Our last post about brain injuries discussed using bionic limbs to allow paralyzed individuals to move. Although the technology associated with such advanced bionics may be years away from commercial availability, researchers and victims of brain and spinal cord injury alike are excited about recent development. A quadriplegic man from Pittsburgh was one of the […]
Many who have suffered a debilitating brain or spinal cord injury have had to come to terms with the fact that their lives have changed forever. Paralysis, limited mobility, frequent physical therapy and retraining the brain can all be daunting. After all, most people think of brain injuries and paralysis as things that are permanent. […]
For pregnant women in Pittsburgh, few things are scarier than prenatal problems. Perhaps even more terrifying is not knowing with certainty how to interpret every symptom pregnant women have. Bleeding, for example, can mean that a woman has had a miscarriage. However, vaginal bleeding is not always indicative of fatal problems. To determine whether a […]
Even the most basic medical procedures come with risks. Doctors, surgeons and nurses spend years in medical school so they are ready to effectively handle anything that may arise during a patient’s hospital visit. However, in order to give patients the treatment they need, health care professionals must always perform at the top of their […]
When a person knows that he or she has done something wrong, it is appropriate for that person to apologize and take responsibility for his or her actions. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers introduced legislation that would limit the liability associated with apologies from health care professionals. The “benevolent gesture” law has passed in 35 states, but […]
Child birth and the months leading up to it should be an exciting time for parents. Pittsburgh parents expect any deviation from a normal delivery to be communicated clearly, and if problems arise, parents expect their health care professionals to make the situation better. Unfortunately, one mother recently lost her baby during a botched premature […]
We live in a society that prioritizes speed, efficiency and multi-tasking. There are certainly situations where those skills are appropriate. However, an environment in which exhausted individuals are constantly making life-and-death decisions for other people is not the place. Yet hospitals constantly do that. Far too often, sleep-deprived doctors and nurses in Pennsylvania make serious […]
In the past few months, there has been a great deal of attention regarding brain injuries caused by contact sports. A group of 75 professional football players is suing the NFL for withholding information about traumatic brain injuries, and many states are implementing policies that force high school coaches to bench students who exhibit signs […]
