You seek medical treatment to get better, but unfortunately, medical negligence can cause some patients to actually get worse, thanks to exposure to preventable infections. If an infectious condition that could have been prevented compromises your health, you could be eligible to seek compensation for medical malpractice.

If you developed an infection after surgery or after being exposed to the infection by a healthcare provider, you could have a case for medical malpractice. For infections to fall into the category of malpractice, you must be able to prove either that your healthcare provider failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent infection or that the facility in which you received care had negligent policies regarding cleanliness and other operations that put you at risk. You must also demonstrate that the infection was solely caused by the negligence.

Let medical malpractice law firm Pegalis & Erickson, LLC help you better understand your rights. Make an appointment with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Long Island, New York by calling (516) 684-2900.

In the immediate aftermath of a stillbirth, it is difficult to focus on questions you have for your doctor. When you get an opportunity for a follow-up visit with your physician, it is a good idea to consider the topics you want to cover. Not only will the information help you come to terms with your experience, but it will also help you understand if medical malpractice could have played a role in the events. As you prepare for a conversation with your doctor, keep these tips in mind.

Make a List

Avoid having a conversation with your doctor without a plan. During your appointment, it’s natural to become emotional or to become sidetracked with discussing one part of the experience, so you could leave without getting the information you really want. Make a list of questions you want to ask and topics you need to address before your appointment, and consult it frequently during your conversation. When possible, bring your partner with you to help cover all of the concerns you have. Your partner can make his or her own list, or you can collaborate on coming up with questions together.

Take Notes

You’re likely to receive a great deal of information at once when you discuss your stillbirth with your doctor. Take careful notes during your consultation, rather than relying on your memory. These notes will help you clarify things and may highlight issues you need to explore further.

Get Help When You Need It

If you have concerns about medical negligence, talk to a medical malpractice lawyer about your case. Don’t directly confront your doctor about your concerns, but instead allow an experienced medical malpractice attorney investigate the case for you and determine if medical errors played a role in your stillbirth experience. Your lawyer can also help you understand what kind of compensation you may be eligible to seek.

After a stillbirth, let Pegalis & Erickson, LLC explore your claims of medical malpractice on Long Island, NY, and help you get the answers you deserve. Get a free consultation with an experienced attorney today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Cord blood is an increasingly promising resource in the healthcare industry. However, in the hectic environment of the delivery room, your physician may overlook discussing the option of saving your cord blood with you. As you would educate yourself about procedures you are undergoing, take time to learn the facts about cord blood before your child is delivered so you don’t miss an opportunity to preserve this potentially life-saving resource. July is Cord Blood Awareness month, making it the perfect chance to increase awareness about the issue.

What Is Cord Blood?

Cord blood is found in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. It is rich in stem cells in their earliest possible form, which means they are more easily adaptable than other stem cell sources. Unlike embryonic stem cells, there is no controversy surrounding the use of stem cells from cord blood. The blood is retrieved after delivery, so there is no risk to either mom or baby in the process.

How Can Cord Blood Be Used?

Doctors are using stem cells from cord blood to treat more than 80 different serious illnesses, including cancers, genetic disorders, and immune system deficiencies. Cord blood is used as part of transplant medicine as it helps to regenerate the immune system. Because of the young stage at which cord blood is removed, the stem cells do not have to be an exact match to the recipient.

What Are the Challenges in Using Cord Blood?

Storage is one obstacle in using cord blood. The blood must be banked in either a public or private cord blood facility. Lack of awareness is perhaps the biggest challenge. According to the Save the Cord Foundation, cord blood from 97 percent of the 4 million births in the U.S. each year is thrown away as medical waste.

If you have a concern about medicalcare you or a loved one received, including birth injuries or medication errors, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to learn about your rights. To schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Long Island, New York, please call (516) 684-2900.

Misdiagnosis is a type of medical malpractice that occurs when a physician’s negligence leads to an incorrect diagnosis or delayed diagnosis that causes harm to the patient. It is important to note that misdiagnosis malpractice involves more than simply incorrectly diagnosing or delaying the diagnosis of a condition. To demonstrate malpractice, your attorney must prove medical negligence has occurred.

There are three main factors in proving misdiagnosis medical malpractice. The first is to prove that a doctor-patient relationship actually existed. The second is proving that the doctor was negligent in the misdiagnosis because he or she did not provide reasonable and competent care. Lastly, your medical malpractice lawyer must show that this negligence caused harm. Errors can occur even when doctors provide reasonable and competent care, so demonstrating that the care provided was not competent is a crucial part of the case.

Does your misdiagnosis meet the criteria for medical malpractice? Call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900 to discuss your case with a medical negligence lawyer serving Long Island and determine if you are eligible to seek compensation.

As Father’s Day approaches, many men are about to be in the limelight. Fathers are celebrated for their importance to the family, providing all kinds of support to partners and children, so it’s especially important for men to watch their health so they can continue their roles in the family.

To prevent chronic and dangerous diseases like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, it’s imperative for men to eat well and exercise regularly. Exercise also reduces stress, which is a factor in the many illness including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease depression, gastrointestinal illness, and even Alzheimer’s.

Men should see their doctors for regular checkups. According to the CDC, men are 80% less likely than women to see a doctor regularly. In fact, regular checkups can catch diseases in their early and asymptomatic forms before they worsen, and cause life-altering complications.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we have devoted our lives to defending the legal rights of families who have been affected by medical malpractice in Long Island, New York and beyond. If you’re looking for answers about possible medical malpractice, call us today at (516) 684-2900.

