child do have recourse to seek a remedy.

There is a distinction between a birth injury and a birth defect, but both can be caused by the type of care that an expectant mother received. Throughout the pregnancy, there are various tests that can detect whether the fetus is developing normally and that the baby is receiving proper nutrition. Along with the possibility that a child can suffer a congenital abnormality, environmental factors and substances that a mother ingests can all cause harm for an unborn baby.

Why are certain surgical errors more common in the mid-afternoon?

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in surgical errors on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

There are many things that impact the risk of something going wrong at the hospital, but many people are unaware that time of day can be a factor. Data shows that Delaware patients might want to reconsider mid-afternoon operations. There are a few reasons for this, but one major one is that certain surgical errors statistically increase for those with 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. start times.

A Duke University review found that anesthesiologists made more mistakes in the middle of the afternoon. The difference was significant; the probability of a mistake at 9 a.m. was 1 percent, compared to 4.2 percent at 4 p.m. Researchers believe this is due to something called a "circadian low," often referred to in office settings as the "mid-afternoon slump."

3 things you should avoid after a car accident

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Regardless of how long ago you received your driver’s license, one can never be too prepared for collisions. If you ever find yourself in a car accident in Delaware, one of the first things you should do is stay calm. Though you might feel like panicking and rushing into immediate action, acting in haste could put you and your passengers in further danger.

There is always the possibility of harm from other motorists. Even if you follow all the rules of the road and drive defensively, you cannot predict when something might happen that results in an accident. Take some time to review the following pointers on things to avoid in the aftermath of car accidents.

3 types of surgical mistakes you want to avoid

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

One of the hardest decisions you might end up having to make is to undergo a surgical procedure. Though you trust your Delaware medical providers to uphold the Hippocratic oath and “do no harm,” the sad reality is mistakes happen. There are risks to every medical procedure, and those risks are dependent on many factors, including the type of surgical operation that is done.

Whether you are going to have surgery soon or have recently had a procedure, it is important for you to learn the types of surgical errors that can occur so you can take measures to prevent them.

New blood test may help diagnose traumatic brain injuries

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in brain injuries on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

Once of the biggest medical challenges when it comes to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is the diagnosis of brain trauma. Physicians in Delaware and around the world have traditionally needed to depend on symptoms like headaches and sensitivity to decide whether a CT scan was necessary in concussion cases. However, a new blood test may be able to identify brain injuries with more certainty.

There are many advantages to the new blood test. A blood sample can quickly be obtained and tested, even in a busy hospital setting. It can also provide a truthful reading of TBI issues without depending on the injured person to honestly report their symptoms. Doctors say athletes in particular may downplay indicators in order to keep playing, so an objective reading is advantageous.

Understanding common causes of surgical errors in the U.S.

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in surgical errors on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Preventable errors can have serious consequences in a medical procedure. Each year in the United States, thousands of surgical errors occur. Delaware patients may understand the "ordinary" risks of surgery, but should not have to accept an error caused by the negligence of a surgeon. If a preventable mistake occurs, it could have major ramifications on a patient's life.

Research indicates that a significant number of surgeons suffer from burnout. In fact, approximately one-third of doctors say they suffer from excessive fatigue, over 55 percent say they are burned out, and a small percentage have even thought about suicide. Fatigued medical professionals have proved to be at higher risk of making a critical mistake, with overworked surgeons being a serious problem in U.S. hospitals.

U.S. mothers suffer more birth injuries than any developed nation

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in birth injuries on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Many people hope for the best medical care possible when preparing to have a baby. However, a USA Today investigation found that women in the United States, including many here in Delaware, may want to think twice about their quality of care. According to their journalism, mothers suffer more birth injuries in this country than anywhere else in the developed world.

Every year, 50,000 mothers are injured while giving birth in the United States and 700 lose their lives. This figure has been steadily rising in recent years. USA Today investigators spent four years looking into the reasons for these figures.

Barriers could prevent fatal car accidents on Delaware Route 1

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Sunday, July 15, 2018.

State officials often update or build infrastructure projects to keep people safe. One Delaware project that has been discussed is the addition of cable median barriers on Route 1. The roadway, which stretches from Christiana through the beaches of Delaware, is a common location for fatal car accidents. However, there are questions as to whether investing in cable median barriers is a possibility anytime soon.

The guardrails are not legally required for medians over 50 feet wide. Although this doesn't apply to this stretch of road, car accidents involving vehicles crossing over the median in that area have caused people to discuss this as an option for Route. State officials say that the barriers could help save lives, but are not required and therefore need to be balanced with other DelDOT priorities.

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