Call Today For A Free Consultation
401-453-1500
Contact Us
401-453-1500
Contact Us

Blog

Home | Blog | Page 29
Blogs

New England Medical Malpractice Blog

, ,

Overexposure to Radiation and Effects on Patients in Rhode Island

Radiation serves many purposes in medicine. It is used for tracing broken bones, lung lesions, heart defects, tumors and is treatment for cancer. However, overexposure to radiation due to medical negligence or medical necessity can also cause damage to DNA, which may ultimately result in cancer after 10 to 20 years.

Computed tomography scans rank as the most frequently used procedure for imaging, usually for cancer. Unfortunately, these scans cause 10 percent of patients to be exposed to very high radiation levels. Radiation accounts for 1.5 percent of all cancer cases in the United States.

A recent study has shown that the rate of patients who undergo radiation-based procedures has increased dramatically over the last several years. According to experts, the key to safer exposure is to balance the risks and benefits when using medical radiation.

Doctors should be cautious when it comes to ordering radiation-based procedures such as x-rays and CT scans because they might pose serious side effects to patients in the future. If there are options other than radiation which may be used alternatively, these options may allow patients to avoid possible exposure to cancer-causing elements.

Compensation may be awarded to patients and their families in the event of harm caused by overexposure to radiation due to medical negligence of healthcare professionals. A doctor’s failure to protect his or her patients from overexposure to radiation may be considered medical malpractice. Damages may also be awarded for the past, present and future medical expenses of the patients or the victims. If you have questions related to harm caused by radiation overexposure, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to explore your options.

, ,

Misdiagnosis of an Ectopic Pregnancy: Birth Injuries and Methotrexate

Treating a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate may cause a miscarriage or result in deformities upon birth in an otherwise normal pregnancy according to a study performed by Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS). While the study group was quite small, investigators believe the results strongly indicate the need to improve tools for the accurate diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy.

Administration of methotrexate during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause a miscarriage, can result in the pregnancy being terminated or can cause severe deformities in a child born despite taking the drug. Rhode Island medication errors attorneys remind expectant mothers that the side effects of an unnecessary drug administered as a result of a misdiagnosis are preventable and the patient should not be left to dealt with them alone.

Risks of Ectopic Pregnancies

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg begins to develop before reaching the uterus. Typically, the egg implants itself to the wall of the fallopian tubes, rather than of the uterus, and then does not have the space to grow and develop without threatening the life of the mother.

Statistics show that an ectopic pregnancy occurs somewhere between once in every 40 to once in every 100 pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy cannot be carried to term; allowing the egg to develop if it actually does, poses a serious risk to the mother’s health. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can lead to rupture, requiring surgery and possibly a blood transfusion.

Diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is not a clear-cut process. Symptoms often are the same as those expected with a normal pregnancy. An ultrasound may be used to visually confirm an ectopic pregnancy, but it is possible that the mother may not yet be far enough along for an ultrasound to be effective and she may have to return for a repeat.

Once diagnosed, methotrexate is often given to women still in early stages to dissolve the ectopic pregnancy rather than using surgical measures. But, as the study has shown, a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy can lead to improper administration of methotrexate for a normal pregnancy and have dire consequences for the mother and her unborn child.

,

Rhode Island Hospital Fined for Leaving Drill-bit Part in Patient’s Head

Rhode Island Hospital has been fined $300,000 for a surgical error that left a piece of broken drill bit in a patient’s skull. The Rhode Island Department of Health has twice previously fined the hospital, but this is the largest fine it has received thus far.

The hospital acknowledged that a small piece of a drill bit broke off during neurosurgery and was left in a patient’s scalp on August 4, 2010. The piece was one quarter of an inch long, and it was discovered the day after the patient’s surgery during a routine diagnostic imaging exam. The piece was removed on August 6, and the patient was discharged that day, reported The Providence Journal.

Rhode Island Hospital policy states that a patient must undergo an X-ray before leaving the operating room if any surgical tool is unaccounted for after a procedure. After investigating the incident, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found that the patient was not X-rayed as required and that the hospital is not actively ensuring that operating-room staff follows established procedures, according to a Department of Health news release.

Further, the Department of Health discovered that the hospital has not responded to multiple reports from staff that equipment was not correctly counted after surgery. The director of the Department of Health, David R. Gifford, said there is a “troubling pattern of disregard for established policies that are designed to protect patient safety and prevent medical errors.”

The Providence Journal reported that, in addition to the fine, the CMS has asked the Department of Health to inspect all areas of the hospital and ensure that it is in compliance with CMS’s Conditions for Participation for Medicare. Licensing boards are also investigating a nurse and two doctors involved in the incident for possible disciplinary action.

Source: Rhode Island Hospital fined for drill-bit piece left in head, Neurosurgery error prompts state investigation of Rhode Island Hospital

Recent Posts

Categories

Categories

Archives

Archives

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed