October 31, 2012
Back in August, our blog reported a shocking story of how “human error” at the University of Toledo Medical Center somehow caused a kidney taken from a live donor to be rendered unusable for transplant. In the immediate aftermath of this devastating mishap, UTMC declined to release information about the incident, including how the kidney […]
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October 27, 2012
Whenever you envision misdiagnoses, chances are you think of failures to diagnose heart attacks, cancer, strokes and other serious medical conditions. The last thing you think of is the failure by physicians to diagnose whether a patient is dead or alive. Such a determination, you would probably reason, is so simple that there is no […]
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October 25, 2012
Over the last two decades, many healthcare systems here in Pennsylvania and across the United States have slowly taken steps to eliminate dangerous practices and flawed procedures within the halls of their facilities. For instance, many have introduced mechanisms allowing medical professionals to report incidences of preventable medical mistakes such as operating on the wrong […]
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October 18, 2012
October has been designated National Brain Injury Awareness Month. This means injury advocacy groups and health organizations alike are conducting educational campaigns designed to foster a greater understanding of brain injuries and how they can affect a person on a day-to-day basis. While this is certainly a worthy endeavor, many of these educational materials overlook […]
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October 16, 2012
When we leave the pharmacy with a prescription in hand, we expect that the pharmacist has taken the time to ensure that we were provided with the right medication in the right dosage and in the right number. Any failure on the part of the pharmacist to perform this otherwise simple task could have serious […]
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October 12, 2012
Being admitted to the hospital can be an altogether frightening experience. However, this experience can become all the more frightening if you develop a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infection. For those unfamiliar with a MRSA infection, it is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a potentially deadly infection that is “caused by a strain […]
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October 10, 2012
Cerebral palsy is a serious condition affecting thousands of children each year, causing everything from vision, hearing and speech problems to muscle spasms, muscle stiffness and mobility issues. Experts have yet to pinpoint all the complex causes of cerebral palsy. However, it is widely accepted that cerebral palsy can and often does result from a […]
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October 5, 2012
Shocking instances of hospital negligence or egregious medical mistakes almost always seem to involve dangerous or negligent conduct on the part of physicians, nurses, technicians or those otherwise involved in providing patient care in a clinical setting. However, what about paramedics? Aren’t these front-line responders — who arguably have one of the most important jobs […]
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October 3, 2012
Now that school is back in session, many high school students here in Pennsylvania and across the country will head directly to the locker room after the final bell rings to gear up for sports practice. Many will don shoulder pads, arm pads, knee pads and, of course, helmets. Interestingly, these helmets may someday be […]
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