March 4, 2010

Prescription Error Made by Amateur Pharmacy Technician Kills Mother of Three

The Florida Appeals Court upheld an almost 26 million dollar verdict against a Walgreens Pharmacy after a teenage pharmacy technician improperly filled a prescription and killed a mother of three. The pharmacy technician typed in “ten milligrams” on the mother’s prescription when she should have typed one milligram. This case draws attention to the very troubling fact that there is no national standard for the training of pharmacy technicians. ABC news points out that in many states pharmacy technicians are not even required to have high school diplomas. Shockingly “a lot of the people working in the pharmacy have about the same level of training as someone that would be working in fast food," commented a lawyer who handles cases involving prescription errors. In addition, pharmacy technicians are overworked and are not closely supervised by licensed pharmacists.

Recently, Susan Novosad, a medical malpractice attorney at Levin and Perconti, settled a case against a Chicago-area pharmacy. This medical malpractice and negligence case was brought by the son of an 86-year-old man who died as a result of poor direction and instructions with regard to writing, filling and refilling his medication prescription. The mistakes made by the pharmacy were inexcusable and caused Susan’s client to lose his father. Susan hopes to warn others against the dangers of dosing errors in medication administration. If pharmacies do not change their ways, they will continue to kill victims because of negligence.

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Posted In: Drug and Pharmacy Errors, Pharmaceuticals, Prescription Error, Professional Malpractice

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August 7, 2009

Doctor Had Everyone Fooled

A Yale graduate, John Christian Gunn had everyone fooled. He allegedly had a string of medical errors since 2005. Another physician tried to warn the hospital of Gunn’s negligence in a letter to them stating that Gunn was a “danger to patients.” To date, a medical malpractice trial has been scheduled against Gunn’s employer for one of his last operations that left his patient dead. Gunn has already settled with this patient’s family. The latest on Gunn is that he was captured after robbing a bank with an air gun and has been sentenced to 51 months in prison.

Read more about the fallen physician here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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July 21, 2009

Doctor Disciplined Over Chastising Patient

A Chicago doctor was fined $500 after being accused of chastising a woman in labor with her fifth child and refusing to give her pain medication. According to the medical malpractice civil lawsuit filed by the woman, the doctor failed to give her pain medication because he was angry with her for not calling him first. The doctor even allegedly told a nurse that the woman deserved the pain for not calling ahead. Rush University of Chicago suspended the doctor after reviewing the allegations.

Read more about the disciplined Chicago doctor here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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May 10, 2009

Daughter Commits Suicide in Doctor Care

A young girl in a hospital for mental illnesses took her life while on suicide watch. According to her family, she was supposed to be on suicide watch where she would be checked every five minutes. The girl killed herself, a clear case of medical negligence according to investigators. The medical staff did not come in five minute increments to check on her. The counselors were fired. The family is now filing a medical malpractice suit against the hospital.

Read more about this outrageous medical malpractice case here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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April 19, 2009

Doctor Sleeps with Patient and Pays Big

A doctor accused of sleeping with his patient must pay $416,500 in damages according to a recent jury ruling. The woman filed a medical malpractice suit against the doctor for allegedly violating his duty of care “by engaging in the sexual relationship while treating her for depression,” according to the article. The woman sought the doctor’s medical expertise for her depression and counseling after her daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Read more about the medical malpractice suit here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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March 25, 2009

A Surgeon Accuses His Attorney for Fleeing the Country

A surgeon fled the country pursuant to his attorney’s advice in order to not be easily prosecuted for a medical malpractice case, according to the doctor. The plastic surgeon was claimed to have performed surgery on a man left disfigured who was now filing a medical negligence case against him. The medical malpractice defense attorney claims the professional misconduct allegations are not true.

Read more about the malpractice attorney here.

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Posted In: Surgical Error, Professional Malpractice

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March 21, 2009

Health Care Reform May Involve Malpractice Reform

With health care reform being a major topic in the new Obama administration, advisors are realizing this reform may include medical malpractice reform as well. Senator Ron Wyden thinks capping medical malpractice claims is key to reforming health care. Trial lawyers will most likely put up a fight against reforming malpractice awards.

