Doctors and medical staff are held to a high professional standard. For the most part, medical professionals meet these demands and treat patients to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, there are occasions when medical professionals may fail to meet their obligations and the care they administer falls below accepted standards. If a patient is injured as a result of this failure, they may be entitled to file a medical malpractice suit. For a medical malpractice case to gain traction, the following four elements must be satisfied. The duty of care A duty of care refers to the expected leve ..read more

Communication is vital to any functional relationship. That is as true for a professional relationship as it is for interpersonal relationships. For example, patients generally need to be able to trust their physicians enough to be honest about potentially embarrassing symptoms and the details of their lifestyle. They need to effectively convey concerns to their doctor during appointments. Unfortunately, many patients struggle to receive an accurate diagnosis. A doctor might never diagnose them at all or may diagnose them with the wrong condition. The patient may later blame a physician for re ..read more

Over the last few decades, an increasing number of hospitals, physician practices and nursing homes have all come under the ownership of private equity firms. Hailed for their supposed efficiency (and profits), private equity firms are having a huge impact on modern healthcare, but it isn’t a positive one.  No money, no supplies and poor patient care In theory, private equity companies are supposed to improve a medical practice’s efficiency without lowering the quality of care that patients receive.  In practice, however, studies indicate that patient falls, bed sores and hospital-ac ..read more

Poor healthcare worker communication is a significant issue that can adversely affect patient outcomes and safety, potentially leading to medical errors and malpractice. This concern spans across various aspects of healthcare delivery. Some of the ways that poor communication between healthcare workers or providers can result in medical malpractice include the following. Breakdowns in team coordination One of the primary ways that poor communication contributes to medical malpractice is through breakdowns in team coordination. Healthcare delivery often involves a multidisciplinary team approac ..read more

Before undergoing surgery, patients may naturally experience a mix of emotions, from anxiety to hope for improved health. Amid these feelings, the concern for medical malpractice, though unpleasant, is a valid consideration. Medical errors caused by negligent providers can lead to devastating outcomes, and this kind of professional mistreatment is usually out of patients’ hands. With that said, surgical patients can take proactive steps to minimize risks and more effectively protect themselves before they go under. Here we’ll discuss a few. Tips to keep in mind If you are undergoing a surgical ..read more

Massachusetts residents always want to be treated with respect when they see their doctors. Unfortunately, not all doctors have the best bedside manner; some are rude and even dismissive. This is when that attitude crosses the line into medical malpractice. Bad bedside manner explained Bedside manner is the way a doctor interacts with patients. Although some medical professionals are very attentive and compassionate, others are cold and don’t try to assuage a patient’s fears or concerns. In most cases, this doesn’t automatically equate to medical malpractice, but it can leave patients feeling ..read more

The medical care industry in Massachusetts is booming and shows no signs of stopping. But there may be a dark side to our country’s increasing need for health care. Malpractice claims against nurse practitioners are on the rise. Most commonly, medical malpractice claims are filed against physicians, but any healthcare worker is potentially liable. And there are certain factors and trends in healthcare that explain the rise in malpractice claims against nurse practitioners. The population is aging The biggest root cause behind the rise in malpractice suits and claims against nurse practitioners ..read more

For people in Massachusetts who are suffering from a medical condition, illness or injury, surgery is often the only alternative. Patients undoubtedly expect medical professionals to adhere to the highest standard of care. Unfortunately, medical errors happen frequently. Recognizing common surgical errors Any surgical mistake can do immense harm to a patient. However, some stand out with how often they occur. These include: A foreign object left in the patient Hospital infections Falling from the operating table A medication mistake Performing surgery on the wrong body part or wrong person Sta ..read more

When you are diagnosed with an illness in Massachusetts, you expect to have it treated correctly. You have the right to receive prompt and courteous treatment for any kind of injury that you may have suffered. If you should fail to receive the right type of medical care, this can lead to serious issues. The cause of the trouble may be malpractice. Common types of emergency room malpractice Medical malpractice can take place in a wide variety of settings. It is particularly grievous when it occurs in an ER. Emergency room malpractice costs the lives of many thousands of patients per year. Error ..read more

The notes entered on medical records by physicians and other clinicians offer insights into their opinion about patients’ behavior and the validity of their complaints. In Massachusetts and elsewhere, the attitudes of healthcare professionals can impact the quality that patients receive. When they have negative opinions, the terminology and phrases that they use in their medical notes may correspond with insufficient medical care. Types of negative comments in medical records Researchers evaluating the negative and positive terminology found in medical records grouped negative or unflattering ..read more