Retained surgical items (RSIs) are items that a surgeon leaves inside a patient’s body after surgery. Examples include surgical sponges, needles and surgical instruments like drains, clamps and retractors. Leaving foreign objects in the body is harmful. It can lead to...
Anesthetists do more than just put you to sleep during an operation. They also monitor your vital signs, respond to emergencies and collaborate with the surgical team to ensure everything goes smoothly. It’s a high-stakes job that demands precision. A single mishap...
The intravenous administration of drugs is effective and relatively rapid. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen even when medical professionals administer medications to patients. In some cases, a nurse, phlebotomist or other professional attempting to inject medication...
Accurate and timely diagnosis is the foundation of effective medical care. When a healthcare provider overlooks, delays or misinterprets symptoms, it can prevent patients from receiving the treatment they urgently need. This failure to diagnose can lead to serious and...
Losing someone you love is hard enough. But when their death happens during an event they were not even part of, the pain feels even more unfair. Police chases are high-speed pursuits and can put innocent people at risk. Unfortunately, when tragedy strikes, you are...
Recently, a New Jersey doctor who had worked for AtlantiCare had his medical license reinstated – with significant restrictions. His license was suspended last year due to a number of errors he made when he panicked during surgeries, including C-sections, and other...
Freestanding surgical centers, which are sometimes referred to as ambulatory surgical centers, offer an alternative to having to be inpatient for a surgery. These centers are designed for people who don’t need an overnight stay after their procedure is done. They’re...
When someone receives a diagnosis of a rare cancer—often after months or even years of unexplained symptoms—it’s natural to wonder: Should this have been caught earlier? And if so, is it medical malpractice? These complex, emotionally charged questions sit at the...
Patients who are having a medical procedure may hear the healthcare team say they’re taking a time out, which may seem counterintuitive in these situations. Taking a time out isn’t something negative. Instead, it’s a safety pause that’s taken right before a procedure...
A woman who goes into labor assumes that the process will happen without any major issues. Once the woman meets the labor requirements for a delivery in the hospital, she’ll go into the labor unit for an evaluation. She may not leave that unit until after the baby is...