Medical errors stem from a variety of reasons including poor communication, negligence and lackluster implementation of protocols. A critical part of patient safety is the documentation of every patient's personal information, health history and treatment plans....
Medical Malpractice
Are there limits on damages for medical malpractice in Missouri?
As of 2015, medical malpractice claims in Missouri face certain caps based on the severity of the injury. As the Missouri Department of Insurance explains, a new state law differentiates catastrophic from non-catastrophic injuries and sets noneconomic limits for each...
Name confusion may cause surgical errors
Patients are putting their lives in the hands of surgeons when they undergo an operation, so there should be no question that the surgery team will conduct the proper procedure on the patient. Unfortunately, sometimes surgical errors happen. In some instances,...
How can I prevent a misdiagnosis?
When you are sick or not feeling well, it is common sense to go to the doctor to see if it is anything serious. Unfortunately, medical doctors can make mistakes and misdiagnose the issue. While doctors have around a 95% success rate when it comes to diagnosing their...
What do I need to do to prove medical malpractice?
Suffering an injury due to the negligence of a medical professional is the general definition of medical malpractice. However, it takes more than saying your doctor hurt you to successfully win this type of case. According to the Missouri Department of Health &...
Surgical errors: basics and prevention
Sometimes surgeons make mistakes that cause you harm. Surgical errors can be serious and you need to know what they are and how to prevent them. Surgical errors can happen at any point in a medical procedure. These errors are "never events" because these situations...
3 reasons to seek a second doctor’s opinion
Perhaps, like many people, you feel hesitant to go against your doctors. You may feel you do not have the clout to question them, or maybe a care provider has dismissively labeled you as “noncompliant” in your medical chart when you have spoken up in the past. ...
Heuristics in healthcare
Turn to any form of popular media, and it will not be long before you encounter news of some recent medical breakthrough. With all of these advances in medical science, it prompts the question of how is it that diagnostic are still such a huge problem plaguing the...
How can I get a second opinion from a doctor?
Patients who play active roles in their health and wellness often have more favorable outcomes. This is especially true after receiving a life-changing diagnosis, which is the case with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Even if you have faith in your current...
What are the most common hospital misdiagnoses?
When you arrive at the hospital, you expect that the doctor will diagnose your medical condition, treat you and send you home better than you were before. What happens if you do not improve with treatment? What if it only becomes worse over time? This is a reality...