Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, medical negligence lawyers recommend that women take a few minutes to familiarize themselves with the basics of breast health. For example, you could talk to your doctor about the mammography guidelines that may apply to you. Mammograms are crucial because a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer will cause delays in treatment, and can cause a lesser chance of a cure. Some women may even wish to get a second opinion of their mammogram results if they suspect that the mammogram was not read properly. Women should also discuss breast sonograms in addition to mammograms if they have dense breasts or a palpable lump.

When medical malpractice leads to a delayed breast cancer diagnosis, women have a higher risk of dying from the disease. Any delays in treatment may give the cancer time to spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body, which makes it more difficult to successfully treat.

For more than 40 years, the medical negligence team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC has been defending the legal rights of patients. Call our malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 to explore your legal rights and options.

You may have already heard that medication errors, emergency room errors, and birth injuries are examples of medical malpractice. But did you know that a patient can also acquire an infectious disease because of medical malpractice? Hospitals are breeding grounds for germs. And while you might think that healthcare providers and support staff members would wash their hands and take other precautions to prevent the spread of germs, some providers fail to follow these protocols.

Since cases involving infectious disease and medical negligence can be quite complex, it’s advisable to turn to a medical malpractice lawyer for guidance. Medical malpractice lawyers can handle cases involving serious complications from post-operative infections, failure to sterilize surgical instruments properly, and failure to follow proper protocols to maintain a sterile environment during surgery. Your lawyer can also handle cases involving failure to diagnose an infection or failure to treat an infection.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, these are just a few examples of the types of medical malpractice cases our lawyers have litigated. Call our malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 if you would like to discuss your case in confidence with a caring member of our legal team.

Did you know that about one-fourth of all hospitalized patients may suffer from a preventable medical error? These can include medication errors, surgical mistakes, and hospital-acquired infections. By learning about the potential for medical malpractice, patients can better protect themselves and family members can serve as effective advocates for their loved ones.

Consult Your Primary Care Physician

Hospitalizations aren’t always planned. However, if your situation isn’t an emergency, it’s a good idea to consult your primary care doctor before you check into the hospital. Ask your doctor whether you’ll need to change your medication regimen, bring medications with you to the hospital, change your diet, or have pre-admission tests. You can also ask him or her about the tests and procedures you can expect once you’re in the hospital.

Schedule Surgeries Carefully

Many people prefer to schedule surgeries for the weekend, since this gives them some extra time to recover before they take time off work the next week. However, hospital staffing is generally unfavorable on the weekends. If you check into the hospital on a Friday, you may not be as carefully monitored after the procedure. If possible, try to schedule your surgery for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Recognize Possible Medical Negligence

Since it can be difficult to recognize medical malpractice, it’s a good idea to ask questions if you’re ever unsure of something. You could ask if you can get a second opinion for your diagnosis or imaging study interpretation. You can ask to double-check the names and dosages of all medications before a nurse administers them to you. And never hesitate to ask nurses or other providers to wash their hands when they enter your hospital room. Hospital-acquired infections are among the most common problems that hospitalized patients encounter.

If you or a loved one does sustain a health problem as a possible result of medical negligence, the patient advocates at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are here to help. We are a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York that provides compassionate and effective legal services for patients and their families. Call us at (516) 684-2900 if you would like to arrange a meeting with a medical malpractice lawyer.

You might think that cancer, heart disease, and similar illnesses would completely dominant the top five leading causes of death in the U.S. And indeed, far too many people die of these serious diseases each year. However, about 440,000 Americans die each year of problems that are entirely preventable, making hospital errors the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Hospital errors, or medical malpractice, can occur for many reasons, such as improperly trained staff, poor communication among staff members, and failure to adhere to established patient safety protocols.

One of the most common hospital-acquired conditions is infections. Physicians and other healthcare providers should carefully follow sterilization protocols to prevent the spread of germs from patient to patient. Unfortunately, these protocols aren’t always followed. According to the 2011 Health Grades Hospital Quality in America Study estimated 722,000 patients contracted an infection during hospital care in the U.S. The CDC recently estimated that 1 in 25 patients end up with hospital-acquired infections. Other forms of medical malpractice can include surgical errors, which may include anesthesia errors or unintended injury to nerves or blood vessels. Medication errors, birth injuries, and anesthesia errors can also cause patient death.

You can protect yourself and your loved ones by becoming informed of your legal rights. Contact Pegalis & Erickson, a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York, at (516) 684-2900 or visit us online to learn more about medical malpractice.

When you turn to Pegalis & Erickson because you’ve suffered from medical malpractice or you’ve lost a loved one due to wrongful death, you may feel comforted knowing that our medical negligence lawyers take the time to truly understand your situation and concerns. Watch this video to hear from Steven Pegalis about the personalized approach he takes with each client.

Mr. Pegalis is keenly aware that a medical malpractice case is about much more than just the factual allegations; it involves, as he puts it, real people who need help with significant problems. It’s his mission to ensure that these individuals get the help that they need. In this video, you’ll also hear from some of the people who know Mr. Pegalis. They discuss his remarkable commitment to his clients and passion for his cases.

You can schedule a consultation at Pegalis & Erickson by calling (516) 684-2900. Our personal injury lawyers near Long Island, New York focus on helping victims of medical negligence obtain compensation for their injuries.

So many problems can occur during labor and delivery, often as a result of medical malpractice. If your child was diagnosed with a birth injury, you can work with a medical malpractice attorney to assess the possibility that medical negligence caused the health problem. Sometimes, a medical malpractice lawyer may file a lawsuit on the basis of negligent prenatal care. For example, a physician may have failed to diagnose the mother with contagious disease, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, anemia, or other medical condition that can affect the health of the fetus.

Negligence also frequently occurs during labor and delivery. For example, the healthcare team may fail to properly monitor the fetal heart rate or they may fail to respond appropriately to signs of fetal distress. This may lead to a delay in ordering an emergency C-section when one is needed. Other birth injuries occur because the obstetrician failed to properly use instruments such as vacuum extractors or forceps, which can cause the child to develop serious disabilities.

Families of children who have been diagnosed with birth injuries can turn to Pegalis & Erickson for legal guidance. To schedule an appointment with a birth injury lawyer in Long Island, New York, call (516) 684-2900.