Each June, health advocates across the country celebrate Men’s Health Month. This awareness month is intended to empower men to become effective self-advocates. Men—and women—often trust the opinions and advice of their doctors without question. Trust may be a good quality in certain situations, but when it comes to healthcare, raising questions and seeking second opinions can be essential for preventing the consequences of medical malpractice.

Schedule a wellness exam.
Men tend to not see the doctor when they’re healthy (or even when they’re sick). But preventive wellness is a cornerstone of good health, and wellness exams are an important part of that. If it’s been a while since you saw your doctor, make an appointment right away for an annual exam. Your physician will assess your overall health, look for warning signs of medical problems, and counsel you about your lifestyle.

Know your risk factors.
During your wellness exam, you’ll be asked lots of questions about your personal and family medical history. This information helps your doctor assess your risk factors of problems like heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, not all doctors will take the time to tell you what your medical history reveals. Take the initiative to ask about the problems you may be at risk of developing. Your risk factors will also be based on your typical diet, level of activity, and occupation.

Get screened. Each wellness exam includes a check of your weight, pulse, and blood pressure, but you may need additional health screenings. Don’t assume that your doctor will let you know when it’s time for a cholesterol test, skin cancer screening, colonoscopy, or diabetes test. Be a proactive self-advocate by asking your doctor if you could benefit from having any health screenings, based on your age and other risk factors.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is a medical malpractice law firm on Long Island, New York. Our medical malpractice attorneys have been providing effective legal advocacy services for our clients for more than 40 years. If you have concerns that you may have been affected by medical malpractice, please don’t hesitate to call us at (516) 684-2900.

Birth injuries can have lifelong consequences for parents and kids alike. Although some birth injuries are not preventable and some are caused by medical malpractice, it is possible to take steps to reduce your child’s risk of experiencing this kind of injury. If your child is injured during birth and you suspect that medical negligence played a role, contact a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case. During your pregnancy, take these steps to reduce the chance of birth injuries.

Get Regular Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is essential for a healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. During your checkups, your doctor can ensure your pregnancy is proceeding as expected and identify any signs of complications that could interfere with a healthy delivery. For instance, if you are diagnosed with preeclampsia, then your doctor will provide treatment to protect you and your baby from the potential complications of that condition. If your doctor fails to identify a potential complication such as gestational diabetes or elevated blood pressure, and provide proper treatment to void a birth injury, contact a medical malpractice attorney to see if the mistake could be classified as medical malpractice.

Have Screening Tests
There is a range of screening tests that can be used during pregnancy to determine if you and your baby are progressing towards a healthy delivery. Attend all of your recommended ultrasound appointments and have any medical tests requested by your doctor. If your doctor diagnoses developmental problems with your baby during an ultrasound, determines that your baby is not in a safe position for birth, or diagnoses a medical problem through another kind of testing, he or she can take precautions during the delivery process. If you doctor doesn’t diagnose a problem that should have been clear from these diagnostic procedures and your child later experiences a birth injury, then medical negligence could be to blame.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Some lifestyle choices you make during pregnancy, such as smoking or gaining more weight than is recommended, could increase your child’s chance of having a birth injury. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations so you can have the best chance of a healthy delivery.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we understand how confusing and stressful life can be in the aftermath of a birth injury. Our medical malpractice lawyers are here to help you decide what steps to take to protect your child’s future. To find out more, please call (516) 684-2900.

Medical malpractice lawyers know all too well the serious consequences of poor sanitation in hospitals. In fact, hospital-acquired infections are a leading cause of re-admittance to hospitals. Some of those infections are spread with improperly cleaned medical equipment that is reused from one patient to the next. Hospitals are expected to follow strict sterilization procedures as determined by the manufacturer, but sometimes surgical instruments simply aren’t cleaned as effectively as they ought to be.

In some cases, the hospital might not be the only entity responsible for a patient’s infection. If the hospital did follow sterilization protocols, the responsibility may lie with the manufacturer. Some medical instruments could be found to be defective in design if there are so many complex components that the sterilization guidelines are ineffective.

If you feel that a hospital-acquired infection may be attributable to medical malpractice, you’re invited to connect with the team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900. At our malpractice law firm on Long Island, New York, our experienced medical negligence lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case.

Patients place considerable trust in their doctors, specialists, and nurses. Although healthcare providers are highly trained and the medical industry is tightly regulated, countless medical mistakes occur every year. Medical malpractice lawyers are dedicated individuals who seek to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for their actions. However, the decision to take legal action against a doctor should not be taken lightly. If you’re a patient who has been harmed, you can count on your medical malpractice attorney to provide the sound legal guidance you need to make a decision.

