Medical Malpractice

• Medical Malpractice Caps Benefit Insurance Companies

  Seth Miles | November 28, 2007 11:45 AM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  Drastic caps on medical malpractice damages awards enacted by the Florida Legislature were supposed to result in far lower insurance premiums for doctors. In fact, Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation reports that rates dropped by a mere 3% last year. Where is the money going?To the insurance companies, of course. Credit rating organization A.M Best found in May that malpractice insurers...

• Woman Rewarded $2.4 Million Because of Gynecologist's Mistake

  Jenny Albano | October 04, 2007 11:34 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A Broward County jury awarded more than $2.4 million to Karlene Chambers of Pembroke Pines after her gynecologist left a sponge-like material in her following a cesarean procedure.Chambers sued her doctor, Joseph Becerra of the Pembroke Pines OB/GYN Associates, Memorial Hospital West and other medical agencies involved in the mishap for negligence.According to Chamber's attorney Crane Johnstone,...

• Medical Malpractice Premiums Reduced!!! Kidding. Kidding.

  Staff Writer | February 21, 2006 8:27 AM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  I'm really enjoying the posts of Greedy Trial Lawyer. He/She appears to be an anonymous colleague who has tongue-in-cheekly (is that a word?) embraced the way proponents of tort reform view him/her. A recent post from Greedy Trial Lawyer notes an article from PolState.com which points out that Iowa is just the lastest in the long line of states attempting to cap punitive damages in medical...

• Deadly Errors in Intensive Care

  Staff Writer | February 20, 2006 7:24 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A report from the U.S. Pharmacopeia last week revealed that between 2000 and 2004, nearly 40,000 errors were reported in intensive care units around the United States, many resulting in death or serious injury or illness to the patient. Note that this study looked at "reported medical errors", which makes me wonder how many of these deadly mistakes go unreported and unknown to the families and...

• How do I know if I am a victim of Medical Malpractice ?

  Staff Writer | February 06, 2006 11:12 AM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  Medical malpractice occurs when the actions of a physician or health care provider are below the standard of care. When a health care provider either fails to do something that should have been done, or does something that should not have been done, the consequences being injury or death, the victim or victim's family may have a claim of medical negligence or medical malpractice. Doctors and...

• Insurance Companies Inflated Medical Malpractice Claims

  Staff Writer | January 05, 2006 5:31 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A study performed by the non-profit watchdog group, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, found that Insurers consistently overstated their estimated amounts paid out in claims, inflating their losses by an AVERAGE of 46% between 1986 and 1994. These misleading numbers were supported by documents filed with state regulators and in statements made to public officials, the Insurance Journal...

• Blood Thinner Overdose Linked To Bleeding Problems

  Staff Writer | December 30, 2005 2:50 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A recent study conducted by Duke University's Dr. Karen Alexander found that almost 50% of heart attack patients are given too high a dosage of blood thinning medication, and this can lead to excessive bleeding.Those given too much of two newer blood thinners -- low molecular weight heparin and drugs sometimes called ''super-aspirin'' -- had more than a 30 percent increased chance of major...

• Medical Negligence Awards Not Affecting Rising Costs of Doctors' Premiums

  Staff Writer | December 28, 2005 4:13 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A study of medical negligence awards payments from 1991 to 2003 finds that increases in payments are consistent with health care costs and are not driving up the costs of premiums for doctors. See abstract of article: Medical Malpractice "crisis"

• Doctors, Pharmacists Need More Training on Prescription Drug Abuse

  Staff Writer | December 28, 2005 4:04 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  A study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University finds that almost half of doctors and pharmacists have limited training in prescribing and handling controlled prescription drugs.See complete article--Under the Counter: The Diversion and Abuse of Controlled Prescription Drugs in the U.S. at...

• What is Medical Malpractice ?

  Staff Writer | November 07, 2005 3:40 PM | 0 CommentsMiami, FL

  Medical malpractice concerns negligence or errors made by health care professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists, hospital or nursing home personnel, or other care providers. A person who is injured by medical malpractice generally must prove four things:DUTY: An injured consumer must prove that the caregiver owed a duty to provide reasonable care. For example, a doctor who treats you owes...