Donating a kidney to save the life of a friend or family member is perhaps one of the noblest things a person can do. While the surgery is by no means minor, it does enjoy a high success rate and seems relatively safe. In fact, statistics show that in 2010 alone, some 6,276 people donated […]
When you enter the emergency room of a local hospital, you are undoubtedly frightened and concerned about the state of your health. However, there is also a part of you that relaxes just a little bit, trusting that the trained medical professionals will provide the necessary level of care. As we know by now, however, […]
Any parent could tell you that raising children is a challenging and rewarding endeavor. Parents who have newborns or toddlers quickly learn that the majority of their time will be spent caring for their children and helping them grow and develop. When parents have children who are born with birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy, […]
Some families seem to receive more than their share of struggles. One patient had been suffering from renal failure and has been on kidney dialysis since February. Naturally, his family stepped in to see if any of the relatives was able to donate a kidney. Yolanda, the man’s 41-year-old older sister, was a match. Like […]
In our last post, we talked about a Pennsylvania woman who suffered severe burns to her face, chest, larynx, trachea and lungs after a surgical fire. The nurse anesthetist was found negligent, and the woman was awarded $250,000. The settlement was a victory for the woman, but she should never have been placed in that […]
In September 2006, a 72-year-old woman from Pennsylvania suffered second-degree burns to her face and chest, as well as burns to her larynx, trachea and lungs. The woman was undergoing surgery when a nurse anesthetist administered extra oxygen to the patient but failed to tell the surgeon. When the surgeon activated an electrocautery device, it […]
Some hospitals in Pittsburgh have started using electronic hospital charts. Electronic charts can help ensure prescriptions are legible and understood by everyone who needs to administer them. Electronic systems also have checks in place that prompt doctors to verify that they’re entering the correct information in the right charts. Even so, there is little evidence […]
When we visit the doctor, we may be inclined to believe that anyone with a white lab coat and stethoscope will give us the medical attention we need. It’s a pleasant and comforting thought that all professionals will do their jobs to the best of their ability all day, every day. It’s also not very […]
Many of us remember what it was like to be a kid at the doctor’s office. We cried when we received shots, but we were often rewarded with stickers and small toys. Now, many people in Pennsylvania naively believe that the worst is over. Other than the occasional trip to have blood drawn, most trips […]