Getting a Second Opinion
Sometimes, medical treatments simply don’t work as well as a patient hopes they will. A poor health outcome doesn’t automatically mean that the doctor was negligent, but it is a good idea to be a proactive patient by seeking a second opinion from another medical provider. Be sure to have your medical records transferred to the second provider’s office. If you have any test results or imaging scans, bring those with you to your appointment. Plan to ask plenty of questions and take notes about whether the diagnosis you originally received might have been inaccurate or whether the treatment was inappropriate.

Establishing the Elements of Medical Malpractice
If you have suffered a harmful, unanticipated outcome after medical treatment, it may be time to consult a lawyer about possible legal action. Your attorney will review your case, including your medical records, to determine if all of the elements of medical malpractice are present. These elements are:

• A doctor-patient relationship existed.
• Your doctor gave you sub-standard care.
• The sub-standard care caused your injuries.
• You sustained damages because of the doctor’s negligence.

Understanding the Legal Proceedings
If your lawyer finds that your case has the basis for a lawsuit, it’s time to decide if you wish to move forward. For many patients, legal action allows them to pay their medical bills and meet their future care needs. But it’s important to understand that not all lawsuits are successful. Hiring the right medical malpractice attorney can make all the difference.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we understand how difficult it can be to make legal decisions in the aftermath of a major injury or illness. Our medical malpractice attorneys on Long Island, New York offer effective legal advocacy services that can help your family move forward. Call us at (516) 684-2900 today to request a free case review.

Medical or health screenings are exams and tests that are performed on a routine basis despite the absence of symptoms. Routine health screenings are a cornerstone of preventive healthcare because they allow doctors to detect medical problems as early as possible—often before symptoms develop. With early detection, patients can receive prompt treatment to support their wellness. Your primary care physician should recommend health screenings that are appropriate for you, but many doctors fail to stay on top of patient records. Medical malpractice lawyers encourage their clients to be proactive patients.Take the initiative to ask your doctor if you’re due for any health screenings.

Some common health screenings include tests for blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose. Patients with high blood glucose levels often don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of this problem, and patients with high blood pressure or abnormal cholesterol levels won’t experience symptoms. There are also routine cancer screening tests such as mammography, colonscopy, PSA testing, and Paps Smears which should be discussed with your doctor. Despite the lack of symptoms, these conditions can cause serious, long-term problems and sometimes cause death if left untreated.

Diagnostic failures and medication errors are just two types of medical malpractice that patients may encounter. Call the malpractice law firm of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC on Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 for a free case review.

March is officially recognized as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It’s an ideal time to take a few minutes to learn more about this deadly disease and the importance of being a proactive patient. Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon or rectum, is life-threatening, but early detection can save lives. By becoming a proactive patient, you can reduce the risk that misdiagnosis and other forms of medical malpractice will adversely affect your wellness.

Signs and Symptoms
Like other forms of cancer, colorectal cancer often doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms until the disease has already reached an advanced stage. Therefore it is important for patients to be alert to unusual changes in their daily routine and to consult a doctor as needed. Some of the possible indicators of colorectal cancer include very narrow stools, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, diarrhea, or constipation. Some patients may experience the feeling that bowel movements are incomplete. Abdominal cramps, fatigue, weakness, and unexplained weight loss are other possible indicators.

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis
Based on a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and physical exam, a doctor should refer the patient for appropriate diagnostic tests to check for colorectal cancer. The gold standard of colorectal cancer diagnosis is the colonoscopy. Unfortunately, primary care physicians sometimes neglect to consider cancer as a possibility. They may instead diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), anal fissures, hemorrhoids, or diverticular disease.

Risks
When a patient isn’t referred for necessary medical tests for colorectal cancer and the accurate diagnosis is delayed, that patient may miss the opportunity for timely cancer care. Early treatment can make the difference between life and death for a colorectal cancer patient. When colorectal cancer is detected in its early stages, minimally invasive surgery may be all that is needed to treat it. As the cancer spreads, the patient requires more invasive and life-altering treatments that are less likely to result in a favorable prognosis.

A cancer misdiagnosis is devastating, but the medical negligence lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC can empower your family. If you suspect that medical malpractice may have caused a loved one’s wrongful death or delayed cancer diagnosis, please call us today at (516) 684-2900. Our malpractice law firm is in Long Island, New York, but is privileged to serve families beyond New York.

Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling more confused than you did when you arrived at the clinic? Many Americans experience this, and unfortunately, it can sometimes lead to health consequences such as taking medications improperly. Health literacy is a crucial skill. It refers to the ability to understand medical information and to use this knowledge to make informed decisions for one’s wellness. A health literate patient may also be more likely to recognize possible acts of medical negligence or improper care when they occur.

