Posted on November 05,2018 in Medical Malpractice

According to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the website MedPage, there have been more than 500 cases in which the doctors commit malpractice in one state and then obtain a clean license in another state. One such case came hit the headlines recently when Dr. Jay Riseman, who practiced surgery in Illinois, was sued for committing malpractice 13 times in his 15-year. He then moved to Kansas City and continued his medical career.

Based on the court records, he once failed to remove a catheter while performing a surgery on a 68 year old patient. The patient became infected and eventually died. Even after this incident, he went on to work for three other medical institutions in Kansas City.

Dr. Riseman obtained his hospice and palliative medicine fellowship from The KU School of Medicine in 2010 and became supervised in clinical training while seeing patients at two sites, namely Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care and the University of Kansas Hospital. He also practiced at St. Luke's Health System and Shawnee Mission Health.

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 Posted on November 01,2018 in Medical Malpractice

SSM Health Care will have to pay $1.36 million to a couple from Jefferson County for medical malpractice resulting in death of a 14 week old fetus in 2012. The trial continued for five days and the 12 jurors established that SSM was careless in releasing a pregnant woman when she was not well. The woman, Lindsey Setzer, reported to have been suffering from kidney stones and an infection in her urinary tract that led to the loss of her fetus.

The next day when she woke up, she had a high fever with rapid heartbeat. She was immediately rushed to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur, where the doctors treated her for sepsis, which resulted from her urinary infection. It took seven days for her to recover, but her unborn baby did not survive, and it and left her traumatized.

The couple sued Dr Joseph Hermann and the network hospital, SSM Health Care, for their loss. As per the lawsuit, Lindsey Setzer had a history of stones in her kidney, and she went to SSM Care for pain in her right side and a urinary tract infection. When she was discharged from the hospital, her heart rate was above 140 beats per minute and she had fever and nausea. She was not even given antibiotics to kill the infection.

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 Posted on October 26,2018 in Personal Injury Attorney

Brenda Alcala of Dallas filed a slip and fall lawsuit and was awarded more than $4.9 million pertaining to her broken ankle in January 2010. A jury from Scott County established that Courtyard Management and Marriott International showed negligence in taking care of their premises, which resulted in a serious injury to Alcala after she slipped on the ice outside the Bettendorf hotel.

The report says that Alcala was in Quad Cities to meet her client and around 8 am on Jan 21, 2010. Her lawyer said that Alcala broke her right ankle and had to undergo two surgeries. The injury resulted in pay cuts as she could not manage to travel to meet her clients. Witnesses first testified in her 2014 trial, after which a jury awarded her $1.2 million.

Marriott, in 2015, appealed the ruling to the Iowa Court of Appeals and the district court decision was reversed. Acala again filed a plea in Iowa Supreme Court. In June 2016, the case was sent back to Scott County for another trial. In a 23-page written decision, the state's top court's judge cited that the instructions given by the district court were based on insufficient evidence provided.

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 Posted on October 22,2018 in Medical Malpractice

If you have suffered harm at the hands of a healthcare provider, be it a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, or another health professional, you may have a cause of action to file a medical malpractice suit against the healthcare professional and recoup damages for your losses. However, in order to win your lawsuit, you will have to prove that the professional in question breached the medical standard of care owed to you. Our lawyers at the office of Newland and Newland can assist you in understanding what the medical standard of care is and how to prove it.

What is the Medical Standard of Care?

In a standard personal injury claim, a plaintiff must prove negligence—the failure to exercise a reasonable degree of care—of the defendant in order to win their suit. In a medical malpractice suit, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached the medical standard of care.

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 Posted on October 18,2018 in Medical Malpractice

Doctors make many mistakes; in fact, medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States. While doctors may be faulted for failing to treat a patient, for misdiagnosing a patient, or for committing a serious surgical error, what is rarely heard about or condemned is over-treating a patient. Over-treating a patient can be expensive for the patient, and even dangerous in some cases. Indeed, in certain situations, a patient's over-treatment may warrant a medical malpractice claim.

Over-Treatment of Patients Cause for Concern

Over-treatment may be more common than you think. An article published in The New York Times cites data reporting that on average, doctors believe that nearly 21% of all medical care is unnecessary, including 22% of prescriptions, over 11% of procedures, and nearly 25% of tests.

