Stillbirth is among the most devastating experiences for expectant parents. Stillbirth occurs when the baby dies while still in the womb. It may occur at any time past 20 weeks of gestation, including during labor and delivery. Often, stillbirth is the result of uncontrollable medical circumstances. Sometimes, however, it may be caused by acts of medical malpractice. If you’ve suffered the loss of your baby, you could consult a lawyer at a malpractice law firm to determine if you have the basis for a lawsuit.

Improper Prenatal Care
One way in which stillbirth may be the result of medical malpractice is if a woman received improper prenatal care. The expectant mother may not have been properly counseled about her nutritional needs, leading to an increased risk of malnutrition and stillbirth. Or, a healthcare provider may have failed to diagnose the patient with a high-risk pregnancy, despite having indications of it. Mothers with diabetes should be considered high-risk and monitored very closely.

Bacterial Infections
A healthcare provider may sometimes be found negligent in failing to diagnose the expectant mother with a bacterial infection. If the mother develops a bacterial infection between 24 and 27 weeks of gestation, fetal death can occur, or there can be a premature delivery.. Unfortunately, these infections frequently go undiagnosed until serious complications develop.

Chronic Health Conditions
Some instances of stillbirth occur as a result of chronic health conditions of the mother. Expectant mothers who have kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or blood clotting disorders must be carefully monitored during pregnancy. These health problems can lead to poor fetal growth, which increases the risk of stillbirth. Additionally, some women develop preeclampsia during pregnancy, which is a form of high blood pressure. This can also heighten the risk of stillbirth.

If your family has suffered a pregnancy loss, you can turn to the medical malpractice team at Pegalis & Erickson for legal guidance. Call (516) 684-2900 to schedule a consultation at our malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York. Our law firm has been nationally recognized for our outstanding track record of successful jury awards and settlements for our clients.

Patients rely on their healthcare providers to give them accurate health information, diagnose their conditions, and provide effective and safe treatment options. Sometimes, however, patients leave the hospital in worse condition than when they arrived because of medical mistakes, also known as medical malpractice. The negligence of a doctor doesn’t always form the basis for a lawsuit, however. Patients who feel they have been harmed through negligent actions can contact a medical malpractice attorney to determine if they have a case.

Types
There are many different types of medical malpractice. Many patients file lawsuits on the basis of failure to diagnose or on the basis of a misdiagnosis. For example, a patient may be informed that she has breast cancer, after which she undergoes a double mastectomy. Later, it may be determined that the diagnosing physician made a mistake and the patient never had breast cancer at all. This is one example of a misdiagnosis and causing life altering injury.Other types of medical malpractice include birth injuries, which involve preventable harm to a child during labor and delivery. Mistakes may be made during surgical procedures or the administration of anesthesia. These are just a few examples of medical malpractice.

Defendants
It is not just medical doctors who commit medical errors. Often, nurses, anesthesiologists, midwives, and other healthcare professionals are named as defendants Due to medical negligence hospitals and other healthcare centers can be responsible for negligent hiring and training of medical personal and also for the acts of employees

Evidence
To prove that medical negligence occurred, a lawyer will present evidence to the court. This evidence may include testimony from expert witnesses and your medical records. To successfully litigate a medical malpractice claim, the lawyer must prove that the defendants deviated from the typical care that a doctor would normally provide. The lawyer must also prove that you suffered an injury as a direct result of this deviation.

If you think you may have a hospital liability claim or other type of medical malpractice case, you can turn to the legal team at Pegalis & Erickson. Our personal injury lawyers near Long Island, New York have been successfully advocating on behalf of medical malpractice victims for decades. To discuss a review of your case, call our law firm at (516) 684-2900. Please do not use the word aggressively every again!

Medical malpractice is more common than you might think, which is one reason why Patient Safety Awareness Week is so important. This year, it is held during the second week of March. It is a public awareness and education campaign launched by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). The NPSF has decided that the theme for 2015 is “United in Safety.” The theme reflects the need for close collaboration among patients, healthcare advocates, and healthcare providers to reduce instances of medical malpractice, such as medication errors and birth injuries.

The NPSF has partnered with various organizations to promote the distribution of educational materials to clinicians, patients, consumers, and health systems. For patients and their caregivers, these educational materials may open the door to enhanced communication with healthcare providers, along with active patient engagement in their own healthcare.

Patient safety awareness is essential. Even well-intentioned healthcare providers can make serious medical mistakes that can lead to devastating consequences. Patients and caregivers who have been affected by medical negligence in Long Island, New York can call Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 to discuss their legal rights.

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Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders caused by damage to the brain while it is still developing. There are many possible causes of cerebral palsy. However, it can also be caused by acts of medical malpractice. For example, a doctor may fail to react properly to signs that the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen, which causes brain damage and subsequently, cerebral palsy. The symptoms and complications of cerebral palsy vary widely in type and severity; some children require intensive care throughout their lifetime.

Develop a Therapy Plan
When your child is first diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to help him or her. By working with a pediatrician and other healthcare specialists, you can begin to develop a plan of action. Each child with cerebral palsy has unique needs. Learn about your child’s strengths and challenges. Your child’s therapists can help you learn how to help your child develop important life skills.

