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Advocating For Seriously Injured Victims Of Medical Negligence In DC And Northern Virginia
Some people go to the doctor for every sniffle and symptom and others avoid doctors at all costs until a trip to the doctor's office or hospital is necessary. Whatever type of patient you may be, one thing is for certain: you put your life in the hands of a doctor to diagnose you, operate on you, or to deliver your baby.
Because doctors have reputations for being intelligent and skilled in their profession, patients trust them; however, most physicians have a lot of work to do in a little time and are often rushed. As a result, many doctors make critical mistakes when diagnosing conditions or when they are in the operating room. When doctors fail to double and triple check their work or fail to react to an urgent situation in a timely manner, they can make errors that adversely affect patients' lives.
Disabling Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence
If you suffered a disabling injury after being in a doctor's care, you may have been a victim of medical malpractice; however, it may be difficult for you to know if your injury was the result of medical negligence. Although the list below shows some examples of how disabling injuries can occur from medical malpractice, it is always a good idea to speak with an attorney right away if you think you have suffered due to a medical professional's carelessness and negligence.
Beware: Intersections Aren’t Always Safe For Pedestrians
In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic crashes, and 18% of these fatalities took place at intersections, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is shocking since intersections and crosswalks were designed with pedestrian safety in mind. Unfortunately, these numbers indicate that walking across an intersection-even in a crosswalk-isn't always safe.
The dangers associated with walking through intersections are very real. Intersections are busy places, with drivers changing lanes, going straight, turning, and trying to make it through before the light turns red. And most drivers are generally looking for other traffic-not pedestrians. As a result, intersections can be very dangerous for people trying to cross the street on foot.
Causes of Pedestrian Intersection Accidents
Pedestrian accidents that occur at intersections are often caused by driver negligence and failure to follow the rules of the road. Some of the most common factors involved in these types of pedestrian accidents include:
The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Automated Machines Used To Administer Medicine
There is no denying that we live in a modern world in which technology is constantly changing. If you are like most people, you use technology every day-from your cell phone to your computer. Technology seems to be advancing every day and transforming the way people live and work. Although there are many benefits to these advances, technology has its disadvantages as well.
Take the medical field, for example. Technological improvements have greatly impacted healthcare by helping researchers gather information, allowing doctors to better communicate with their patients, and providing new ways to practice medicine. However, technology has also caused unnecessary patient injuries and fatalities.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the positives and negatives of technology used in the practice of medicine. More specifically, this article will focus on how automated technology used to administer drugs has impacted patient care.
Hospitals and Technology
Medication errors occur in hospitals on a regular basis-from pharmacists not diluting a concentrated solution to nurses miscalculating a dosage. Unfortunately, innocent patients' lives have been negatively affected, and many people have suffered needless injuries, additional surgeries, and even death as a result of mistakes made in the administration of medication. This is why most hospitals have turned to using computers and other technological innovations to help improve patient safety.
When Are Diagnosing Errors Considered Medical Malpractice?
When an illness, condition, or reoccurring problem causes a person to see a doctor, one trusts that the doctor will be able to diagnose the condition appropriately. However, some doctors actually make diagnosing mistakes that cause patients further harm. Although diagnosis errors occur in a small number of cases, the effects of a misdiagnosis can be huge for victims since this type of medical mistake produces quite serious and even deadly results.
While medical errors can occur on any level in the healthcare setting, one of the biggest causes of concern is when a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis. Some common diagnosing errors that result in medical malpractice claims include:
- Misdiagnosing breast cancer. A misdiagnosis can lead to the removal of an otherwise healthy breast, or a cancerous mass could have been labeled as a benign tumor that should have been removed.
- Misdiagnosing colon cancer. Doctors may diagnose cancer when patients may be cancer-free, or doctors may fail to take the time and order the proper tests that would have revealed the cancer.
Driver Seat Accident Risks That Can Put Your Pregnancy At Risk
Driving is a daily necessity for most; however, when you're expecting, that necessity may be putting your child at risk. Although the chance of getting into an accident is relatively low, if you are in an accident, the chance that your baby will suffer is high. According to a Department of Transportation study on pregnant driving injury risks, 70% of fetuses whose mothers were in car accidents suffered some sort of consequence, even if their mothers only suffered minor injuries. This means that seven out of 10 expectant mothers who are in accidents, even minor fender benders, run the risk of hurting their babies as a result of driving.
Why is the risk so high? What is it about an accident that could hurt your baby?