Read more about medical malpractice reform here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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February 21, 2009

Doctor Charged with Fraud and Endangerment

Indictments for fraud and reckless endangerment come two years after a doctor was allegedly found writing “excessive and/or medically unnecessary prescriptions”. According to the article, those prescriptions could have placed the patients in “imminent danger of death or target="_blank"serious bodily injury.” The doctor has since then retired.

Read more about the doctor’s allegations here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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February 17, 2009

Doctor Gives Up License

A doctor accused of molesting female patients during medical procedures was told to suspend practice and turn in his license, according to the news article. The cosmetic surgeon was charged with sexual battery by fraud, sexual battery, and rape by a foreign object. Most of the women complainants were under anesthesia when molested. The doctor had also been accused of medical negligence . That patient claimed the doctor never reviewed a cancerous cyst removed from the patient.

Read more about the doctor’s legal battles here.

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Posted In: Misdiagnosis, Professional Malpractice

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December 1, 2008

Abusive Behavior by Doctors May Lead to Critical Medical Problems

Recent studies suggest arrogant, abusive, and disruptive behavior by doctors in the workplace contributes to medical mistakes, preventable complications, and even death. One nurse testifies to a patient that could have suffered serious brain injury or death if she did not call an attending doctor at home due to an unruly on-call resident. Also, through surveys and testimony, nurses and residents have reported not questioning medical mistakes made by a doctor due to fear of the doctor’s anger.

For the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Brain Injury, Professional Malpractice

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November 14, 2008

Medical malpractice lawsuits filed against eye doctor

The eye doctor has been sued for medical malpractice at least 17 times during his career. He is now the subject of a class-action medical malpractice lawsuit filed by individuals who claim that the eye doctor falsely advertised laser vision corrective. Currently, he is not licensed to practice medicine.

For the full article.

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Posted In: Surgical Error, Professional Malpractice

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September 24, 2008

Ed McMahon Sues Hospital

Celebrity Ed McMahon is suing a hospital in Los Angeles for $1 million on the grounds of negligence and elder abuse. The 85-year-old entertainer is accusing the hospital through a medical malpractice suit of fraud, battery, elder abuse, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation. Mr. McMahon claims that he did not receive adequate care upon entering the hospital for severe neck injury. The medical malpractice suit states that his neck injury led him being unable to work. McMahon claims that due to the hospital’s sub par care, he had to endure three traumatic surgeries. A judge determined that McMahon is able to request punitive damages, and gave him adequate time to do so. To read the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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August 25, 2008

Popular Pharmaceutical Botox Results in Personal Injuries and Product Liability Lawsuits

Personal injury lawsuits have resulted after many consumers claim they have been injured due to the use of a medical product known as botox. The company that produces the medical product, Allergan, claims that the medical product is safe and that the product liability and medical liability lawsuits are unfounded. The FDA and the U.S. Department of Justice have been continuously monitoring the makers of the product which some consumers claim to be a product that is negligently manufactured. As of now product liability and pharmaceutical liability lawsuits continue. It is possible that some doctors may also come under scrutiny for prescribing the pharmaceutical product. To read more about this popular wrinkle-free quick fix that has caused many lawsuits to be filed click here.

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Posted In: Cosmetic Surgery Errors, Pharmaceuticals, Professional Malpractice

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Medical Malpractice Settlement with Large Hospital after Failures to Sterilize Medical Equipment Were Revealed

A medical malpractice settlement has occurred after several injured patients sued a large hospital for medical malpractice and for negligence. Personal injury lawsuits have occurred after the patients were injured due to the hospital’s error in its failure to clean medical instruments used on patients. Additionally product liability lawsuits have occurred against the negligent companies who were contracted to clean and sterilize the medical equipment. To read more about this medical malpractice lawsuit regarding a failure to clean and failure to sterilize medical equipment click here.

