The welcoming of a newborn into the world should be a joyous occasion, but some families are affected by acts of medical malpractice during labor that can lead to serious consequences. Fetal distress is one example of a grave medical condition that doctors must quickly recognize and treat to prevent additional complications. If you feel that your child was affected by birth injuries because of a doctor’s negligence, consider speaking with a legal advocate about your family’s rights.

Fetal Distress
Fetal distress is a broad term that means the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen. Fetal distress usually develops during labor, but may also arise during the third trimester. Babies who are in distress will have a weak heartbeat and reduced movement, as evidenced by a reduced kick count.

Causes
There are many factors that can contribute to fetal distress, including anemia and high blood pressure of the mother. Fetal infections, umbilical cord compression, and placental abruption are other possible causes. Expecting mothers of multiples and those who develop gestational diabetes are at an increased risk. Fetal distress is also associated with oligohydramnios, which refers to a lower level of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.

Treatments
Fetal distress is a serious health risk that requires prompt medical intervention. If the doctor fails to diagnose and treat fetal distress in a timely manner, the baby is at a higher risk of developing brain injuries, including brain damage that can cause cerebral palsy or mental retardation. Doctors who do detect fetal distress can treat it by administering supplemental oxygen and intravenous fluids to the mother. It’s also treatable with amnioinfusion, which involves introducing fluid directly into the amniotic cavity to free a compressed umbilical cord. If these treatments do not work, the doctor must perform an emergency C-section.

If your baby has been affected by birth injuries in the Long Island, New York area, you can find the legal solutions you’re looking for at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC. We are a team of medical negligence lawyers who have made it our life’s work to advocate on behalf of families affected by medical malpractice. You can reach us at (516) 684-2900 to request a no-charge case review.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 600 women die each year because of complications during pregnancy and delivery, and approximately half of those deaths are preventable. Factors such as unhealthy lifestyle choices and medical malpractice during prenatal care or during delivery can all put a mother’s life at risk. There are several steps that can reduce the tragedy of maternal death:

Healthier Lifestyle
During pregnancy, women should work closely with their providers to stay as healthy as possible. Smoking and drinking during pregnancy not only endangers the health of the baby but also puts the mother at greater risk for complications. Mothers should also see their doctors regularly, manage their pregnancy weight gain, and follow all recommendations of their doctors for bed rest and diet. Because having a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy can reduce the risks of pregnancy complications and maternal mortality, women should make efforts to maintain a healthy weight, manage chronic medical conditions, and quit smoking.

Improved Prenatal Care
Poor prenatal care contributes to maternal death in a number of ways. In some cases, women may not have access to the maternal care they need, which means that dangerous conditions like preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes can occur unchecked. In other instances, medical mistakes in prenatal care can lead to complications that put a mother’s life in danger. And, medical mistakes can lead to complications that put the unborn child’s life in danger

Changes in the Delivery Room
Errors in the delivery room can also lead to maternal death as well as many types of birth injuries. Mistakes in monitoring, failure to act quickly to address complications, such as bleeding, improper use of anesthesia, and failure to respond to infections are all examples of medical malpractice that could result in maternal fatalities.

If you have been touched by the tragedy of a maternal death and believe that a medical error could be the cause, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to speak to a medical malpractice attorney in Long Island, New York. Our experienced attorneys can evaluate the situation and help you decide what next steps to take. Contact us today at (516) 684-2900 to get started.

Managing your medical records is important not only to ensure your doctors have the information they need to provide you with proper care but also so that you can keep track of your medical history and the treatments being provided to you. Being an informed medical care consumer can save your life! You can manage your records both on and offline every time you see a provider.

Start with creating a list of your current medications and updating it every time your dose is changed or you stop and start a medicine. A log of your symptoms will help you have more productive doctor appointments and will ensure you have proof of when symptoms began. Keep visit summaries from your physician visits and make your own notes about each appointment. Research not only the doctors you are seeing, but also the hospitals they are affiliated with, to ensure that you are seeing the best health care providers for your particular conditions. There are many official websites maintained by US state departments of health which give background informaton on doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.

The attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC can help to assess whether the medical care you received departed from the appropriate standards of care. If you believe you the care you received was not proper call us at (516) 684-2900.

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.

In some cases, a birth trauma has its roots in an incident that happens during labor, but in other instances, medical negligence outside of the delivery room is to blame. Prenatal care is essential for your baby’s health and can also contribute to an easier labor and delivery. When medical negligence occurs during prenatal care, birth injuries could be the result.

