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.

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.

UPDATE: September 20, 2016
A new study noted in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports some people infected with Zika develop conjunctivitis, an eye infection common known as “pink eye.” Although the Zika infection had been identified in urine, semen, saliva and breast milk, the study noted Chinese travelers who had been infected in Venezuela were found to have the virus from eye swabs five to seven days after symptoms occurred.

UPDATE: September 15, 2016
On September 7, The World Health Organization updated its assessment of the Zika virus as a cause of congenital brain abnormalities in babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults, after considering months of research into the mosquito-borne disease.

UPDATE: August 19, 2016
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommend that men who have had symptoms of Zika not attempt to father a child for six months after their illness. They also suggest that men who have been ill practice safe sex or abstinence if their partner is pregnant.

Since 2015, articles about the “new” Zika virus and the potential spread of the virus worldwide to some 30 countries have been highlighted in the news. Scientists are researching how and why a virus first identified nearly 70 years ago as benign, could now pose such a grave risk, most especially to pregnant women, women of child-bearing age, and men who may be infected and impregnate women. To date there is no vaccine or treatment for Zika. Due to these concerns, it is urged that everyone, especially women of child-bearing age, be proactive in this regard and not wait until symptoms appear. Everyone should avoid bug bites by using insect repellents, removing any and all standing water, and scrubbing with soap any areas that mosquitoes eggs could have been laid. Currently men who have symptoms and have contracted the Zika virus have been recommended to ensure they do not impregnate women for at least a few months.

Common Zika Virus symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes, although some infected people do not have any Zika Virus symptoms. Zika Virus Disease is thought to be spread to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes, and through sexual transmission. Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime and nighttime biters. Zika Virus infection in pregnant women has recently been declared a definite cause of microcephaly. That condition causes babies to be born with smaller heads and major developmental challenges that are potentially lifelong. The virus is also associated with other severe fetal brain defects, and has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can cause paralysis. Experts have begun calling the host of conditions linked to the virus in babies, Congenital Zika Syndrome, as recently some babies born with disabilities are more severe than in textbook microcephaly cases.

Of the more than 3,000 U.S. pregnant women travelers tested for Zika so far this year, coming from afflicted areas, a full 28% of them had Zika, and most, but not all, had rash, fever or red eyes. We believe that women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should talk with your doctors about your risks in general of having or contracting the disease, and about travel to currently-known Zika infested areas, including the potential for the spread in the southern gulf states of the United States.

Here in the U.S. preparations have begun for the possible spread of Zika this summer, particularly in the southern Gulf States. The federal government is now offering all US states funding to boost their prevention plans. US health officials predict large outbreaks in the U.S. are not as likely because of wide use of air conditioning and window screens. However, we want to urge all pregnant women and women of child-bearing age to take every precaution possible to avoid mosquito bites, sexual transmission of the disease, and to carefully consider travel to known areas of wide-spread Zika virus.

The CDC recommends that pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant or who may wish to become pregnant:

• Should not travel to any area with Zika.
• Women that must travel to, or live in an area with Zika virus, should talk with healthcare providers and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites
• Women with a male partner(s) who lives in, or has traveled to an area with Zika, should abstain or properly use condoms every time they have sex
• Before women or male partner(s) travel, talk to healthcare providers about plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection
• Women and male partner(s) should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites

It was merely months ago that health officials thought the Zika virus was not transmitted through sexual activity. Now, the CDC has an excellent video available to the public about preventing the Zika virus, based on the currently known methods of transmission, including sexual transmission. Previously, microcephaly was considered a rare birth defect. Today doctors working with infants in South America with Zika virus say some may never learn to talk or walk, will have trouble seeing, could develop epilepsy. Officials indicate that there may be a spectrum of problems with a baby’s health that don’t show up as microcephaly.

If you have medical-legal concerns regarding your pregnancy or your baby’s health, please don’t hesitate in contacting our experienced New York medical malpractice law firm for a free consultation to ensure your rights are protected. Call Pegalis and Erickson at (516) 684-2900. Or email us at info@pegalisanderickson.com. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

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.

Did you know that skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among U.S. residents? In almost all cases, skin cancer is highly curable when it is detected in its early stages. Unfortunately, the disease can still be deadly, especially when patients receive a delayed diagnosis. To reduce the risk of a delayed diagnosis as the result of medical malpractice or other factors, patients can become proactive self-advocates. During this May, which is the Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, attorneys who handle medical malpractice cases encourage families to take charge of their health.

Skin Cancer Awareness

To promote greater awareness of the dangers of this deadly disease, the University of Michigan Health System has published some startling statistics. According to the university, about 40 to 50 percent of individuals who live to age 65 will be diagnosed with skin cancer at least once. Nearly 74,000 new melanomas were expected to be diagnosed in 2015 alone. According to the published report, fortunately, when melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads beneath the skin, the five-year survival rate is about 97 percent.

Skin Cancer Detection

Patients are encouraged to check themselves and their loved ones regularly for signs of abnormal skin changes, such as new growths, unusual pigmentation, and changes in sensation. It’s also highly advisable to schedule a skin cancer screening with a dermatologist every year. An annual wellness exam with a primary care physician will not necessarily involve an examination of all areas of the skin and so should not be relied upon to detect skin cancers. In addition to your visible skin, a dermatologist should also check your scalp.

Skin Cancer Prevention

Skin cancers are among the most preventable types of cancers. Certain risk factors, such as old age, gender, and family history are not modifiable. However, you can take certain steps to reduce your risk. Avoid unnecessary sun exposure and tanning beds. If you do go outdoors, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving your home and reapply it every two hours. It is also a good idea to wear a hat if you areo going to be in the sun for prolonged periods of time.

