Events that should never occur in surgery (“never events”) happen at least 4,000 times a year in the U.S., according to research from Johns Hopkins University.
The finding published in Surgery, is the first of its kind to reveal the true extent of the prevalence of “never events” in hospitals through analysis of national malpractice claims.They observed that over 80,000 “never events” occurred between 1990 and 2010.
They estimate that at least 39 times a week a surgeon leaves foreign objects inside their patients, which includes surgical items such as towels or sponges. In addition, surgeons performing the wrong surgery or operating on the wrong body part occurs around 20 times a week.1
After Hurricane Sandy did catastrophic damage up and down the East Coast, 450,000 private insurance claims were filed in New Jersey alone. Estimates of property damage, business expenses and other losses have exceeded $80 billion, with estimated insured losses in the $25 billion range. Questions of causation, business interruption, water damage, reinsurance coverage, and more have all come to the forefront. Unfortunately, claim denials, underpayments of insurance claims, undervalued damage estimates, lowball insurance settlements, delayed payments or deceptive practices can infringe on legal rights.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly accident on the road than those in cars, with head injury being the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents. Additionally, while deaths in most other categories have gone down over the last 10 years, motorcycle fatalities have actually increased.
This trend demonstrates the need for qualified experts with specific knowledge about motorcycle accidents and accident reconstruction. Saponaro, Inc. can provide a cost-effective, physics based Impact Severity Analysis to provide clarification of the extent of impact and injury caused to your client in a motorcycle or automobile collision. (more…)
Personal injury cases require detailed evidence in a court of law. There are a variety of resources to use when presenting a personal injury case in a court room. No matter how a client was injured, from a traffic accident to medical negligence, trial technology can help build a visual that will help strengthen a personal injury case.
See how your personal injury case can benefit from using trial technology: (more…)
Employment litigation has tripled in the past decade to more than one-third of all lawsuits filed in the federal courts of the United States. Regulations, compliance, and assessments are increasing in complexity, and the number of employee suits filed each year continues to rise.
Saponaro, Inc. understands how to effectively and efficiently evaluate and refer an expert to address your employer-employee relations issues. If you are involved in employment litigation, and need a knowledgeable expert, please contact us.
When a person enters a hospital or other medical facility, they do so expecting the highest standards of care, and to leave in better condition than they first entered. While no one enters a medical facility with the intent of being harmed, injuries still occur.
While it’s not possible to completely eliminate your risk for medical malpractice, you can take some steps to reduce your risks:
Research: Before scheduling a doctor’s appointment, take some time to do some research of your own. There are many websites out there that will tell you malpractice rates for any facility, as well as sites that provide records and reviews on individual doctors.
Observe for Cleanliness: When you arrive at the office or facility, look around. Is everything clean and sterile? Do you observe doctors and nurses washing their hands and following other proper medical procedures? According to MIT Technology Review, about 100,000 people have died due to hospital infections, some of which stemmed from doctors, nurses, and technicians not washing well enough.
Ask Questions: Is the doctor knowledgeable about your condition, and able to provide satisfactory answers? If you feel like your doctor doesn’t seem to know or care about your condition, find another doctor.
Most doctors carry medical malpractice insurance to protect themselves and the cost of their legal defense should a medical malpractice case come about. The plaintiff, on the other hand, will need to hire a personal injury lawyer. Lawyers on both sides will call medical experts to either confirm or deny that the doctor’s conduct and actions fell below the standard of care.
If you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice, contact an attorney to find out whether or not you have a case.
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine published the groundbreaking publication “To Err Is Human,” a study which found that tens of thousands of patients died every year from medical mistakes. Despite this, only a small portion of such patients’ families file a medical negligence claim.
A 2002-2007 study took place in ten North Carolina hospitals, and found that injury to patients was commonplace and the instances of injury did not decline over time. The problems reported in the study included adverse reactions to drugs, the development of bedsores, the failure to prevent falls, and the readmission of a patient to a hospital within 30 days of discharge.
Unfortunately, reporting medical errors is voluntary. (more…)
Robotic surgery has come a long way since 1985 when the first robot was used to place a needle for a brain biopsy using CT guidance.
Today, more than 800 hospitals in the U.S. and Europe use the highly advanced da Vinci surgical system, and a host of other systems, to perform everything from hysterectomies to mitral valve repairs.
However, like any surgical procedure, there are risks involved, and a botched surgery can lead to serious life-long complications or even death. Because robotic surgical systems (RSS) are so new, doctors, hospitals, and even the FDA are still trying to assess those risks. (more…)
If you represent a person that has been injured or disfigured due to Dental Malpractice, contact Saponaro Inc. for a no-obligation discussion of your case and the recommendation of the service best suited to meet your needs.
Most people dislike going to the dentist, and when that dentist is negligent, it can cause patients to experience significant permanent trauma and pain. The impact of dental malpractice on a patient can seriously influence their appearance as well as their general health.
A dental expert witness referred by Saponaro, Inc. will provide independent dental evaluations, consultations, depositions, and testimony, and explain dental terminology and treatment in a concise and understandable manner.
Emergency Rooms are fast-paced, stressful places for hospital staff, patients, and families alike. In most instances, emergency room personnel provide life-saving care. However, failure to follow protocols in assessing and treating patients can result in irreversible harm or death.
Saponaro, Inc. is chosen everyday by attorneys, insurance professionals, and other private and public agencies because of our strong selection of Emergency Medicine expert witnesses.