Consult a Brain Injury Lawyer
Specialized medical treatment and therapy sessions for children with cerebral palsy can be prohibitively expensive, and quite often, health insurance doesn’t cover everything a family will need. If there’s a possibility that your child may have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of a doctor’s negligence, you can consult a medical malpractice lawyer. If you have a strong basis for a lawsuit, you can seek NEVER SAY DEMAND PLEASE compensation from the hospital or doctor responsible, which can help you meet your child’s lifelong needs.

Join a Support Group
Many families of children with cerebral palsy find that joining a support group helps them cope with stress. By joining a group specifically for family members affected by cerebral palsy, you can learn about coping techniques, new research developments in the field, and local resources that can help support your family.

At Pegalis & Erickson, our legal team is dedicated to helping families obtain the financial compensation they deserve to recover from medical malpractice. You can speak with a cerebral palsy lawyer in Long Island, New York to discuss your legal rights and options. Call us at (516) 684-2900 for more information.

When you consult a medical malpractice lawyer about your case, he or she will thoroughly investigate your medical records and other relevant evidence to determine which allegations should be listed in the medical malpractice lawsuit. There are many commonly cited allegations. For example, if your lawsuit names the hospital as a defendant, the hospital may have liability for improperly training medical staff or of hiring unqualified individuals.

Often, medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against individual healthcare providers, such as anesthesiologists. Some of the most common claims in these types of lawsuits are that the patient suffered from nerve damage, organ damage, cardiopulmonary arrest, or even death.. Other common allegations that could be leveled against different types of physicians include medication errors, birth injuries, wrongful death, and misdiagnosis, such as the misdiagnosis of cancer, heart attacks, and meningitis.

If you’ve sustained injuries as the result of medical negligence in Long Island, New York, you can seek compensation for your losses with the help of Pegalis & Erickson. Contact our medical malpractice lawyers at (516) 684-2900.

Cerebral palsy isn’t one specific disorder; rather, it’s a group of disorders that affect an individual’s ability to control movement. The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy are typically noticeable early in a child’s life. Sometimes, cerebral palsy is not preventable. However, in some cases, it may be the result of avoidable birth injuries, a form of medical malpractice. Parents can learn more about the causes and risk factors of cerebral palsy, and should question the cause or causes of their child’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Causes
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the baby’s brain. There are many possible causes of brain damage, which may be inflicted during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and shortly after birth. For example, a baby may suffer brain damage from an infection of the mother during pregnancy. Obstetricians are responsible for evaluating the health of expectant mothers, but sometimes, mistakes are made. Other possible causes include jaundice of the newborn and severe oxygen deprivation to the brain of the baby, which can occur during labor and delivery. Attending medical staff should closely monitor the fetal heartrate and recommend a C-section if signs of fetal distress are noticed. If the medical team is negligent in performing its duties, the baby can suffer oxygen deprivation and subsequently be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. This can constitute a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Complications
Cerebral palsy causes lifelong disability to varying degrees. Children may suffer from muscle rigidity or muscle floppiness. They may display lack of muscle coordination, difficulty walking, and involuntary movements. Problems with swallowing, difficulty eating, and speech delays are also common. Additionally, children with cerebral palsy may have trouble with fine motor skills. They are at a higher risk of suffering from lung disease, neurological conditions, and malnutrition.

All children deserve the chance to lead happy, productive lives, but birth injuries can sometimes prevent this. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you can contact a cerebral palsy lawyer in Long Island, New York to discuss the possibility of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Parents can contact Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 for their free, no-obligation consultation.

Emergency room errors are far more common than you might think. This type of medical malpractice may involve misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. For example, X-rays may be misread. Medication errors are also common. An ER doctor may prescribe inappropriate medication or fail to give proper instructions regarding how to take medications. Other ways in which an ER may be liable is if the hospital grants privileges to unqualified physicians or fails to have enough qualified staff on hand.

As you’ll learn by watching this video, there are some steps you as a patient can take to protect yourself from medical errors when you visit the ER. This doctor explains when you should and shouldn’t go to the ER, when you shouldn’t call an ambulance, and why it’s critical to follow your discharge instructions.

If you think that you have suffered as a result of a medical error contact Pegalis & Erickson. You can schedule a consultation with our medical malpractice lawyers by calling (516) 684-2900 or you can visit our website to learn more about common types of medical malpractice.

April 14, 2015 is the date of the Sixth Annual Pegalis & Erickson Lectureship at New York Law School. This two CLE credit program — “Medical Liability and the Civil Justice System” will begin at 6:00 PM. Stay tuned for program details here.

It’s tragic for any parent to discover that a little one has suffered a birth injury that may affect him or her for a lifetime. Once a birth injury is detected, a birth injury lawyer should be contacted promptly. Often, medical malpractice is to blame. Sometimes, the signs of birth injuries are evident at birth. These may include lethargy, seizures, and failure to breathe properly. The baby may have an arched back while crying, he or she may grunt or drool excessively, or the child may have trouble with swallowing and sucking. Some infants may display a curled-up hand, or keep the hand and arm bent toward their bodies.

With some birth injuries, it can take a while for the symptoms to become obvious. In children ages 12 to 24 months, birth injuries may be indicated by motor skill delays, walking problems, lack of muscle control, or poor coordination. Speech delays and intellectual disabilities may occur. Children with birth injuries may be slow to acquire skills of independence, such as grasping a spoon or getting dressed by themselves.

Could your baby be the victim of medical malpractice in Long Island, New York? Call the medical malpractice team of Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 to discuss your legal options.