• Why Cerebral Palsy is Considered a Birth Injury

    Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that hinders body movement and muscle coordination. It is most often caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain or body during labor or childbirth and can be a result of medical malpractice. Cerebral palsy is considered a birth injury because it is often linked the following preventable problems:

    Untreated Health Issues in the Mother
    The mother’s health is essential to the wellbeing of the child. If doctors fail to detect and treat health problems such as infections and diabetes in the mother during pregnancy, it can have devastating effects on the child.

    Inadequate Monitoring of Fetal Condition
    Just as the mother needs to be monitored during pregnancy and childbirth, the baby does as well. If doctors neglect to monitor the child’s heartbeat or detect a prolapsed umbilical cord, there is a chance for preventable brain trauma to occur.

    Failure to Perform Necessary Procedures
    In some cases the baby is too large to safely pass through the birth canal, requiring a cesarean section. If the doctor delays or fails to perform a medically necessary cesarean section, the child can experience irreversible brain damage.

    If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy you can contact a cerebral palsy lawyer in Long Island to discuss the possibility of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Please contact Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 or online to schedule a consultation.

  • A Closer Look at the T-Zone

    You may not have heard of it, but the T-Zone plays a central role in your ability to fight infection. When you touch an area in the T-Zone, the bacteria on your hands is easily transferred and can trigger an infection. The T-Zone is so important that some experts are pushing for medical personnel to be trained in avoiding the T-Zone to reduce their chances of contracting an infection and passing it along to patients.

    The T-Zone consists of the eyes, nose, and mouth. These areas contain membranes that are easily breached by bacteria and they are often the gateway for infection. By not touching these areas with dirty hands, you can reduce the risk of infection. Avoiding the T-Zone can be especially important to medical workers, who have high levels of exposure to infectious bacteria.

    Pegalis & Erickson, LLC represents people with a variety of medical negligence claims from hospital-acquired infections to birth injuries. If you need help with medical malpractice on Long Island, please call (516) 684-2900.

  • Your Legal Rights After a Health Crisis

    When someone experiences a health crisis or medical injury, they often do not consider the possibility of medical malpractice at the time. No one wants to imagine the worst case scenario when you or loved one experiences an unanticipated outcome after a medical treatment, but it is important to know that time is of the essence. The problem is that if you suffer a life-altering health injury as a result of medical errors, there is a limited time to recover for the financial burdens, and physical pain and suffering you are experiencing. As months pass, the statute of limitations– that is, the period of time one has to file a claim to prove that medical negligence occurred—may run out, and families are left in difficult, and permanent debilitating situations, without being able to pursue justice and seek appropriate compensation. The time limits for filing a claim—statutes of limitations—are decided by each state and vary greatly by incident.

    In New York, there are different time limits for when a lawsuit must be filed, based upon the type of health problem, and the entity that caused the avoidable medical error. And, lawsuit time limits are different on if the patient died or is living, and what type of health care provider it was: an individual, a government employee, a private hospital, a municipal hospital, or a state-run facility. It is important to know that once the statute of limitations has expired, no matter how serious the medical injury, a lawsuit cannot be brought. Experienced medical negligence New York-based attorneys can consult with you on your particular situation to access and research if your injury occurred within the state time limit, and if medical treatment truly did not follow the standard of care that the medical profession has set.

    It is important to consult legal counsel as soon as possible so that your rights are protected.

    At Pegalis & Erickson, we focus on helping those who experience medical errors to investigate if seeking compensation is possible. Please give us a call at (516) 684-2900 or visit our website to learn how we can help.

  • Lung Cancer Awareness Month

    Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, and its prevalence deserves an overview in observance of Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

    Early Detection
    Besides prevention, early detection is best way to identify effective treatment. The sooner you learn you have cancer and begin treatment, the higher your chance of recovery. Lung cancer screening can detect the disease before symptoms start. If a doctor fails to recommend screening or fails to correctly interpret testing which is performed, your chances of survival could greatly diminish. Sometimes lung cancer is misdiagnosed as pneumonia or other benign lung infections.

    Late or Misdiagnosis
    Unfortunately, lung cancer is often diagnosed too late or incorrectly. Both late diagnosis and misdiagnosis keep you from getting the treatment you need when you need it. Ways to diagnose lung cancer include bronchoscopy, biopsy, CT scan, PET scan, MRI, and bone scan. With the many options available, diagnoses should come in a timely manner.

    Mistreatment
    There are numerous forms of treatment for lung cancer, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Most patients receive a combination of treatments, which requires a team of several doctors to coordinate plans and communicate effectively. If doctors fail to coordinate treatments, you may not receive the proper care for your diagnosis.

    If you or someone you know is concerned they experienced a medical error relating to lung cancer diagnosis or treatment, or other health care errors, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC online or call us at (516) 684-2900. We will be happy to schedule a one-on-one consult in Long Island, New York.