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Posted In: Infections, Surgical Error, Verdicts and Settlements, Professional Malpractice

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August 21, 2008

Codeine In Breast Milk Linked to Infant Deaths

A class action lawsuit has been launched for personal injuries and wrongful deaths sustained by many families against the makers of Tylenol 3, a product which contains codeine. Mothers who are breast feeding their children and taking the drug codeine may be at a previously unknown risk for placing their infants at harm. The product liability lawsuit claims that the pharmaceutical drug can cause personal injuries to infants including infant deaths because when taken by some woman the drug is naturally converted from codeine to morphine that is passed along to their infant via breast milk. Many doctors who recommend the drug after hearing these risks may be liable to their patients for medical malpractice. To read the full story click here.

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Posted In: Drug and Pharmacy Errors, Current Issues, Pharmaceuticals, Product Liability, Professional Malpractice

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July 21, 2008

Physician Performing Unnecessary Surgeries

Patients and their families are suing a physician for medical malpractice alleging that the cardiologist performed unnecessary cardiac catheterization and stent placement surgeries. The thirteen patients had surgeries over five years where the doctor dramatically overstated the results of stress tests and diagnostic images. Some of these patients were even convinced to undergo multiple catheterizations and/or stents. A federal investigation is underway examining these activities.

For more information, click here:

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Posted In: Professional Malpractice

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July 10, 2008

Hospital Dosing Error Causes 17 Babies to Receive an Overdose of Heparin

Medical malpractice lawsuits are sure to arise after a Texas hospital is responsible for overdosing babies with the blood thinner heparin. The heparin overdoses lead to at least 17 babies suffering injuries. The medication dosing error caused one of the babies to die. The other babies have sustained severe personal injuries due to the hospital’s negligence. This tragic story is reminiscent of the tragedy that occurred to Dennis Quaid’s twins who were also given improper heparin doses. To read more about the hospital’s pharmaceutical dosing error click here.

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Posted In: Drug and Pharmacy Errors, Medication Dosing Error, Professional Malpractice

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July 8, 2008

Medical Malpractice Chronicled in a New Book

Medical malpractice and medical negligence are documented in a new book "Truth, Lies, and the O.R.," which is written by two doctors. The book chronicles the frightening experiences that patients faced with a negligent doctor and with a negligent hospital may come across. The book helps to show patients how to choose an adequate physician or an adequate health care facility in order to prevent a misdiagnosis or to avoid coming across a negligent physician. To read more on this fascinating book that sheds light on a nationwide problem of medical negligence suits and medical malpractice lawsuits click here.

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Posted In: Misdiagnosis, Surgical Error, Useful Publications, Professional Malpractice

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July 2, 2008

Study Dispenses With Medical Malpractice Myths

A new study suggests that claims of medical malpractice verdicts in Illinois spiraling out of control are greatly exaggerated. The study analyzed Illinois jury verdicts and settlements since 2002 by county. In contrast to claims that juries are awarding Plaintiffs millions-upon-millions in frivolous lawsuits, the study concluded that Plaintiffs prevail at trial in only about 1 out of 3 cases, with median verdicts at about $1 Million. The same holds true for settlements with most offers being characterized as de minimis especially when factoring in the high costs associated with a medical malpractice and negligence case. This study also dispensed with the myth that a medical malpractice case in Illinois could only succeed in Cook County. Statistically, there appears to be little difference in either the success rates or size of the verdicts when comparing Cook County to the rest of Illinois. Altogether, the study shows that criticisms of medical malpractice claims in Illinois are greatly exaggerated.

For the full study, click here:

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Posted In: Tort Reform, Verdicts and Settlements, Professional Malpractice

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July 1, 2008

Going Abroad for Substandard Care

A trend is emerging where patients in need of medical care are going abroad for surgeries. This trend is in response to rising health care costs in the U.S., a function of insurance companies increasing rates to maximize profits. However, there are numerous risks associated with major medical procedures abroad. Initially, the level of care may not be the same given different licensing requirements and regulations. Further, patients may be exposed to substandard protections against infection and the spread of disease. The American Medical Association has expressed concern over the standard of care in other countries and is not yet convinced that the purported benefits outweigh the costs. For patients that do seek care outside the U.S., it is important to see a U.S. physician for a follow-up upon reentry. These patients must also keep in mind that surgery and travel often do not mix.

For more information, click here:

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Posted In: Infections, Current Issues, Professional Malpractice

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Disclaimer

The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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