Lake Success, NY, June 2016… Annamarie Bondi-Stoddard, Managing Partner at the law firm of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, and a Port Washington resident, was re-elected as an officer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA). Her role will be Treasurer for the 2016 – 2017 year. “It is a privilege to formally link with this group of dedicated attorneys who work to ensure wrongfully injured New Yorkers have access to the civil justice system, and who promote legislation to protect the rights of New Yorkers injured as a result of negligent acts,” said Bondi-Stoddard. NYSTLA’s important initiatives include preserving and enhancing New York’s civil justice system, such as advocating for the passing of Lavern’s Law to protect patient’s rights.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, also announces the election of West Hempstead, NY resident Linda M. Oliva, Esq., to President of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association (NCWBA). Ms. Oliva will serve a one year term as President for the 2016-2017 year. “I’m both honored and proud to serve our women’s bar association. We work to advance the status of women in society and of women in the legal profession,” said Ms. Oliva.

Ms. Bondi-Stoddard is one of a handful of female managing partners on Long Island, NY , and has been widely recognized for her achievements in the area of medical malpractice litigation. Her successful cases include securing a record medical malpractice settlement against NYC Health and Hospitals Corp., for an infant who sustained brain damage at birth as a result of oxygen deprivation and skull fracture. Bondi-Stoddard earned her J.D. from Boston University. The Port Washington, NY, resident joined Pegalis & Erickson, LLC in 1984, became managing attorney in 1986, and was named managing partner in 2001. She is named each year to the New York SuperLawyers and U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers lists as an attorney who has attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement through a selection process of independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Ms. Oliva is an attorney for plaintiffs in medical negligence cases. She manages pretrial litigation and appeals, representing children who have suffered from birth injuries, people of all ages who have experienced surgical complications and cardiovascular medical errors, and women who have suffered health care negligence such as the failure to diagnose and treat breast cancer. Ms. Oliva dedicates considerable time to community services, notably to breast cancer awareness with the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, and the Adelphi/New York State Breast Cancer Hotline Creative Cups program. She was named to the New York SuperLawyers lists in 2016, 2015, and 2014 after a selection process of independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

About Pegalis & Erickson, LLC P& E is a personal injury law firm focused on representing people that suffered medical negligence. US News and World Report named us to their 2016 Best Law Firms list for medical malpractice in New York, and founder Steven Pegalis, as 2016 Lawyer of the Year. In our forty five years of practice, we have helped thousands obtain funds for services they need to survive day-to-day. We are advocates for patient safety and medical accountability to ensure safer medical practices for better patient care. Visit us at PegalisandErickson.com for health news you can use and follow us on Twitter and Facebook .

A medical mistake can have tragic consequences, including birth injuries that can result in permanent disability. But far too often, parents are told that birth injuries or maternal injuries were inevitable; that there was simply nothing the doctors could have done. If you, your partner, or your child may have been affected by medical malpractice, you do have the right to know what happened.

The hospital staff won’t always be forthcoming with the facts, which is why families might turn to a medical negligence lawyer for help. A lawyer can request medical records and review the case, perhaps with the help of a medical consultant. A lawyer can also help families affected by medical mistakes seek compensation for their loved ones’ injuries.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we have devoted our lives to defending the legal rights of families who have been affected by medical malpractice in Long Island, New York and beyond. We firmly believe that families have the right to know what has happened when a loved one is affected by medical negligence. If you’re looking for answers about possible medical malpractice, call us today at (516) 684-2900.

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.

Stillbirth occurs when a developing baby dies after the 20 ^th week of gestation. If the baby is lost before this point, it is referred to as a miscarriage. Stillbirth is an indescribable tragedy for a family. After it occurs, bereaved parents may need to know why they lost their baby. Unfortunately, the cause of stillbirth cannot always be determined. However, in some cases, it is possible that medical malpractice played a role. Medical malpractice can include mistakes made while the expectant mother was receiving prenatal care.

Infectious Diseases

It is possible for stillbirth to be caused by infectious diseases that affect the mother, baby, or placenta. Infectious diseases are particularly dangerous when they occur prior to the 28 ^th week of gestation. A range of infections can cause the death of a developing baby, including listeriosis, fifth disease, cytomegalovirus, and syphilis. Prenatal care providers are responsible for detecting these possible problems and treating them to protect the health of mother and baby.

Umbilical Cord Problems

Less commonly, a baby may die before birth because of problems with the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord may become twisted or knotted, or it may not be properly affixed to the placenta. This interferes with the supply of oxygen to the baby and can cause stillbirth. Often, a stillbirth that involves umbilical cord problems also involves other complications, such as a prolonged and difficult delivery.

Placenta Problems

Placental abruption is a life-threatening problem that involves the partial or complete separation of the placenta from the uterus before birth. When this occurs, the baby is deprived of the nutrients and oxygen he or she needs. Additionally, placental abruption contributes to the risk of severe bleeding. This complication most often occurs during the third trimester.

The medical negligence lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC have a longstanding history of securing substantial settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of families affected by birth injuries and stillbirth. If your baby was stillborn, you deserve to know why. Contact our medical malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York at (516) 684-2900 to schedule a consultation.

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.