Wilmington Medical Malpractice Law And Car Accident Law Blog

Staggered surgery approach could lead to surgical errors

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in surgical errors on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

These days, high patient volumes are the norm for most Delaware hospitals. Many medical facilities across the state are overcrowded and filled to capacity. Doctors and other medical professionals in many of these facilities are also understaffed, so providers are constantly in a rush to see more patients. To help with this, many surgeons will use an approach called staggered surgery in which they perform multiple surgeries in an assembly line fashion. This volume-based approach only makes surgical errors more likely.

A lawsuit was filed against a surgeon in another state over claims that his staggered surgery approach caused permanent injuries to a patient. According to the lawsuit, the surgeon fractured the plaintiff's thighbone during a procedure and failed to repair it. Allegedly, the defendant was notorious for staggered surgeries, and the plaintiff's procedure was the seventh of 14 surgeries that the surgeon performed that day.

Post-sepsis syndrome could change your life forever

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Friday, November 29, 2019.

If you recently suffered from a hospital-acquired infection, it may have taken doctors too long to diagnose it. As the infection worsened, your body began attacking itself. By the time doctors discovered something was wrong, you required aggressive treatment for sepsis.

You may have spent a few days in the ICU, but eventually, doctors allowed you to return home. Considering the life-threatening nature of sepsis, you may have felt lucky that you didn't get any worse and hope you can get on with your life. The problem is that you could suffer from post-sepsis syndrome, which causes lifelong issues.

Distracted driving continues to be a main cause of car accidents

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

According to recent reports, Delaware is one of the most dangerous states in which to drive. Unfortunately, fatalities in car accidents continue to remain high again this year across the state. A number of factors may be contributing to this, but one of main causes of many fatal accidents is distracted driving. Statistics say that distracted driving has been a factor in nearly 10% of all fatal crashes this year.

A recent crash in Camben that killed one man and injured several others may have been caused by distracted driving. The accident happened during the evening hours on South Dupont Highway at the Thomas Harmon Drive intersection. Reports said a pickup truck was stopping or slowing in the heavy traffic at the intersection. An SUV and a sedan were also stopped directly in front of the pickup truck, reports said.

Birth injuries: New report finds most deaths are preventable

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in birth injuries on Monday, November 25, 2019.

Tragically, the rate of death and injury for mothers giving birth in Delaware and across the United States continues to rise. Every year, more than 50,000 mothers suffer birth injuries, statistics say. Out of those, about 700 mothers die, a number that is entirely too high.

According to a recent report published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three out of every five maternal deaths could have been prevented had the mothers received suitable medical care. Data in the report supports growing evidence that more than half of all maternal deaths across the country are preventable. Sadly, the report also illustrates how delayed care, missed diagnoses and other negligence by medical providers continue to fuel the United States' reputation as the most dangerous developed nation in which to give birth.

Car accidents are almost unavoidable these days

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

It goes without saying that a traffic accident is something that no person wants to experience. However, one of the few guarantees in life is that accidents are going to happen. Most drivers will be involved in a crash at some point in their lives. The majority of car accidents are very minor and nothing more than inconveniences. Unfortunately, it seems serious and fatal crashes are happening more and more in Delaware.

Recently, a crash near Greenwood resulted in the death of a man. The accident happened on Sussex Highway during the evening hours. According to reports, the driver of a sedan was making a left turn from Sussex Highway onto Woodyard Road and pulled directly into the path of an oncoming SUV. Reports said the SUV collided with the sedan, traveled through the median and flipped several times before finally coming to rest on its roof.

Patients suffer the consequences of surgical errors

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in surgical errors on Friday, November 15, 2019.

The state of Delaware is home to some of the most skilled and knowledgeable surgeons in the country. These skilled physicians perform their duties with care and save lives on a daily basis. Successful surgery is undoubtedly a process, and any missed step in this process can have disastrous implications for patients. Surgical errors kill and injure thousands of people every year in the United States.

In another state, a lawsuit was filed by a man who claimed that negligence during a procedure left him unconscious. According to the lawsuit, the man was scheduled to undergo a knee replacement surgery. The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff was given a 100 mcg dose of fentanyl prior to the surgery, even though he was not in pain or showing signs of anxiety.

Your doctor knows how to handle your high-risk pregnancy

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Whether you're expecting your first child or have already navigated pregnancy and childbirth several times, one thing is certain: No two pregnancies are exactly the same. Many factors, including but not limited to your age, current state of health, diet and quality of care can significantly affect you and your baby throughout approximately nine months of prenatal care, and also during labor and delivery at a Delaware medical facility.

In fact, receiving high-quality prenatal care is a key factor toward good health and safety during pregnancy. There are numerous maternal conditions -- that is, health conditions that affect you, the mother, that can place you or your infant at high risk for injury or illness. Your obstetrician or midwife can recognize certain symptoms that warrant closer monitoring and, if needed, swift action to help keep you and your baby safe. If a problem arises, a strong support network is definitely needed.

New treatment for brain injuries shows promise

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in brain injuries on Monday, November 11, 2019.

The brain is one of the most important organs in the human body. It's also arguably the most fragile. An injury to the brain can be debilitating and affect a person for the rest of his or her life. Every year, nearly two and a half million people in Delaware and across the United States suffer brain injuries. According to a recent study, a new inexpensive treatment could help prevent brain injury deaths.

In the study, researchers used a drug known as tranexamic acid (TXA). Apparently, when used in traumatic brain injury patients, TXA stops bleeding into the brain by preventing blood clots from being broken down. The study was conducted in 175 hospitals across 29 countries. Nearly 12,000 patients either received TXA intravenously or an inactive placebo.

Car accidents: Crowded interstates can be extremely dangerous

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Interstate highways are often the easiest and most efficient routes for travelers and commuters in Delaware and across the country. However, driving on crowded interstates at speeds in excess of 70 mph can be intimidating for any driver regardless of experience or skill level. According to statistics, nearly 5,000 people in the United States are killed every year in car accidents on interstates. A recent crash on I-95 in Wilmington claimed the life of one person and injured two others.

The accident happened at night on I-95 southbound near the Brandywine River Bridge. Reports said a sedan was traveling in the middle lane approaching the bridge while an SUV was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed. The SUV attempted to pass the sedan and clipped the left from side of the car, police said. The collision caused the SUV to strike a guard rail, which sent the SUV tumbling.

Common prescription error types

On behalf of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP on Monday, November 4, 2019.

The intent of prescription medications is to treat various physical and mental issues that people may face. However, when a patient experiences prescription errors, it can have serious negative effects.

Thankfully, in such cases, patients may have legal recourse. Understanding the type of prescription error may be beneficial to building a strong claim. There are a few common prescription errors that patients may experience.