Wishing all those who celebrate Chanukah a healthy and wonderful holiday. 

If you have been successfully treated by a doctor or nurse, you know how valuable these professionals are. But like all people, medical professionals make mistakes—some of which are pure chance, but other mistakes are due to negligence. Some people are surprised to hear about large payouts from medical malpractice cases, but doctors and hospitals that are reckless with patient diagnoses and treatment should be accountable for their negligence. Here’s the truth behind common medical malpractice myths:    

MYTH: Medical malpractice cases drive up healthcare costs

Some people assume that the cost of malpractice insurance and malpractice payouts leave hospitals with little money to pay for supplies and treatment, thus driving up the cost for patients. A Dartmouth study revealed that medical malpractice accounted for only $11 out of every $1000 spent on hospital services.

MYTH: There are too many frivolous cases

Some people think that medical malpractice plaintiffs/patients  try to “work the system” by filing frivolous lawsuits and hoping for a large settlement. However, most medical malpractice lawyers are only paid on contingency, and only take cases they know they can win. A Harvard study found that 97% of all medical malpractice claims are legitimate and involve people who are seriously hurt.

MYTH: Medical malpractice suits affect hospitals, not doctors

When a medical malpractice settlement is awarded, some people argue that it’s the hospital that ends up suffering, rather than the doctor. In fact, often both the doctor and the hospital are held accountable; the doctor for his negligence, and in certain situations, the hospital for creating the conditions wherein a doctor could be negligent. In the end, the hospital may penalize the negligent doctor or dismiss him altogether.

The attorneys of Pegalis & Erickson can answer all of your medical malpractice questions and walk you through the process. We help victims of birth injuries, cancer diagnostic delays and errors, and other types of medical mistakes obtain fair compensation for their damages. Call our Long Island office at (516) 684-2900 to speak with a skilled attorney. 

Study Suggests protection from cervical cancer through HPV screening may be better than Pap test. Screening offered greater protection against cervical cancer three years after either test was given. Screening for the human papillomavirus (HPV) is more effective than Pap tests for protecting women against invasive cervical cancer, a new study suggests.The increased protection offered by HPV screening was particularly notable in women aged 30 to 35. HPV-based screening provides 60â?”70% greater protection against invasive cervical carcinomas compared with cytologyThe researchers also found that HPV screening every five years was most protective against invasive cancers of the cervix, compared with Pap test screening done every three years. Read the summary here in the Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/piis0140-6736(13)62218-7/abstract

Happy Thanksgiving to all our clients, friends, and family!

 Lake Success, NY, November 4, 2013 –For the fourth consecutive year, the law firm of Pegalis and Erickson announce their top Tier One ranking as a 2014 “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® . Firms included in the 2014 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Additionally, Steven Pegalis, Stephen Erickson, Annamarie Bondi-Stoddard, and Sanford Nagrotsky, all partners at Pegalis& Erickson, LLC, have been named to the 2014 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© .

“We’re proud to be named as a New York Tier One “Best Law Firm” again this year, as the review process is first-rate. We are most proud of the success we enjoy on behalf of our clients by providing peace of mind, a sense of justice, and financial security. Our team’s personal investment in each case has brought about our consistent success,” said Stephen Erickson, senior partner at Pegalis & Erickson.

For the 2014 rankings over 12,000 attorneys provided over 330,000 law firm assessments, and almost 7,000 clients provided close to 20,000 evaluations. Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.  The rankings can be seen in their entirety at BestLawFirms.USNews.com.

ABOUT US: Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, is a law firm who focuses on seriously injured people that suffered medical negligence. We have won some of the largest verdicts in NY history for birth trauma, misdiagnosed cancers, and surgical errors.  For more than forty years our dedication and commitment has helped patients and/or their families to secure monetary restitution to continue day-to-day- living. We strive to be an advocate for patient safety by securing medical accountability and safer medical practices for better patient care. Please visit us at www.pegalisanderickson.com.

ABOUT THE RANKINGS:   The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional info provided by law firms’ submission process. Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services for 30 years to identify attorneys best qualified to represent them.

