With 2012 in the books, we start our latest post by wishing our readers a happy and prosperous New Year. With that said, we look back on pharmaceutical issues that we hope not to see in 2013.
Common sleep drug increases risk of falls
It's said that in the hospital, it's hard to find rest. Often, patients are prescribed Ambien, a common sleep aid, in order to rest through the night. However, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, the drug may also be to blame for an increased risk of falls. The Mayo Clinic's sleep specialists found that patients prescribed Ambien were four times as likely to suffer a fall in the hospital as those who were not taking the drug.
The Role of Hospitals in Medical Malpractice Cases
While medical malpractice claims are financially costly to the healthcare industry and image damaging, it is not nearly the same harm endured by medical malpractice victims who can suffer irreparable injury or die.
Medical Malpractice Defense Expensive; Cost Passed to Patients
A new study concludes that the high cost to physicians and other health care providers of defending against medical malpractice lawsuits and maintaining medical malpractice insurance ultimately harms patients financially. Doctors' steep malpractice defense costs are in effect reflected in the need to charge higher fees for medical services.
The Doctor-Patient Relationship
The existence of a doctor-patient relationship, like other professional relationships, offers patents certain protections. For example, if a doctor-patient relationship does not exist, the doctor is not bound by a code of ethics and cannot be held liable for medical malpractice.
"Distracted Doctoring": A Dangerous New Trend
New Jersey residents would generally agree that it is common today to see people everywhere glued to their smartphones or tablets. But medical malpractice concerns can arise when these people are in the middle of performing their jobs - especially when those jobs involve matters of life and death.
Study Compares Birth Injury Risks of Forceps to Other Procedures
A recent birth injury study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology examined the comparative safety of using forceps during delivery. Use of forceps by obstetricians has steadily decreased in recent decades in favor of caesarean sections and deliveries assisted by vacuum devices.
Medical Malpractice Based on Failure to Diagnose on the Rise
Medical malpractice cases can arise out of a many different kinds of health care provider negligence. One of the more common malpractice claims seen by Ridgewood medical negligence lawyers is injury caused by failure to diagnose a patient's cancer or other serious illness in a timely fashion.
Doctors Providing Unnecessary Treatment?
Anyone who has ever watched a late night infomercial knows there are many products being sold that people really don't need. It might be surprising to learn, however, that many of the tests and prescriptions ordered by medical doctors are just as unnecessary.Doctors order tests and prescription medication all the time, and according to an article in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," a little over 75 percent of doctors admitted to "treating patients more aggressively" because they are afraid of being sued.
Bone Building Drugs Can Cause Serious Injuries After Prolonged Use
Loss of bone density and osteoporosis are a serious concern for women, especially as they age. Weakened bones can lead to bone fractures, especially in the hip or spine, which can cause difficult recoveries or even disability. Some women have begun taking precautionary measures to prevent or treat osteoporosis, but new concerns are emerging over a class of drugs known as bisphosponates that may cause the very injuries they are designed to prevent.