It isn’t necessary to go to medical school to understand basic health information. Try following a few simple tips, such as asking your doctor for clarification when there is something you don’t understand. Bring a list of questions to your appointment and take notes during it. If English is not your first language, consider bringing a family member or close friend who speaks English fluently.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is a team of experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Long Island, New York that is dedicated to advocating for the legal rights of families affected by birth injuries, wrongful death, and other acts of medical negligence. We invite patients to call our office at (516) 684-2900 and let us know how we can help.

Did you know that February is American Heart Month? This important public awareness campaign reminds families that heart disease can affect anyone. In fact, many people have serious heart diseases without realizing it. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a medical exam, consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor about your heart health. Remember that just like heart disease, medical negligence can also affect any patient. Don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion.

Screening Tests
When heart disease is left untreated, additional complications can develop. Not all types of heart disease cause noticeable symptoms. High blood pressure, for example, is known as the “silent killer.” This is why health screenings are so important. To support heart health, it’s recommended that patients keep track of their blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, and blood glucose levels.

Symptoms to Know
Not all cardiac events cause obvious symptoms like crushing chest pain. In fact, many patients suffer a heart attack without realizing it. A heart attack can be subtle, causing symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and abdominal pain. It’s important to be aware of any unusual changes in your health and to bring these issues to the attention of your doctor. Additionally, be mindful of potential problems in the ER. Some patients go to the ER complaining of symptoms of a heart attack and they are told that they are too young or otherwise don’t fit the profile of a typical heart attack patient. If an ER doctor refuses to evaluate you for a cardiac complaint despite your symptoms, seek a second opinion immediately.

The medical negligence lawyers of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC have successfully advocated on behalf of families affected by wrongful death due to the misdiagnosis of cardiac events. If your family has been affected by a wrongful death that occurred in the Long Island, New York area, you’re invited to call us at (516) 684-2900. We’re committed to putting the needs of patients first.

It’s a common misconception that cancer is the most common cause of death in the U.S. But actually, this dubious distinction belongs to heart disease. Both women and men are at risk of heart disease, but women have unique heart health issues. If you’re taking steps to be a more proactive patient to prevent medical malpractice from affecting you, take a few minutes to also learn about your unique heart disease risks.

Contributory Factors
There are some risk factors of heart disease that both men and women share, including abnormal cholesterol levels, obesity, and high blood pressure. Other risk factors disproportionately affect more women than men and certain factors are unique to women. For example, diabetics are at a higher risk of heart disease if they are women than if they are men. Women are also at a higher risk than men because of smoking, mental stress, and depression. One of the reasons why smoking is a more significant risk factor for women is because many women use hormonal birth control methods. Combining hormonal birth control with smoking is not recommended because of the increased risk of blood clots. Furthermore, women are uniquely affected by the hormonal changes of menopause and by pregnancy complications—both of which can increase the risk of heart disease.

Symptom Recognition
Men are more likely than women to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and to call 911 right away. This is because women aren’t as likely to experience obvious symptoms such as chest and arm pain. They are more likely to experience subtle symptoms like dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, back pain and heartburn-like abdominal pain. Additionally, women often attribute their symptoms to panic attacks, stress, or even hypochondria. This means that women aren’t as likely to seek emergency medical care.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is a malpractice law firm on Long Island, New York with a longstanding track record of successfully advocating on behalf of patients and their families. Our medical negligence lawyers support the efforts of patients to become proactive about their medical decisions. To request a one-on-one consult with a medical malpractice lawyer, call us today at (516) 684-2900.

Handwashing is a significant issue in medical malpractice cases. If your case involves an infection, one of the first things a medical malpractice lawyer will ask you is if you saw your doctor wash his or her hands. However, handwashing doesn’t just matter in the medical setting. Washing your hands routinely daily is one of the most effective ways you can prevent the spread of infection. It’s even more important to teach your kids the importance of handwashing, especially at school, where germs run rampant. December 4-10 is Handwashing Awareness Week—the perfect time to focus on teaching your kids the importance of washing their hands. This information will help you get the point across.

Teach the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness
The 4 Principles of Hand Awareness has been accepted by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians as the gold standard for keeping hands clean. By teaching these principles to your kids, you will equip them with everything they need to keep their hands germ-free. The first principle is to wash hands any time they are dirty and before eating. The second principle is to never cough into your hands, and the third principle is to never sneeze into your hands. The fourth principle is to avoid putting fingers in the nose, eyes, or mouth. Following these rules will reduce your kids’ chances of picking up a communicable infection that could be avoided.

Lead by Example
Your kids learn their handwashing behavior from you. Be a model of good habits by following the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness yourself. Cough and sneeze into your elbow and always wash your hands before preparing food and before eating. When washing your hands is a habit for you, your kids are sure to pick up on it.

At Pegalis & Erickson, we’re here to help when a medical mistake, like failing to wash hands, leads to a serious health problem. When you need a medical malpractice attorney on Long Island for birth trauma, medical negligence, or another medical injury, please call (516) 684-2900.