Contact:   Ellen Christie, Marketing Director

(516) 684-2900

echristie@pegalisanderickson.com

Researchers reviewed 28 published studies on operating room errors and found that technology/equipment issues were cited in about 15 percent of malpractice claims. An average of 2.4 errors occurred in each procedure, and technology/equipment issues accounted for 23.5 percent of these errors.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_139061.html

  LINDA OLIVA, ESQ. NAMED A TOP 50 WOMAN IN BUSINESS

Lake Success, NY, October 11, 2013; Linda M. Oliva, Esq. has been named one of Long Island’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business by the Long Island Business News, for her contributions to the economy and community. The Top 50 will be honored at a gala on Thursday, October 17, at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Oliva has been a distinguished attorney for plaintiffs in medical negligence cases for more than 20 years. She handles all aspects of pretrial litigation and appeals representing patients in cases involving birth injury, surgical, neurosurgical, cardiac, and women’s health care negligence including the failure to diagnose and treat breast cancer. Oliva dedicates considerable time to community services. In 2011, she was the Nassau County Women’s Bar Foundation Courage Award recipient. Oliva serves on the Board of Directors of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, and is active in several organizations that support Breast Cancer research, awareness, and patient support, including the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, the Adelphi Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline, the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association Foundation Golf Outing Committee which raises money for breast cancer research and awareness.  She has also mentored students at the ABGS Middle School in Hempstead, NY. 

Oliva has been back with Pegalis and Erickson, LLC, since 1996. Linda M. Oliva, Esq. obtained her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University, where she was elected to Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society) and Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish Honor Society). She is admitted to practice law in New York State and in the Federal Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

About Us: Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, is a law firm who focuses on serious injured people that suffered medical negligence. We have won the largest verdicts in NY history for birth trauma, misdiagnosed cancers, and surgical errors.  For more than forty years our dedication and commitment has helped patients and/or their families to secure some monetary restitution to continue day-to-day- living. We strive to be an advocate for patient safety by securing medical accountability and safer medical practices for better patient care. Please visit us at www.pegalisanderickson.com . 

Way to go to our own Giancarlo A. Sivirichi who joined the 12th Annual Tunnel to Towers run/walk to honor the 343 Fire Department of New York brothers and all 9/11 victims this past weekend. If we have a team next year, would you like to join?

Pleased to support RotaCare NY through their 20th Annual Caregivers Ball. Do you know RotaCare? They provide free health care and medications for L.I.’s neediest through volunteer medical professionals. You can support them here  http://www.rotacareny.org/donation.html  

Every day, American doctors write thousands of prescriptions for pharmaceutical drugs and treatments. Men, women, and children rely on this medicine to treat a wide range of short-term and chronic conditions, from sinus infections to back pain to cancer. When a medication error causes a patient to get the wrong medicine, an incorrect dosage, or insufficient information, there can be devastating health consequences. Here is what patients can do to avoid falling victim to this kind of medical malpractice.

Ask Questions
To get the most benefits from your medicine, it’s important to understand how it works. Be sure to ask your doctor the name of the medication and its purpose, and jot down notes about the proper dosage and potential side effects. Always provide all physicians with your medical history and a list of current medications to avoid harmful interactions. Finally, ask if there are any foods, drinks, or activities you should avoid while taking the prescription.

Read All Labels
When you pick up your medicine, double-check the label to make sure that it matches your physician’s notes. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to ask the pharmacist, and don’t sign off on any documents until you feel satisfied. Next, read every word of the label very carefully.

Request Documentation
Your last step before leaving the pharmacy should be to take a look at the medicine and request printed information sheets. Many medications today come with both standard labels and smaller pamphlets that both explain how to take the medicine and outline potential side effects. Always inquire further if your medicine looks different from your previous dosage or the pharmacist fails to provide extra instructions.

Patients put their trust in doctors, hospitals, and pharmacists, and medical mistakes made by these trusted professionals can have lifelong effects. If you have suffered a medical injury or were the victim of medical malpractice, contact the Law Office of Pegalis & Erickson in Long Island. Our medical malpractice attorneys offer free consultations, and we speak Spanish, Russian, and Greek. You can reach us by calling (516) 684-2900.