Imagine being told you have cancer: the fear, the urgency, the immediate trust in medical professionals to begin treatment. But what if that diagnosis was wrong? What if a healthy person, misdiagnosed with cancer, endured the grueling effects of chemotherapy for no...
Doctors have to be careful about what treatments they prescribe their patients. When a doctor diagnoses a patient with a serious medical condition, such as cancer, heart disease or Addison's disease, to name a few examples, the patient may be prescribed various...
You are probably looking forward to a well-earned day off from work this Memorial Day. As well as paying your respects, it’s a great time to get together with friends, family and the local community. You also need to be aware that this marks the start of a...
When we go places — a friend’s home, the grocery store, a sports or music venue, etc. — we have a reasonable expectation that we will be safe from harm there. And yes, accidents can happen anywhere. But whoever owns the property on which you suffered your injuries...
The professionals working in emergency rooms (ERs) sometimes have to make life-or-death decisions. They may need to use triage practices when the ER is full of people who need medical attention. Triage in an emergency room setting involves evaluating people for the...
A woman who goes into the hospital because she’s in labor likely expects to have an uneventful labor and delivery. They count on the medical team to provide them with care that helps to protect the woman and the baby. One way this is done is through fetal monitoring. ...
In the age of high-tech medicine and information readily available at the drop of a hat, it’s strange to think that one oversight by a medical practitioner could lead to a dangerous or deadly outcome. Drug interactions are one incident that can lead to catastrophic...
Many people think that a person who’s having a heart attack is going to grab their chest and drop to the ground in immense pain, but that’s not always how it happens. Women often don’t experience the same symptoms as what people see on television and in the movies....
Medical training is thorough and rigorous and anyone who is not committed or up to the level is unlikely to make it through and qualify as a doctor. Doctors usually don’t work in isolation, either. There is almost always someone on hand that a doctor can consult with...
Most medical professionals are highly trained people who try to do their best for their patients. They will make mistakes, though, just as anyone in any profession will. Hospitals should therefore ensure systems are in place to prevent errors affecting patients. The...
