If you are like most people, you count on your family physician, surgeon, dentist, and specialist to all provide the highest standard of care for medical issues large and small. Unfortunately, doctors and hospitals are not infallible, and even esteemed medical establishments and practitioners can make mistakes. To learn more about medical malpractice and medical injuries, review this guide to the most dangerous types of medical mistakes.

General Misdiagnosis
The most common kind of medical malpractice results from a diagnostic error. An incorrect diagnosis can cause a delay in administering treatment, and the results can be deadly.

Obstetrical Malpractice
Obstetrical malpractice refers to birth injuries that result from medical negligence. Physicians may fail to respond properly to bleeding or fetal distress, may inappropriately delay ordering a C-section, and may even misuse a vacuum extractor or forceps. Poor newborn care after birth also qualifies as medical malpractice. Sadly, this form of medical malpractice can result in lifelong neurological problems, cerebral palsy, blindness, and learning deficits.

Medication Errors
Medication mistakes take place in a hospital when a nurse or doctor administers the wrong medication to a patient or fails to provide the patient’s regular medication. Because many people rely on daily prescriptions to manage chronic conditions, the results of medical malpractice can be severe.

Grievous Mistakes
Sadly, some mistakes are simply so shocking that they defy reason. Common examples include leaving sponges, scissors, and other tools in patients’ bodies after surgery, operating on the wrong patient, and amputating the incorrect limb. While rare, such instances of medical malpractice do occur.

When you work with a medical malpractice lawyer, you deserve to have an experienced, trustworthy, and reliable attorney. At the Law Office of Pegalis & Erickson, we are proud to be the winner of two of the highest medical malpractice awards in the state of New York. Our medical malpractice attorneys have more than 40 years of experience representing Long Island area victims and their families after medical or birth injuries. You can find out more by calling us today at (516) 684-2900.

Happy Independence Day! Our wish is for everyone to enjoy their independence, family, friends, and the great outdoors.  Caregivers, your medical and spiritual independence is as important as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! Here’s a few tips: 

Take good care of yourself to celebrate Independence Day! Being a good caregiver starts with using your independence to take care of yourself!

• Take time to relax daily and find ways to de-stress, even for a few minutes.
   
• Talk things out with someone to help sort your feelings.
   
• Pay heed to your spirit. Consider pray or mediation, or a hobby you love
   
• Avoid isolation by maintaining friends. Visit with and nurture relationships, even if that means on the phone or online.

Lake Success, NY, June 2013…Pegalis and Erickson, LLC, announce the election of their Associate, Linda M. Oliva, to the Board of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association (NCWBA). Oliva takes over as Corresponding Secretary for the 2013-2014 year, in this her second term.

Ms. Oliva has been a distinguished attorney for plaintiffs in medical negligence cases for the past 20 years. She handles all aspects of pretrial litigation and appeals to represent patients in birth injury, surgical, neurosurgical, cardiac, and women’s health care negligence including the failure to diagnose and treat breast cancer.   “I’m proud to serve on the NCWBA, most especially to work with leaders on our committees to mentor law students, help women enter the workforce, and support breast cancer research,” said Oliva.

At Pegalis & Erickson, Ms. Oliva represents many of the firm’s Latino clients and educates them on legal rights and patient awareness. She dedicates considerable time to community services, notably breast cancer awareness activities through the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition and the Adelphi Breast Cancer hotline.  Ms. Oliva is also an active member in her civic association, and mentors students at the ABGS Middle School in Hempstead, New York.  LMO Bio  In addition to her role on the NCWBA, Ms. Oliva is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, the American Association for Justice, the Nassau County Bar Association, the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and (LIWA) the Long Island Women’s Agenda.  Oliva received her law degree from St. John’s University, and her bachelors from Hofstra University.  She is admitted to practice law in New York State and in the Federal Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York..

Contact: echristie@pegalisanderickson.com

Medical devices contain embedded computer systems that can be vulnerable to cyber security breaches. To address the risk of computer viruses, the FDA has issued it’s first-ever cyber security guidance for hospitals and for manufacturers of medical devices. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm357090.htm

Medical mistakes do happen, sometimes extreme ones. The man in this video felt even worse long after surgery because doctors had mistakenly left a 13-inch medical tool inside him!  It was spotted during a CAT scan and eventually fixed – but not before causing serious complications.  Medical errors need not be this extreme to file a claim. If you are in need of legal advice regarding medical mistakes consider calling (516) 684-2900 to reach the law office of Pegalis & Erickson. 

Oxygen is present in blood and many other tissues. However, air bubbles inside sensitive tissue may obstruct blood flow and cause serious medical complications.

The most common way for bubbles to form is through an improper suture following the removal of a chest tube. Air bubbles can be sucked into the wounded area and cut off essential blood flow to the kidneys, brain, and lungs. If the hospital staff does not mitigate this problem quickly, the effects may be grave. It is important to note that inaction on behalf of medical professionals may give you grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the medical facility.

