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.

The effects of medical malpractice can range from mild to severe. In the case of birth injuries, the result is often devastating. Children with birth injuries often suffer from permanent disabilities, preventing them from leading a normal childhood and enjoying a productive adulthood. Caring for a child with birth injuries can also take its toll on the entire family, causing financial problems and relationship strain. If your child has suffered birth injuries, a medical malpractice lawyer can help you obtain compensation from negligent doctors to help with the costs of medical care and other damages.

Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is also frequently referred to as a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves in the neck area. These nerves are responsible for enabling the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers to move and to have sensation. During a difficult delivery, the infant’s head and neck may be pulled or thrusted, which can lead to damage to these nerves. This causes temporary or permanent paralysis .

Clavicle Fractures
Clavicle fractures are among the most common types of birth injuries. They typically arise from birth trauma or a difficult delivery. For example, sometimes the newborn’s shoulder becomes stuck. Although in many cases, clavicle fractures in newborns heal very quickly, they can sometimes lead to complications. Since the brachial plexus is quite close to the collarbone, the child can suffer from damage to this important cluster of nerves. The resultant paralysis may be temporary or permanent.

Femur Fractures
Femur fractures aren’t quite as common as clavicle fractures. An infant’s thigh bone may break if the leg is twisted improperly during the delivery. This causes pain, particularly when the child is being changed or otherwise moved. Often these fractures heal but sometimes there can be serious complications resulting in permanent injury to the leg.

At Pegalis & Erickson, our medical malpractice team aggressively pursues the rights of families who have been affected by birth injuries. All case reviews are free of charge,. If medical negligence is identified in Long Island, New York, we can then file a medical malpractice lawsuit on your behalf to seek damages for all injuries that were a result of medical errors. If your child has been diagnosed with birth injuries, call us at (516) 684-2900.

It’s all too easy to think that medical malpractice will never happen to you. Unfortunately, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals aren’t infallible and medical errors such as birth injuries and medication errors occur every day. You may be startled to discover, that according to the Institute of Medicine, over 1.5 million people a year are injured as a result of medical errors. Even if you’re unsure of whether you could be a victim of negligence, you can contact a medical malpractice lawyer for a review of your case.

Compensation
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the injured patient can seek ompensation for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The vast majority of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court. This means that the defenfense counsel and the counsel for the patient negotiate a settlement for a sum of money without the need for a trial. Only a small percentage of cases are resolved with a jury verdict.

Allegations
A review of the allegations listed in medical malpractice cases reflects that most of them involve diagnosis errors, such as misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. In fact, of the top five allegations, diagnosis problems accounted for 33 percent of them. The second runner-up was surgical errors, which was named in 23 percent of the cases, with treatment problems being listed third at 18 percent. Medication errors and problems related to anesthesia are also entirely too prevalent. Some examples of complications from anesthesia errors include oxygen deprivation, brain damage, cardiopulmonary arrest, and even death.

At Pegalis & Erickson, a malpractice law firm in Long Island, New York, you’re never treated like just another statistic. Our medical malpractice lawyers provide personalized attention, and will carefully listen to your concerns and thoroughly answer all of your questions. Call (516) 684-2900 today for your free consultation.