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.

The group of movement disorders collectively known as cerebral palsy is the result of brain injuries or brain malformations that may occur before, during, or after birth. When a child is diagnosed with birth injuries like cerebral palsy, the parents’ priorities are typically to figure out why this occurred and how they can help their child. Determining the underlying cause is particularly important because of the possibility of medical malpractice.

Brain damage and the resultant disorders may be caused by the disruption of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. This causes the death of brain cells. For example, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is damage to the white matter of the brain. When PVL occurs, there is a disruption in the transmission of signals to the muscles from the brain, causing movement problems and also other developmental delays.

If your child was diagnosed with a birth injury and you’re looking for a lawyer near Long Island, New York, you can call the law office of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900. A birth injury lawyer will help you explore your legal rights and options.

It can be devastating for parents to learn that their precious baby has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders and these disorders are incurable. Depending on the severity of the resultant impairments, individuals with cerebral palsy often require lifelong care. If your baby has been diagnosed with this disorder, consider speaking with a cerebral palsy lawyer. Certain birth injuries have been known to cause cerebral palsy.

Causes and Risk Factors
The underlying cause of cerebral palsy is a brain injury that usually occurs at or around the time of birth. This brain injury may occur during labor and delivery, such as when oxygen to the brain is cut off. Cerebral palsy has also been linked to maternal infections, fetal stroke, fetal infections, and gene mutations. The risk of cerebral palsy can increase if the mother does not receive appropriate prenatal care during pregnancy or if the case involves premature birth, breech birth, or pregnancy with multiples.

Motor Impairments
Children with cerebral palsy must be assessed individually, since the type and extent of the impairments can vary considerably from person to person. Typically, cerebral palsy involves muscle stiffness, exaggerated reflexes, impaired muscle coordination, and involuntary movements. Motor skill delays, crawling and walking difficulties, and the favoring of one side of the body are other possible indicators of cerebral palsy. In addition, children may have problems with fine motor skills, such as picking up and using a crayon or a fork.

Intellectual Disabilities
Some children with cerebral palsy only have movement impairment, while others also have intellectual disabilities. A child who has cognitive impairments may display delayed language development, impaired concentration, problems processing information, and problems expressing thoughts. These children may also have problems with memory, speech, sound recognition, and emotional regulation.

For more than 40 years, the team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC has been defending the legal rights of families affected by birth injuries. If you feel you may have a birth injury case and live near Long Island, New York, call us today at (516) 684-2900. A cerebral palsy lawyer will carefully review your case and answer your questions at no charge.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 600 women die each year because of complications during pregnancy and delivery, and approximately half of those deaths are preventable. Factors such as unhealthy lifestyle choices and medical malpractice during prenatal care or during delivery can all put a mother’s life at risk. There are several steps that can reduce the tragedy of maternal death:

Healthier Lifestyle
During pregnancy, women should work closely with their providers to stay as healthy as possible. Smoking and drinking during pregnancy not only endangers the health of the baby but also puts the mother at greater risk for complications. Mothers should also see their doctors regularly, manage their pregnancy weight gain, and follow all recommendations of their doctors for bed rest and diet. Because having a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy can reduce the risks of pregnancy complications and maternal mortality, women should make efforts to maintain a healthy weight, manage chronic medical conditions, and quit smoking.

Improved Prenatal Care
Poor prenatal care contributes to maternal death in a number of ways. In some cases, women may not have access to the maternal care they need, which means that dangerous conditions like preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes can occur unchecked. In other instances, medical mistakes in prenatal care can lead to complications that put a mother’s life in danger. And, medical mistakes can lead to complications that put the unborn child’s life in danger

Changes in the Delivery Room
Errors in the delivery room can also lead to maternal death as well as many types of birth injuries. Mistakes in monitoring, failure to act quickly to address complications, such as bleeding, improper use of anesthesia, and failure to respond to infections are all examples of medical malpractice that could result in maternal fatalities.

If you have been touched by the tragedy of a maternal death and believe that a medical error could be the cause, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to speak to a medical malpractice attorney in Long Island, New York. Our experienced attorneys can evaluate the situation and help you decide what next steps to take. Contact us today at (516) 684-2900 to get started.

Managing your medical records is important not only to ensure your doctors have the information they need to provide you with proper care but also so that you can keep track of your medical history and the treatments being provided to you. Being an informed medical care consumer can save your life! You can manage your records both on and offline every time you see a provider.

Start with creating a list of your current medications and updating it every time your dose is changed or you stop and start a medicine. A log of your symptoms will help you have more productive doctor appointments and will ensure you have proof of when symptoms began. Keep visit summaries from your physician visits and make your own notes about each appointment. Research not only the doctors you are seeing, but also the hospitals they are affiliated with, to ensure that you are seeing the best health care providers for your particular conditions. There are many official websites maintained by US state departments of health which give background informaton on doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.

The attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC can help to assess whether the medical care you received departed from the appropriate standards of care. If you believe you the care you received was not proper call us at (516) 684-2900.

Cervical cancer is a deadly disease that is best treated as soon as possible. In fact, routine health screenings allow providers to detect pre-cancerous changes that can be treated before cervical cancer develops. Unfortunately, medical malpractice affects all healthcare specialties, including gynecology and oncology. If you were misdiagnosed or you lost a loved one to cervical cancer, consider talking to medical negligence lawyers about your potential case.

The Types of Medical Errors
Doctors have a responsibility to preserve and improve the health of their patients, but they are susceptible to making a wide range of medical mistakes. For example, a doctor may fail to thoroughly review a patient’s risk factors for cervical cancer. This can result in improperly recommending that the patient delay cervical cancer screenings. When a Pap test is performed, a doctor may misinterpret or even misplace the results. Other medical mistakes include failing to refer patients to an appropriate specialist, failing to coordinate medical care across different providers, and failing to identify the early signs of cervical cancer.

The Consequences of Misdiagnosis
When cervical cancer is not detected in its pre-cancerous or early stages, the results can be devastating. When left unchecked, the cancer can grow and spread beyond its point of origin. This means that when it is finally diagnosed correctly, the cancer will be more difficult to treat, will require more invasive treatments, and is more likely to be fatal. If a patient’s cervical cancer is initially diagnosed as being a different medical problem, additional consequences can occur. For example, the patient may be prescribed inappropriate medications or undergo other improper treatments that may do more harm than good.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York, extends our deepest sympathies to families who have lost a loved one to cervical cancer and to patients who have been diagnosed with it. If you feel that your health may have been compromised by an act of medical malpractice, please contact us promptly at (516) 684-2900. Our dedicated legal team will help you understand your legal rights.

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.