Collision Factors That Can Hurt Your Unborn Child
Every single car accident has the potential to cause serious harm. As a result of impact forces and flying debris, even a small fender bender can cause whiplash, muscle and nerve damage, or far worse injuries if you happen to be pregnant. This is why it is extremely important to understand that driving while pregnant not only puts you at risk, but your child as well. Therefore, before getting behind the wheel, make sure you know the following collision dangers:
The Long-Term Risks Of Gastric Bypass Surgery In Virginia
Did you try for years to lose weight and keep it off? Were you always trying new diets in hopes that one would work? After much consideration, you may have opted for a gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery is considered an "elective" surgery by patients that have exhausted all other weight loss efforts. If you had gastric bypass surgery, did your Virginia or DC doctor inform you of the risks involved with the procedure? While every surgery holds some risk, the complications during gastric bypass surgery and after can be long-lasting and life-changing. Read below to see if you were informed of all the potential complications:
From the surgical procedure (as with any surgery):
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Excessive bleeding during surgery
- Lung or breathing problems
- Infection
Post-operative risks specifically related to gastric bypass:
- Leaks in your gastrointestinal system
Leaking can occur along any of the staple lines in your stomach and could require an additional emergency surgery.
Virginia Medical Malpractice Attorney Reveals Plastic Surgery Dangers
When you think of medical malpractice in Virginia or Washington, D.C., plastic surgery does not always come to mind. However, while plastic surgery is oftentimes elective and done for cosmetic reasons, it is still a surgery in which mistakes can be made by the surgeon. With millions and millions of plastic surgeries conducted every year, plastic surgery has become commonplace. Unfortunately, the errors associated with plastic surgery have also become commonplace. Patients enter the hospital or doctor's office with hopes of creating a more youthful appearance, but reality sets in when they end up dealing with serious complications.
Common Plastic Surgery Mistakes
Virginia medical malpractice attorney explains common plastic surgery mistakes:
- Improperly performed procedures
- Incorrect medication
- Surgical errors
- Poor post-operative care
These mistakes can cause a patient significant distress and could result in:
- An unnatural look
Understanding Skin Cancer And Whether Medical Negligence Is To Blame For Delayed Treatment
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States? And although doctors are aware just how common it is, sometimes skin cancer goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to medical negligence.
Understanding Skin Cancer
The main cause of skin cancer is the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. This is why any exposure to UV light that comes from the sun or tanning beds can put people at risk for developing skin cancer. "About 86 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays," said Perry Robins, M.D., president of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
There are many different types of skin cancer, such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. About 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed every year in this nation with basal cell cancers or squamous cell skin cancers. According to American Cancer Society, the number of people getting diagnosed with these skin cancers has increased over the past few years. However, melanoma is the most dangerous and difficult type of skin cancer to treat once it spreads; fortunately, it is not as common as the other types; about 87,110 new melanomas are expected to be diagnosed this year.
Rear-End Collisions Are All-Too Common On Virginia Roads
While many people assume that rear-end collisions typically take place in slow speed fender-benders, this is simply not always the case. There are many rear-end crashes that happen on highways at high speeds and cause serious damages. Unfortunately, rear-end accidents can lead to many different types of injuries including whiplash, ligament damage, back and neck injuries, broken bones, facial injuries, and even serious head and brain injuries. Sadly, rear-end collisions at high speeds can also be fatal.
Causes of Rear-End Collisions
In most cases, the driver of the car that fails to stop in time to avoid hitting the car in front will be determined to be at fault for a rear-end collision. Because driver negligence almost always plays a factor in this type of wreck, these negligent behaviors are usually to blame:
- Distracted driving. When drivers take their eyes off the wheel and attention off of driving, it is easy to miss brake lights and stopped traffic. Consequently, distracted drivers frequently cause rear-end accidents.
What Victims Of Truck Crashes Need To Know About Head Injuries
Traffic collisions cause a number of different injuries, from minor to life-changing. When it comes to crashes involving large trucks, victims in smaller vehicles often sustain injuries that are very severe in nature, such as head injuries. In fact, one of the most common causes of head and brain injuries is motor vehicle accidents.
The scary thing about suffering any type of head trauma is that head injuries-even minor injuries-can permanently change someone's life. This is why it is critical to seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible following a truck wreck and especially if a victim is experiencing any of the following symptoms.
Head Injury Symptoms to Watch Out For
- Dizziness
- Severe headache
- Confusion and trouble remembering things
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Seizures
- Eye and vision issues
- Weakness in one side of the body or numbness in the extremities
703-591-0067
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-0067
From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
