Health Law › Professional Malpractice

Working Toward Fewer Medical Mistakes

A new study suggests limiting the work hours of resident physicians does not lead to patient death. In fact, mortality declined during the study period even though patients may have received fewer hours of care....more

Novel “Bad Faith Admission” EMTALA Theory Survives Motion to Dismiss

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California recently denied Contra Costa Regional Medical Center’s (CCRMC) motion to dismiss regarding an alleged violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act...more

Can Your Doctor Block Your Access to Your Medical Records?

No. In every state, your health care provider must provide you with a copy of your medical records if you ask for them....more

HMO Hit with $524M Verdict for Giving Hep C in Colonoscopies

A health insurance company rolled the dice with a Las Vegas jury and lost more than half a billion dollars....more

Two Databases Become One: HRSA’s Rule on Reporting Provider Sanctions

The Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) has issued a final rule (“HRSA Rule”) that will eliminate duplicative federal reporting requirements of provider sanctions and other adverse actions taken against...more

Rhode Island Supreme Court Invalidates Healthcare Provider’s Right to Self-Insure

In its recent decision in Peloquin v. Haven Health Ctr. of Greenville, 2013 R.I. LEXIS 9 (R.I. Jan. 14, 2013), the Supreme Court of Rhode Island had occasion to consider the validity of a self-insured retention in a...more

Broemmer v. Abortion Services of Phoenix, Ltd. - Arizona’s Curious Contribution to the Law of Contractual Arbitration By Barry D....

Originally published in Arizona Attorney - December 2012. October 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of the Arizona Supreme Court’s opinion in Broemmer v. Abortion Services of Phoenix, Ltd. In the two decades since...more

HC58 - Setting down for trial in medical negligence actions

HC58 - Setting down for trial in medical negligence actions Direction pursuant to Order 36 Rule 2 (c) of the Rules of the Superior Courts With effect from this 20th day of November 2012 proceedings in respect of any claim...more

Cintron v. Montefiore Medical Center

State of New York Court of Appeals Denial of Appellant's Leave to Appeal

In this medical malpractice action, defendant-respondent hospital, skillfully represented by Aryeh Klonsky and Esther Widowski of Widowski Law Group LLP, moved for summary judgment to dismiss the patient plaintiff's case. ...more

Pharmaceutical Law Update -- October 2012: Learned Intermediary Doctrine Applies to Failure-to-Warn Pharmaceutical Cases in...

An August 7, 2012 decision by the New Jersey Appellate Division overturned three judgments totaling almost $12 million in damages previously awarded against New Jersey drug manufacturer Hoffman–La Roche, Inc. for injuries...more

Tort Reform Limiting Medical Malpractice Awards in Texas: It Ain’t Workin’

Health care costs in Texas did not drop after passage of a 2003 constitutional amendment limiting medical malpractice awards, despite promises made to voters by tort reform supporters....more

Jarmie v. Troncale

Majority Decision

Connecticut Supreme Court finds no duty to third party pedestrian based on alleged malpractice of physician in failing to warn patient of driving risks associated with hepatic encephalopathy....more

Torts

UPDATED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 Medical Malpractice – Harmless Error. Question certified: To avoid a new trial in a civil case, does the beneficiary of the error in the trial court have to show on appeal that it is...more

Federal Court Rules that Hospital Settlement Does Not Relieve Medicare of its Payment Obligations

On May 21, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled that a malpractice settlement paid to the family of a deceased Medicare beneficiary did not constitute a “primary plan” for purposes of the...more

The Fatal Dangers of Medical Tourism

The investigation was one James Goldberg never wanted to undertake. Six years ago, Goldberg’s son Joshua, then 23, was living in Thailand, studying to become a Buddhist monk. When Joshua mysteriously lost feeling in his...more

What patients can and should expect when pursuing a medical malpractice case.

This article discusses the anatomy of a medical malpractice case in New Jersey from investigation through jury verdict. The New Jersey Court Rules are modeled on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Both of these...more

Case Study in Nevada: The Allegedly Unsafe Medical Provider and ERISA Preemption

In Cervantes v. Health Plan of Nevada, 263 P.3d 261 (Nov. 2011), the plaintiff commenced an action against a managed care organization (MCO) alleging it violated Nevada's quality assurance laws and regulations when MCO...more

The Impact of State Laws Limiting Malpractice Awards on the Geographic Distribution of Physicians

This study examines the impact of State legislation that caps damage awards in malpractice cases on decisions of physicians about where to practice medicine. Twenty-four States now have laws that limit damage payments in...more

THE ROLE OF THE LEGAL NURSE IN CIVIL CASES: WITH A CASE EXAMPLE

This article explains the role of the often overlooked and underused resource of the legal nurse, who can crystallize any medical-legal related issues. A case example is used to show how attorney's can benefit from this...more

VICARIOUS LIABILITY

This article discusses how employers such as Hospitals can be vicariously liable for the torts of their employees, particularly doctors, nurses and other ancillary services that are committed during the course of employment....more

H.R. 5 - the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act - the Health Care Industry's Latest Attempt to Avoid the Financial...

On Thursday, March 22, 2012, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5, the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act, a bill originally introduced by Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA), which if passed into law will cap...more

Medical Matters in a Multi-party Settlement

I wrote this article for attorneys. It illustrates the need for medical assessment in complex cases of personal injury. The setting was altered enough to protect identities in this high profile, multi-million dollar case. I...more

Illinois Court on Proving Liability for Medical Malpractice

Oftentimes, physicians are employed by more than one medical institution. This can make it difficult establish liability for negligent treatment in medical malpractice cases, since it is sometimes difficult to prove which...more

Florida Supreme Court to Decide on Damages Caps

The health care debate is heating up in Florida as the state’s highest court weighs the constitutionality of a law that places caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. The case, known as McCall v....more

Showing Failure to Diagnose Prostate Cancer to Medical Malpractice Lawyers

The failure to diagnose or properly treat prostate cancer in Ohio may lead to compensation. Contact Cleveland medical malpractice lawyers to learn if you are entitled to file a claim....more