A lawsuit we filed recently highlights the dangers of not obtaining a patient’s informed consent. There, after a small procedure had already proved successful in removing a cancerous tumor from the patient’s rectum, the surgeon convinced the patient to undergo an...
Sometimes doctors decide to place an IV line in the internal jugular (“IJ”) vein, which runs inside the neck—right next to the carotid artery. Especially when they decide not to use ultrasound guidance, medical providers sometimes miss the IJ, and insert the IV into...
The American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics (the Code) requires doctors to inform patients of medical error. This obligation not only protects the relationship between doctor and patient but also promotes patient health and safety. What Is...
Several factors, ranging from the time of year to the day of the week, can affect how well a patient does in the hospital. In this installment, we look at weekends and a phenomenon dubbed “the weekend effect.” What Is the Weekend Effect? Published studies...
In 1999, a study by the Institute of Medicine estimated that 44,000 to 98,000 Americans die every year from medical error. Later, in 2013, a study by Johns Hopkins patient safety experts put the number at more than 250,000 deaths per year. But, what causes medical...
A stroke usually comes from a blood clot in the brain. So how can a stroke lead to an amputated leg? Sadly, it’s not that difficult. One of two primary treatments for stroke is a thrombectomy. A physician punctures an artery — often the femoral artery in the...
