Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Radiologist Failure to Detect Cyst Led to Patient Death in New York

Published on: July 19, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Radiology is a powerful tool for detecting disease. When a radiologist mistakenly fails to identify and diagnose a condition, the consequences can be deadly. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a radiology error, the seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We will investigate every aspect of your medical injury and provide you with a realistic assessment of your case.

In a recent Pennsylvania case, a radiologist’s failure to notice a cyst caused a patient’s death. In October of 2014, the decedent, a 66-year-old man went to the emergency room and complained of back pain indicating that his pain was a 10 out of 10. He was given medication and underwent a CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis. A radiologist reviewed the scan and did not find anything noteworthy. The man was discharged with a diagnosis of back pain and told to follow up with his primary care doctor.

Over the next 15 months, the man consulted with his primary care doctor and came back to the emergency room three times complaining of back pain. At each visit, the doctors noted that the CT scan from 2014 was negative and discharged the patient with some medication.

Fetal Macrosomia Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: July 12, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If your child suffered birth injuries as a result of fetal macrosomia, you may be the victim of medical malpractice. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to holding negligent medical malpractice parties accountable for the harm that they cause.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the term “fetal macrosomia” describes a newborn baby that is significantly larger than your average infant. To be diagnosed with fetal macrosomia, a baby must have a birth weight of more than 8 pounds 13 ounces irrespective of the fetus’s gestational age. As you can imagine, a baby this big can create dangerous complications for the birthing process. Fetal macrosomia is hard to detect during pregnancy but the condition can put a child at higher risk of lifelong injuries, including cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, brain bleeds and other traumatic injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that a little more than 10 percent of all pregnancies in this country result in macrosomia.

There are certain signs and symptoms of fetal macrosomia that doctors are trained to recognize. In addition, doctors can detect and diagnose macrosomia through an ultrasound, measuring the abdominal circumference, conducting the Leopold maneuver (i.e., by pushing on a mother’s abdomen) and/or by measuring the pregnant woman’s fundal height.

Umbilical Cord Issues and Medical Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: July 5, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Throughout pregnancy, the umbilical cord provides the baby with what it needs to grow properly. If your child suffered an umbilical cord complication due to medical negligence, you need to reach out to a highly skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who is well versed in this area of law. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to holding negligent medical professionals responsible for the harm that they cause. You can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to help you secure the compensation you deserve in your case.

The umbilical cord serves as the lifeline between mother and child, providing essential nutrients and oxygen to the fetus throughout the pregnancy. In short, the umbilical cord is how the fetus is connected to the placenta during gestation. The placenta is the organ in the womb that gives the baby nutrients and eliminates waste products. Umbilical cord problems may put a mother and her newborn child at serious risk. Umbilical cord complications include, but are not limited to:

Umbilcal cord prolapse and compression;
Umbilical cord knots;
Nuchal cord;
Umbilical cord strangulation;
Umbilical hernias.

Syracuse Vaccine Injuries

Published on: June 29, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Vaccinations have eradicated many harmful diseases in the United States. If you have reason to believe that you or your child has been injured by a vaccine, it is important to seek the guidance of a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping our clients get the compensation they deserve for their harm.

Most of the time, vaccines function as intended by enhancing the immune system’s ability to fight off disease. However, in some cases, vaccines can do more harm than good. While the majority of vaccines often present mild side effects, such as fever, nausea and body aches, some may present more serious problems in certain individuals. About 1 in 100 people report experiencing more serious issues within six months of receiving a vaccination, such as:

Blood in urine or stool;
Pneumonia;
Inflammation of the stomach or intestines;
High fever;
Swelling, severe pain and/or bleeding in the arm where the shot was administered.

Patient Dumping Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: June 25, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Hospitals often try to maximize profits, which can be very dangerous for patients. If you or a loved one has been the victim of patient dumping, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are vigorously dedicated to representing victims of malpractice. Dealing with a medical injury can be daunting but we are here to help.

Patient dumping generally refers to situations in which hospitals deny medical screening and stabilization services. Patient dumping take can happen in a variety of ways, including, but not limited, to:

When a hospital turns away someone in need of emergency care;
When a hospital transfers a patient when it is not necessary to do so;
When a hospital discharges a patient before they are stable;
When a patient is transferred without receiving adequate medical care first;
When a hospital discharges a patient too early;
When a hospital unreasonably delays emergency medical treatment.