If you believe that you received a delayed skin cancer diagnosis because of medical negligence, the malpractice law firm of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is here to help. For more than 40 years, our medical malpractice lawyers have served residents of Long Island, New York and beyond. Call us at (516) 684-2900 to speak with an attorney free of charge.

The following is our formal comment to the widespread news reports about a recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and their open letter to the CDC asking that medical errors be listed and ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States. The reports highlighted the lack of tracking and reporting of vital statistics that can hinder research and has kept problems out of the public eye.

The debate over how (and how often) medical errors cause harm has been politicized for decades, with the messaging largely controlled by insurance and medical establishment interests. What is often lacking, however, is data, based on science, to define the problem. This new (Johns Hopkins) study appears to address that gap and sheds a little light on the issue. As lawyers who devote our careers to representing individuals and families whose lives have been sidetracked by medical negligence, we are well aware of the medical community’s propensity to sweep these questions under the rug. That community should stop blaming injured patients and the civil justice system for its own shortcomings, should put its house in order, and should accept accountability for injuries and death caused by negligent conduct. Pegalis & Erickson, Attorneys at Law.

In April of 2016, you can join others around the world in recognizing Cesarean Awareness Month. This public awareness campaign was launched for the purpose of educating families about cesarean sections, or C-sections. A C-section is a type of surgery that may be performed when it is considered unsafe for a mother to deliver a child vaginally. If a doctor fails to perform a C-section when required, it can result in serious harm. If your doctor delayed in performing a c-section or failed to perform a c-section and your baby has been injured consider talking to a medical malpractice lawyer.

Failure to Perform a C-Section

It is the responsibility of all medical professionals who are assisting in a birth to recognize the signs of distress that indicate that a C-section may be necessary. In some medical negligence cases, doctors are found to be negligent for failing to perform cesarean sections when there were clear indications of fetal distress. If this results in injury to either the mother or the child, there may be found to have been negligent.

Medical Malpractice in Performing C-Sections

If a doctor performs a C-section and causes harm to either the mother or the child through negligence, they may be charged with medical malpractice. Some of the most common forms of negligence include waiting too long to perform the C-section because of failure to monitor the patient, making avoidable mistakes during the procedure, which can damage the mother and her ability to have future children, and failing to provide the fetus with enough oxygen during the procedure, causing brain damage.

The medical negligence lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are devoted to helping families find the answers they deserve. If you feel that the obstetrics staff failed to perform a C-section when it was indicated, or you were harmed during the performance of a C-section, please call us today at (516) 684-2900. A medical malpractice attorney in Long Island, New York, will review your case and help you consider your legal options. Attorney Advertising

A malpractice law firm on Long Island, New York, regularly handles claims of medical malpractice stemming from a delayed diagnosis. A delayed diabetes diagnosis involves identifying the disease too late, which can have adverse consequences for a patient’s health.

When diabetes is diagnosed too late to properly treat the illness and its symptoms, the situation can constitute medical malpractice. As a New York medical malpractice lawyer knows, diabetes sufferers can languish with the disease for an average of nine to 12 years before it is diagnosed. Half of diabetes patients develop serious complications, including blindness, amputation, and kidney failure, because of medical negligence or medication errors stemming from their failure to timely diagnose. Untreated diabetes also provokes lesser symptoms such as increased thirst, weight loss and blurred vision.

If you or a loved one wants to learn more about medical malpractice or determine if you have a legal claim, contact the Long Island, New York office of Pegalis & Erickson today. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will speak to you at no cost about your potential case. Call (516) 684-2900 today.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; have you scheduled your colon cancer screening? Medical malpractice sometimes results from a doctor’s failure to properly administer or interpret a test, including a screening for cancer. Colon cancer screenings are essential for diagnosing the disease before it progresses—and is more receptive to treatment.

A medical malpractice lawyer often handles cases from patients whose cancer tests were not read correctly, resulting in a misdiagnosis. Of course, just like medication errors, misdiagnosed cancer constitutes medical negligence. When performed properly, colon cancer screenings look at the structure of the colon itself to test for any abnormal areas. The cancer screening is either performed with a scope inserted into the rectum or with special imaging tests. Screening is so important because polyps that are discovered before they become cancerous are relatively easy to remove. Removing the polyps may prevent colorectal cancer from developing later on.

If you have suffered an injury due to a doctor’s medical negligence, the malpractice law firm of Pegalis & Erickson is here for you. Our experienced medical negligence lawyers work tirelessly to ensure patients get the care they deserve. Call our medical malpractice lawyers near Long Island, New York today at (516) 684-2900.

Heart disease is responsible for one out of every three deaths in the United States, making it the single deadliest disease in existence. Anyone, including children, can develop it. However, the most common type is coronary artery disease which causes heart attacks.Every person can reduce their risk of heart attacks by taking the time to educate themselves about it. Following a well-rounded diet, getting plenty of exercise, and avoiding tobacco products can all help you maintain a healthy heart. Your doctor can perform several tests to diagnose heart disease, and you should ask what tests are appropriate for you.

There are differences in warning signs of heart attack between women and men. Men and women might experience chest pain, but women may also experience nausea, back or neck pain and shortness of breath

One of the most common causes of heart disease is high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many people who have high blood pressure never realize it, since it frequently presents no warning signs. During American Heart Month, take the time to have your blood pressure checked by a medical professional.

If you are in need of a medical malpractice lawyer in Long Island, New York, contact the legal team at Pegalis & Erickson. We have been providing our clients with legal representation for more than four decades. For a free legal representation, call us today at (516) 684-2900.