Readers of this blog no doubt remember the tragic and unexpected death of Joan Rivers after a simple medical procedure. Recently, Joan Rivers' family settled a personal injury/wrongful death lawsuit against the physicians who treated Rivers at a New York outpatient medical facility prior to her death. Although the settlement amount was confidential, lawyers representing the family indicated that the settlement was "substantial."
Clinical trial shows marijuana-derived treatment reduces seizures
When a baby or child has a serious illness like epilepsy, parents may feel helpless because they cannot predict the timing of the next seizure. Infants and toddlers cannot stay in a safety bubble, so they frequently spend their waking hours wearing a helmet. A new prescription medication could provide help.
Is the state's medical community ready for all electronic prescriptions?
Whether you are 18- or 80-years old, the vast majority of people here in the state of New York prescribed a medication are accustomed to leaving the hospital, clinic or doctor's office with a written prescription in their hand.
MORCELLATORS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF WOMAN ACCORDING TO THE FDA
Morcellators are medical devices used during a handful of medical procedures, mostly hysterectomies, myomectomies and the surgical removal of fibroids or noncancerous growths in the uterus. Morcellators have rapidly spinning blades that cut tissue into pieces that can be removed from the body through tiny slits made during minimally invasive surgery. Using them to cut out benign tumors which are hiding malignant cells can cause advanced stage cancer. Where there is undetected cancers, morcellators spray malignant cells around the inside the abdomen like seeds, speeding the progression of the disease.
FAILED KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Knee replacement surgery is very common and has been effective in relieving pain caused by arthritis of the knee joint. The artificial joint is expected to last about 10 years.
INDEQUATELY STERILIZED MEDICAL SCOPES
Germs, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), are commonly found on inadequately sterilized medical scopes. This causes infection and even death for many Americans each year.
Neck and Back Steroid Injections Can Sometimes Lead to Serious Injury With Little Potential Benefit
A panel of medical experts advised the FDA that steroid injections for neck and back pain should not carry the toughest federal warning, the so-called contraindication label, which signals to doctors that the risks outweigh any possible benefits. However, risks were decided to sometimes outweigh the benefits for certain types of injections were the injection was close to a cluster of small important arteries in the neck. Certain steroids that have a granular texture can also block arteries. These risky procedures account for only a small percentage of injections given.
New Studies Reveal Significant Risk and Need for Close Monitoring for Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm abnormality where the heart's upper chambers beat chaotically. This occurs commonly after surgery, particularly cardiac surgery, because of the stress of surgery. For years its been thought that this condition is not problematic in a majority of patients. However, such a condition causes one in six ischemic strokes. As many as a third of these patients will suffer an episode. A new study published by JAMA, followed 1.7 million people who developed atrial fibrillation for the first time after surgery and concluded that about 25,000 of these patients went on to have an episode after their operations. Atrial fibrillation after cardiovascular surgery increased the risk of a future stroke by 30%.
Hand/Wrist Surgery Malpractice
The wrist and hand are complex structures. The base of the wrist consists of the radius and ulnar. The radius is the large bone of the forearm, and the ulnar is the smaller bone that runs next to it on the pinky side. The base of the hand consists of small bones known as the carpal bones. They are held together with ligaments. The bones that make up the wrist have a smooth Teflon like surface. When these bones are in proper alignment the wrist can bend and move in a painless manner.
The Unnecessary Dangers Associated with Robotic Surgery
Since its introduction in the 1990s, some 2000 robots have been sold in the U.S. for procedures ranging from head and neck surgery to routine hysterectomies. Although a robot provides a benefit in some operations, it is being used for procedures where there are no advantages and there may be added risks. As study of more than 250,000 hysterectomies performed with a robot had no better outcomes and the surgery takes longer and is more expensive. Reviews of studies on other operations including gallbladder, colorectal surgery, and procedures for reverse reflux have reached similar conclusions.
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