When you feel unlike yourself, you may count on your doctor to determine what is wrong with you and what you need to do to feel better. However, a doctor’s ability to help make you feel better depends on his or her ability to make a correct diagnosis in the first place. Pancreatic cancer is among the more difficult types of cancer to diagnose. However, when doctors fail to diagnose pancreatic cancer, the repercussions may prove deadly. According to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the long-term prognosis for a pancreatic cancer patient depends on several different factors.  These factors include t ..read more

The overwhelming majority of surgeons, anesthesiologists, perioperative nurses and other operating room staff perform their duties with care and professionalism, but it only takes one instance of medical malpractice to cause a serious and life-changing injury. Surgical errors come in many forms. Some of the most common errors that cause injuries in the operating room include: Nicks and cuts to organs, arteries and other internal body parts Leaving scalpels, gauzes, sponges and other instruments behind inside the patient’s body Wrong-site surgery Anesthesia errors, whether too much, too little ..read more

As a female in what you thought as a closed relationship, you never thought to worry about HIV. Your partner said they were tested, and you trusted them. Later on, you started having unusual infections. Yeast seemed to get out of control, and typical medications weren’t working. You asked the doctor for tests, and they did test you for STDs. Nothing came back, so you were told it wasn’t anything to worry about while receiving minimal treatment. If you have now been informed that you have AIDS after failing to receive treatment for HIV, you have every right to be upset. Failing to test for this ..read more

When a person has an illness and clear symptoms of that illness, they expect that a competent medical professional will be able to diagnose them quickly and to begin treatment. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes medical professionals do not dedicate enough time or care toward understanding all of the symptoms of a patient. They may dismiss them as a hypochondriac, or otherwise simply not thoroughly investigate their symptoms or possible underlying conditions. If this happens, a patient’s health may continue to deteriorate, and without a diagnosis, they will not be able to get the ..read more

When you arrive at an emergency room, you expect to receive prompt and professional care. If that doesn’t happen, your current and future health is at risk. While most emergency room visits go off without hitch, there are times when mistakes are made. And depending on the circumstances, this can result in serious injury, illness or even death. Beware of these errors You can only do so much to protect yourself when visiting an emergency room, as a large portion of your attention is focused on your ailment or injury. However, knowledge of the most common errors can help you protect yourself. Mis ..read more

The school year has begun at many colleges and universities in Iowa and across the country. While many classes will be digital due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most American colleges are reopening their campuses to students. If you have a son or daughter in college, that could mean they will soon be going to the university health center when they feel seriously ill. But if a report by The Washington Post is correct, your student’s university may not be providing reasonable medical care to him or her. In fact, your child could be at a significant risk of having a serious illness getting misdiagnos ..read more

As the parent of adult children, the announcement of an upcoming grandchild is often a time for excitement, especially if this will be your first grandchild. While most families get to welcome healthy new babies into their household, a small portion of expectant parents and their families will wind up receiving devastating news late in the pregnancy or after the birth of their child. Discovering that your grandchild has special needs or serious medical conditions can feel like a devastating blow. Medical issues in an infant will likely have lasting consequences for everyone in your extended fa ..read more

People in Iowa who are concerned about a medical issue will do what they perceive to be the right thing and go to the doctor. A key to the proper treatment of a medical problem is an accurate diagnosis. While it is understandable that certain illnesses and conditions can take some time to correctly gauge and treat, it is up to the physician and other staff members to take the necessary steps to discover the problem and address it. However, new research says that certain medical problems are misdiagnosed at a worrisome frequency. This can cause a worsened condition, long-term damage and even de ..read more

Awaiting the birth of a child should be one of the most exciting times of your life. You should be thinking about setting up the baby room, choosing a name, and planning for the future of your family with your new addition.   Yet, if you’re reading this post, then your hopes for a safe birth may have been dashed by a birth injury caused by medical malpractice. Nothing is more gut-wrenching and heartbreaking than seeing your child in pain. It is unexpected and unacceptable. While we hope that your child’s injuries were minor, given the fragile nature of a newborn, there is a very real poss ..read more

A new study says as many as 80,000 people die each year in U.S. hospitals as a result of diagnostic errors. Additionally, misdiagnoses related to the “Big Three” diseases – cancer, infections and vascular disease – account for three out of every four malpractice claims. The study was funded by the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine and reviewed more than 55,000 cases from 2006 to 2015, finding 11,592 diagnostic errors. Nearly half were attributed to 15 specific diseases. Study lists key findings The study’s lead researcher says the investigation confirms previous data illustrating the im ..read more