Medical Malpractice

Surgeon Performed Unnecessary Operations, Took Kickbacks

Nearly 30 patients in California have sued neurosurgeon Dr. Aria Sabit for medical malpractice; alleging he subjected them to needless spinal surgeries using implants supplied by a company from which he profited. Dr. Sabit has already settled six of the cases out of court for undisclosed amounts. In the latest suit, an elderly patient...

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Medical Mistake Leads to Infant Death

           The birth of a baby should be a joyous occasion. However, sometimes things do not go as planned. Each pregnancy has its own challenges, such as health risks and the possibility of complications. Ideally, doctors and nurses should provide competent care, addressing issues as they arise and bringing the baby...

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Ohio Bill Gives Doctors More Immunities

Tort reform is alive and well in Ohio. Amid the rancor surrounding the federal government shutdown, a reprehensible bill has been proposed in the Ohio House of Representatives. If passed, House Bill 276 would grant even more immunities to health care providers. Among other provisions, the bill states that if a physician admits he...

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Medical Errors Third-Leading Cause of Death

A recent study indicates that hospital patients die of avoidable medical errors far more frequently than was previously thought – as many as 400,000 deaths a year. The problem of medical errors in the United States has escalated in recent years, up dramatically from 98,000 deaths in 1999. The new study, published in the...

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Differences Between Criminal Cases and Civil Trials

Criminal and civil cases differ in many ways. As the table at the bottom of this page illustrates, the legal proceedings can vary widely. Procedural rules affect everything from the parties involved to the types of evidence which may be admitted. Generally, because a defendant faces far greater consequences in a criminal trial, the...

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Children’s Medical Devices May Pose Safety Issues

When it comes to medical devices, one size does not fit all. Parents and other caregivers who experience problems with pediatric medical devices are being encouraged to report any issues with the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA wants this information to help them assess any safety issues and conduct any needed follow-up investigations....

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Decongestants May Cause Birth Defects

A new study reveals that using over-the-counter decongestants during pregnancy may increase the risk of a child being born with birth defects. Scientists at the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University interviewed nearly 20,000 mothers to find out what drugs they had taken while they were pregnant. What they found was a link between...

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22 Infected in Deadly Ohio Legionnaires’ Outbreak

UPDATE: Total count of infected persons is now 27. A retirement community in Reynoldsburg, Ohio is the center of the state’s worst Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in decades, infecting 22 27 people and leaving two dead. Officials from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working with the Ohio Department of Health and local...

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What is off-label drug use?

In the United States before a drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it must undergo extensive testing. These tests, known as clinical trials, are used to determine if a drug safely works the way it is expected, to treat a specific medical condition. Once the FDA is satisfied that the...

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Hepatitis C testing for all Baby Boomers

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has announced that people born between 1945 and 1965 should be tested to see if they are infected with Hepatitis C. While symptoms may take years to develop, Hepatitis C may cause severe damage to the liver; including scarring, liver failure, and liver cancer. According to The New...

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