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 Posted on October 15,2018 in Slip and Fall

As the weather cools and fall and winter set in, there is a lot to look forward to; fall is beloved for its colors, and the winter holidays are often much anticipated. In addition to all of the benefits that the change in season brings, there are also a few risks associated with colder weather, including the increased risk of a slip and fall accident. Here is a look into what you need to know about cooler weather, winter slip and falls, and liability for any injuries that result.

Winter Slip and Falls: How Cooler Temperatures Increase the Risk of a Slip and Fall Accident

A slip and fall accident can occur at any time of the year. Spills of food and drink, debris in walkways, uneven walking surfaces, and broken stairs are not season-dependent. In the autumn and wintertime, however, adverse weather can significantly increase the number of dangerous walking areas. Rain and snow can make surfaces that would otherwise be safe to walk on slippery, and if temperatures drop below freezing, icy walking areas are a serious risk.

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 Posted on September 28,2018 in Neck Injury

There many causes of car accidents, but many independent experts believe that inattention behind the wheel is number one. Drivers are often reluctant to admit they were not paying attention. Since there is no roadside exam or blood test for not paying attention, drivers will need take more accountability and be sure to avoid driving while distracted or fatigued in order to prevent accidents.

Car accidents happen pretty frequently, but being injured in a car accident, even a minor one, can result in serious long-term effects that you might not be aware of right away. It is important to visit the emergency room or doctor after you have been in a car accident, even if there are no physical signs of injury. Many times, you can have an injury that you do not immediately notice. For instance, a neck injury is a common injury after a car accident and rarely shows physical symptoms, but it can become quite serious if left untreated. If you were recently in a car accident, you should visit your doctor right away. If the car accident was not your fault, speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you pay for your medical bills.

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 Posted on September 26,2018 in Slip and Fall

Carrie Lewis, an Illinois woman, sued a Forever 21 retail store after she accidentally slipped on a “Wet Floor” sign that had fallen over and was lying flat in the middle of the entrance to the store. Lewis says, as she was leaving the store, she stepped on the sign and flew into the entrance door headfirst. Later, she had to undergo major surgery for serious injuries to her neck and back.

How Often do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?

A study by the National Floor Society found that people experience a slip and fall at least 25,000 times per day and those incidents cost each person at least $12,000 on average in medical bills. If you have experienced an injury because of a slip and fall in a commercial place of business (store, hospital, gym, etc.) or another private property (someone's home, yard, driveway, etc.), according to Illinois personal injury laws, you may be able to sue for compensation from the owner of the property if they had knowledge of the risk. For instance, in Carrie Lewis' case, Forever 21 had knowledge of the risk because someone from the store had knowingly placed the sign in front of a crowded walkway where people were constantly walking in and out; therefore, the Judge found them responsible for Lewis' injuries.

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 Posted on September 06,2018 in Uncategorized

Having a “living will” and preparing your will for after you have passed are two very different types of legally binding documents that offer protection to you and your family. Traditionally, you would draw up a will when deciding how your cherished personal effects, including money, will be divided amongst your family. However, a living will dictates how you will be treated in the event you become terminally ill and are unable to communicate or will require constant medical care in order to sustain your life.

What can I Include in My Living Will?

Your living will include (in your own words) what care you would like to receive during a terminal illness. For example, directions for CPR, insertion of a feeding tube, breathing aided by respirator, and blood transfusions can be included in your living will. In other cases, your living will may state that you do not want to be placed on a respirator but that you want a feeding tube for nutrition. You may even specify that someone else should make the decision for you. On the other hand, you can use your living will if you want all life-prolonging medical treatments used to extend your life.

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 Posted on September 06,2018 in Spinal Injuries

Were you or a loved one recently involved in an auto accident? If your answer is “yes” and you are not seriously injured, you may not realize that you have been until hours or even days after being hit. Injuries sustained in a car accident typically occur in the form of head and back, and neck and chest injuries. Although any injury that you might have sustained should be examined by your doctor, the most important injuries to be aware of are head and back injuries. Even if you do not see signs of visible trauma, but there is pain or stiffness, seeking an examination from a medical professional will ensure that your injuries do not become worse. Any injury to your spinal cord is the most severe type of non-visible trauma, as prolonged neglect can lead to loss of movement or feeling.

Injuries to your lower back in the form of sprains and herniated disks are the most commonly diagnosed injury sustained in a car accident. A herniated disk (sometimes referred to as a “hernia”) is when your intervertebral disc (the cushion in between your vertebrae in your spine) pushes out or bulges or even ruptures. Hernias can occur in your back or neck, and sometimes may be difficult to determine, as they can sometimes go undetected. Here are three most common signs of a herniated disk:

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