If you suspect that your medical complications were caused by a doctor’s carelessness, consult a lawyer as soon as possible. New Yorkers in need of legal advice regarding medical malpractice should call the Law Office of Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900. We offer free consultations to first time clients and can help you understand the strength of your claim. Schedule an appointment today to learn about all possible legal options.

If a doctor fails to order a crucial test, he or she may be held legally responsible for any condition that goes undetected. In the case of cancer, early detection can add years to a loved one’s life. Due to the medical complexity of these situations, it is essential to consult an experienced attorney as soon as you suspect something is wrong. Here is a brief look at medical malpractice and breast cancer misdiagnosis:

Critical Errors
With timely detection and proper treatment, breast cancer may be slowed or eliminated altogether. Patients often seek the advice of doctors when they notice a serious issue. These same doctors are often in the position to diagnose the cancer early during routine check-ups. If they notice abnormalities, these trusted physicians are expected to order further testing or procedures. Failing to properly read a mammogram can be a serious mistake that may lead to delayed treatment of cancer. A recent study of medical malpractice claims found that radiologists were sued more frequently for failing to diagnose breast cancer than any other ailment.

Grounds for a Lawsuit
Doctors are required to employ a reasonable standard of care when helping patients under all circumstances. Due to their advanced training and licensing, these medical practitioners are held to higher standards of care than other professionals. Issues such as misreading radiology scans or x-rays may give patients grounds for a lawsuit. When it comes to breast cancer, doctors who do not order advanced testing, such as a sonogram or mammogram, may be held legally liable for their mistakes.  

Medical malpractice claims require a vast knowledge of both medicine and the law. For this reason, it is essential to choose an experienced attorney to handle your case. At the Long Island firm of Pegalis & Erickson, we have been helping victims of malpractice receive fair compensation for more than 40 years. Call (516) 684-2900 to speak to a skilled attorney at our Lake Success office today.

Brachial plexus injuries are one of the most common types of birth injuries in the United States. This video explains how and why brachial plexus injuries occur.

If a child’s shoulders become wedged during birth, the attending physician may pull the head to loosen the baby. This type of trauma can tear and sever neck nerves, causing paralysis. Pulling should not be done, rather, there are certain maneuvers the doctor and medical personnel should use to dislodge the baby’s shoulders so as to avoid permanent nerve damage.

Have birth injuries forever changed your child’s life? Then call Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900. Our Long Island practice can help you proceed with a medical malpractice case.

Medical mistakes and medical injuries happen more frequently than you may realize. Though the majority of procedures successfully treat patients, some cause people greater harm. Medical injuries are a major concern within the healthcare industry, which is why many changes have been implemented to reduce their occurrence and increase care quality. The following medical mistakes have forced the medical community to take notice and make improvements for the health and wellbeing of future patients:

Forgotten Instruments
Even simple surgical procedures require the use of many instruments, sponges, and needles. These tools are necessary to perform the surgery. However, those in the operating room can quickly lose track of the instruments used during surgery. In some cases, the patient’s incision may be stitched close with one or more tools still inside the body. An instance in which a sponge was forgotten during a routine appendectomy led to improved methods for counting surgical tools, including using bar codes and x-ray visible threads.

Anesthesia Errors
Years ago, a straightforward hysterectomy procedure instead turned into an anesthesia-caused fatality. After the patient was intubated through the esophagus instead of her trachea, the medical community implemented several changes to prevent similar accidents. Additionally, with the introduction of electronic monitoring systems, attending anesthesiologists can now regulate a patient’s carbon dioxide levels to avoid unexpected surgical complications.

Wrong Limb Surgeries
All it takes is one mislabeled x-ray or incorrectly draped cloth to cause a medical injury. Miscommunication is the common culprit behind surgeons operating on the wrong arm, leg, or other body part. Unfortunately, it’s the patient who suffers for the rest of their life due to this oversight. In one case, a medical error cost the patient a functional leg. To prevent these medical injuries, surgeons must now mark the site that is to be operated on with the consent of the patient.

If you are the victim of a medical error, call Pegalis & Erickson at (516) 684-2900 for a consultation. Our team of medical malpractice lawyers provides high quality assistance to Long Island residents suffering from medical injuries. Let us help you claim your owed financial compensation.

Anesthesia is a fundamental part of the surgical process, which is why it must be administered correctly. Far too often, however, medical injuries occur from mismanaged anesthesia usage. In some cases, patients receive the wrong dose of anesthesia. Other times, an anesthesiologist doesn’t properly examine the patient’s vitals before giving them anesthesia, or, during surgery itself, the anesthesia is improperly administered because of a miscommunication amongst the medical team. Regardless of these circumstances, anesthesia errors are a form of medical malpractice. Medical injuries from anesthesia errors can range from allergic reactions to death. If you or a loved one has suffered as the result of anesthesia misusage, consult a medical malpractice attorney about your legal options.

Pegalis & Erickson can provide capable legal guidance for clients pursuing medical malpractice claims. Our Long Island practice can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your medical injuries. Call (516) 684-2900 or visit our website for more information.