Without proper prenatal care, doctors may not diagnose infections in the mother that can cause birth injuries in babies. They may also fail to diagnose conditions that require additional precautions to be taken in the delivery room, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.

If you’re concerned that poor prenatal care resulted in an injury to your child, consult with a medical malpractice lawyer at Pegalis and Erickson. Make an appointment to review your case with an experienced malpractice and birth injury lawyer on Long Island, New York today by calling (516) 684-2900.

What Are the Signs of a Delayed C-Section?
During the labor and delivery process, both mother and baby should be closely monitored at all times for signs of distress. Failing to do so can lead to serious complications, including delays in necessary C-section procedures. When a C-section is delayed, the risk of injury to mother and baby alike can increase. If you are concerned that a delayed C-section harmed you or your baby, consult a medical malpractice lawyer. An experience birth injury lawyer can evaluate your case and determine if there is evidence of medical negligence. Here are some signs that a C-section was not performed as quickly as it should have been.

Cerebral Palsy
When a C-section is not performed as soon as a doctor determines it is medically necessary, the baby is at risk of not receiving adequate levels of oxygen. As a result, cerebral palsy may occur. Cerebral palsy can cause a lifetime of complications for affected people, including speech problems and mobility issues. The expense of caring for a child with cerebral palsy is extremely high, so a medical malpractice lawyer may be able to help you get compensation to help cover some of these costs if a birth injury is to blame.

Intellectual Disabilities
The lack of oxygen caused by delayed C-sections isn’t only linked to cerebral palsy. Other kinds of brain damage can occur that can lead to intellectual disabilities, including below-average IQ and developmental delays. These disabilities can directly impact a child’s ability to care for him or herself or become financially self-sufficient in the future.

Medical malpractice in the delivery room can have far-reaching consequences. Pegalis and Erickson, LLC is here to help families get the compensation they deserve when life-changing birth injuries occur. Talk to a birth injury lawyer on Long Island, New York today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Misdiagnosis is a type of medical malpractice that occurs when a physician’s negligence leads to an incorrect diagnosis or delayed diagnosis that causes harm to the patient. It is important to note that misdiagnosis malpractice involves more than simply incorrectly diagnosing or delaying the diagnosis of a condition. To demonstrate malpractice, your attorney must prove medical negligence has occurred.

There are three main factors in proving misdiagnosis medical malpractice. The first is to prove that a doctor-patient relationship actually existed. The second is proving that the doctor was negligent in the misdiagnosis because he or she did not provide reasonable and competent care. Lastly, your medical malpractice lawyer must show that this negligence caused harm. Errors can occur even when doctors provide reasonable and competent care, so demonstrating that the care provided was not competent is a crucial part of the case.

Does your misdiagnosis meet the criteria for medical malpractice? Call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900 to discuss your case with a medical negligence lawyer serving Long Island and determine if you are eligible to seek compensation.

A medical mistake can have tragic consequences, including birth injuries that can result in permanent disability. But far too often, parents are told that birth injuries or maternal injuries were inevitable; that there was simply nothing the doctors could have done. If you, your partner, or your child may have been affected by medical malpractice, you do have the right to know what happened.

The hospital staff won’t always be forthcoming with the facts, which is why families might turn to a medical negligence lawyer for help. A lawyer can request medical records and review the case, perhaps with the help of a medical consultant. A lawyer can also help families affected by medical mistakes seek compensation for their loved ones’ injuries.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we have devoted our lives to defending the legal rights of families who have been affected by medical malpractice in Long Island, New York and beyond. We firmly believe that families have the right to know what has happened when a loved one is affected by medical negligence. If you’re looking for answers about possible medical malpractice, call us today at (516) 684-2900.

Hospital-acquired infections are a common cause of compromised health, hospital re-admittance, and even death. These complications may sometimes be said to constitute medical malpractice and may lead to a wrongful death lawsuit. Yet, the most basic of hygiene activities can significantly curb the spread of infections in healthcare facilities. By simply washing their hands at the necessary times, healthcare providers and hospital technicians can help protect their patients.

Handwashing and antiseptic use is necessary when hospital staff is in high-risk areas or handling high-risk patients. High-risk areas include burn units, trauma care centers, and oncology units. Healthcare providers are expected to thoroughly cleanse the hands before and after touching wounds, before initiating invasive procedures, after caring for an infectious patient, and after touching any object that may be contaminated.

Patients who may have been wronged by acts of medical malpractice are invited to call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900. We are a medical malpractice firm located in Long Island, New York.