Health

Good health and safety often depend on accountability. Our health coverage explores how legal issues intersect with medical care, hospital safety, and patient rights in Virginia. We examine medical malpractice, misdiagnosis, unsafe facilities, and healthcare policy changes that affect patients. We also cover public health and community wellness topics.

New Hormonal Therapy Could Help Serious Brain Injuries

A new development in hormonal therapy could provide relief to victims of devastating brain injury. The therapy is meant in part to help reduce the swelling that often takes place inside the brain after a serious brain injury. The hormone, which is currently operating under…

By Jim Lewis

/ 12 Aug 2013

Medical Malpractice Suit Underway for Liposuction Death

A woman in Marietta, GA passed away during a liposuction surgery, where the surgeon allegedly anesthetized her with a rag soaked with propofol and stuffed it in her mouth. He also allegedly pierced her liver, according to the lawsuit documents filed in state court this…

By Mark Favaloro

/ 11 Aug 2013

Survey Reveals Interesting Facts Regarding Medical Malpractice Claims

A recent survey published in Physicians Weekly discussed some interesting statistics associated with medical malpractice. The survey revealed which specialties experience the most med mal lawsuits as well as surprising data about the success rate and financial compensation associated with med mal cl

By Mark Favaloro

/ 8 Aug 2013

FDA Loosens Restrictions on Avandia

In November 2011, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tightened restrictions on the prescription drug Avandia. The diabetic medication was pulled from pharmacy shelves. Only certified physicians have been allowed to prescribe it. And for those patients who are prescribed the drug, they ar

By The Legal Examiner

/ 6 Aug 2013

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Rages Over Child’s Brain Death

The parents of a toddler in Canada are filing a lawsuit against the STARS ambulance flight service, after their child was left brain damaged after a May 2013 flight. The lawsuit also is against a doctor, paramedic and flight nurse on the flight. How much the…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 3 Aug 2013

Propecia Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Side Effects

A new Propecia hair loss drug lawsuit in New York alleges that the product caused him several sexual problems after he took the hair replacement drug.The complaint is one of 140 other lawsuits on Propecia that allege such side effects. This particular complaint was filed…

By Mark Favaloro

/ 31 Jul 2013

3 Things Not to Say to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Victim

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and brain injuries are more common than you may think. Nearly 1.7 million Americans fall victim to a TBI every year and nearly half of those are caused by a car accident. By learning the difficulties that these TBI survivors go…

By Randy Appleton

/ 30 Jul 2013

Study on Endoscope Sterilization Produces Disturbing Results

According to a paper presented at the annual conference for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) last month, a study conducted at five hospitals across the country found that three out of twenty flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes used for screening we

By Randy Appleton

/ 29 Jul 2013

FL Trial Attorneys Challenging Medical Malpractice Law

Trial attorneys in Florida have filed five separate lawsuits against health care providers to challenge the Florida law that puts new limits on medical malpractice awards. The attorneys maintain that the law lets medical malpractice defendants obtain personal health care data about a plaintiff from…

By Mark Favaloro

/ 29 Jul 2013

Battle Wages Over 38 Year-Old Medical Malpractice Law in California

By Richard Shapiro, Virginia Personal Injury Attorney A new controversy is waging over an old medical malpractice law in California. A group of trial lawyers, consumer advocates and the nurses union is gathering signatures for a new state ballot initiative to increase California’s cap on…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 26 Jul 2013

Pregnancy Hormone Can Help Treat Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are often sudden and change and end lives without warning. Almost two million people each year have a traumatic brain injury. Around the world, it is a leading cause of death. Now, new research is indicating that a hormone that the…

By Randy Appleton

/ 24 Jul 2013

St. Louis Couple Wins $6.4 Million on Medical Malpractice Decision

By Richard Shapiro, Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer A jury in Clayton, MO awarded a man and his wife $6.4 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit that stemmed from a stroke that he had in 2007. The suit alleged that Jeffrey Schneider, 59, had an infection…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 24 Jul 2013