Ectopic Pregnancy Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: June 18, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

An ectopic pregnancy must be promptly diagnosed to prevent serious complications such as long-term injury, fertility issues and even death. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys have handled a wide array of New York medical malpractice claims and can apply our knowledge to your case.

By definition, an ectopic pregnancy is one that is outside of the uterus. Put another way, when a fertilized egg gets implanted in any place besides the uterus, it results in what is known as an ectopic pregnancy. This can be quite a deadly complication, as when an embryo is growing in an enclosed space, it cannot go anywhere. It simply keeps growing in a spot it is not supposed to and the woman may suffer a variety of symptoms including, but not limited to:

Pain in the back or on one side of the abdomen;
Pain in the tip of the shoulders;
Vaginal bleeding;
Feeling faint consistently;
Diarrhea.

Wrong-Site Surgery Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: June 11, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Wrong-site surgery can have shattering and life-long consequences for a patient. If you have been hurt because of a wrong-site surgery, you need to reach out to an experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause.

One of the most shocking forms of malpractice is a wrong-site surgery. Wrong-site surgeries are a type of medical malpractice and considered to be very serious surgical errors. In fact, a wrong-site surgery is considered a “never event” because it is completely preventable and therefore should never happen.

Sadly, wrong-site surgeries are more common than you might expect. Data from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) reveals that wrong-site surgery is the third highest-ranking event for preventable medical errors, comprising approximately 15 percent of the total preventable medical errors that occur nationwide. In addition, JCAHO found that 76 percent of wrong-site surgeries were surgeries performed on the wrong body part, while the other 24 percent were split between operations using the wrong procedure or operations on the wrong person. It is estimated that wrong-site surgeries happen 40 times a week on average.

Air Embolism Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: June 4, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Injuries caused by an air embolism can be severe. If you or a loved one has been hurt by an air embolism, you need to contact a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we have represented many clients in medical malpractice cases and can apply our knowledge to use in your case.

There are 29 separate events classified as “never events” by the National Quality Forum, and one of those events is an air embolism. Never events refer to patient safety incidents that result in serious patient harm or death that are entirely preventable and thus should never happen.

An air embolism is a blood vessel blockage caused by one or more bubbles of air or other gas in the circulatory system. When an air bubble enters a vein, it is called a venous air embolism. When an air bubble enters an artery, it is called an arterial air embolism. These air bubbles can travel to your brain, heart, or lungs and cause heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure. While air embolisms are rare, they can be deadly.

Intubation Errors in Syracuse

Published on: May 30, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Intubation is an important procedure that saves countless lives by providing an airway for patients to breathe. If you or someone close to you suffered an injury due to an intubation error, you need to reach out to a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committing to getting patients the compensation they need to deal with their injuries.

Intubation involves inserting a long tube down the patient’s trachea (airway) that is connected to a ventilator. The ventilator acts as the “lungs” for the patient during many surgical or other medical procedures. While the procedure is relatively common, it is also fraught with potential complications. One study found that errors take place in 22 percent of intubation attempts, with a frequency of up to 40 percent in selected ambulance systems. These findings indicate frequent mistakes associated with this life-saving technique. Intubation errors can occur in a number of ways, including but not limited to:

Improper placement of the tube into the esophagus;

Coma Injuries Caused by Malpractice in New York

Published on: May 23, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If your loved one’s coma was caused by medical negligence, or your loved one did not receive appropriate care after lapsing into a coma, you need to speak to a diligent Syracuse medical malpractice attorney without delay. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how to navigate complex medical malpractice claims. We can help you understand all of your legal options, including the pros and cons associated with each of them.

A coma is a condition in which a patient cannot be awakened and does not respond to pain, light, or sound in a normal way. In other words, a coma is defined as a deep and, many times, prolonged unconsciousness. A person in a coma does not respond to external stimuli (i.e., a light in his or her eyes or a prick on the hand) and does not make any voluntary actions. In some instances, coma patients may make sounds or movements or even speak. However, these actions are typically not voluntary. Comas typically do not last longer than several weeks. If a coma lasts longer, it may lead to a persistent vegetative state or brain death.

A variety of medical errors could result in a coma, including but not limited to: