2010 March | Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Michael Jackson doctor sued for medical malpractice

Posted on March 26th, 2010 No Comments

Michael Jackson’s father Joe Jackson is bringing a lawsuit against the late pop icon’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, for wrongful death related to medical malpractice. According to California state law, the plaintiff in a wrongful death medical malpractice case must give 90 days notice before officially filing the lawsuit.

The singer died last year as a result of a drug overdose, which many attribute to irresponsible prescriptions written by Dr. Murray. Jackson is seeking financial compensation for economic support and loss of companionship, as well as punitive damages. It is unclear how much Jackson is seeking in damages.

If you or someone you love has been injured because of negligent medical treatment, the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., may be able to help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today by calling 215-238-1130.

Irish Hospital Accused of Ignoring 30,000 Patient Referrals

Posted on March 12th, 2010 No Comments

A hospital in Ireland is accused of ignoring more than 30,000 patient referral letters.

Proffessor Tom O'Dowd, GP of Tallaght Hospital and Trinity College Dublin public health specialist, claims thousand of referral letters were left, unopened, around the hospital in 2009. O'Dowd estimates the number of unopened letters could be as high as 30,000. O'Dowd says in April 2009 a manager at the hospital told him that "two years of GP referral letters" had not been opened or reached the consultant for whom they were addressed.

Tallaght Hospital released a statement disputing O'Dowd's claims. The hospital said in there statement that there "was never anything like 30,000 unprocessed letters… All GP referral letters are opened on receipt and processed according to speciality… In October 2009, action was taken to clear a backlog of 3,498 letters which had not been reviewed by a consultant. All of these are now actively being dealt with."

If you or someone you love has been the victim of Philadelphia medical malpractice or negligence, please contact the experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. to learn more about the legal options available to injured patients. Please call 215-238-1130 today.

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N.H. Supreme Court Refuses to Reconsider $110M Malpractice Decision

Posted on March 11th, 2010 No Comments

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its ruling that the state has no right to a $110 million surplus from a fund that underwrites medical malpractice insurance.

The Supreme Court upheld policyholders' claim that they had a constitutionally protected, contractual right to the money. The state asked the court to rehear the case, claiming the court disregarded facts, expanded definitions of vested rights to apply to policy holders and improperly shifted the burden of proof to the state.

The court refused to rehear the case and said the state could not change law to apply retroactively to the contracts and take the surplus.

The ruling is good for policyholders, but adds $45 million to New Hampshire's budget deficit.

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$2M Awarded in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Posted on March 8th, 2010 No Comments

A Phillipsburg woman was awarded $2 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

A Northampton County Court jury returned a verdict Friday in the case of 71-year-old Pauline Raffaele. Rafaele was admitted to EAston Hospital on June 21, 2005 for a replacement of her left arthritic knee. The day after the surgery Raffaele complained of numbness in her left foot, which she was unable to move. By 3:00 p.m. that day, a rehabilitation doctor was consulted and found that Rafaele's leg was white, and she had no feeling in it. Emergency surgery later revealed an undiagnosed blood clot in the toot.

A month later, doctors had to amputate her leg below the knee. A short while later, doctors were forced to remove more of her leg, above the knee.

The jury found the hospital to be 40 percent negligent, and a former nurse named Shelly Benson, to be 60 percent negligent. Benson did not alert doctors to Rafaele's deteriorating condition.

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Compensatory Vs. Punitive Damages

Posted on March 5th, 2010 No Comments

Verdicts in medical malpractice lawsuits consist of two different types of damages.

Compensatory damages are awarded to cover the financial burden that accompanies an injury. Medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, ambulance bills, prescription costs, nursing care expenses, and the cost of domestic services are commonly covered by compensatory damages.

Compensatory can also cover non-economic damages. Money can be recovered for the pain and suffering the victim has experienced. Mental and emotional suffering, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of life are also covered by compensatory damages.

The second type of damages awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit are punitive. This is money awarded to a plaintiff in order to punish the offending medical worker or facility in the lawsuit. The goal of punitive damages is to serve as a malpractice deterrence and force medical professionals to take preventative steps to avoid negligence in the future.

If you or a love one have been injured by a negligent medical worker, please contact the experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 215-238-1130.

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Doctor Removes Wrong Ovary

Posted on March 5th, 2010 No Comments

A woman in Kansas was awarded $250,000 in damages after a doctor removed the wrong ovary.

28 year-old Amy miller agreed to have her right ovary removed after a doctor told her it would help to relieve the pain she experienced during her menstrual cycles. A few months after the surgery, the pain in Miller's abdomen returned. After meeting with another doctor Miller was given an ultrasound. The test revealed that she still had her right ovary and the first surgeon had removed the wrong one.

Miller filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the surgeon who removed the incorrect ovary. A jury in Douglas County, Kansas awarded Miller $760,000 in damages. District Court Judge Steve Six then reduced the award to $250,000.

If you or a love one have been injured by a negligent medical worker, please contact the experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 215-238-1130.

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$15M Awarded in Michigan Dental Malpractice Verdict, Largest in History

Posted on March 1st, 2010 No Comments

A retired Michigan State Police trooper has been awarded a $15 million verdict in a malpractice lawsuit filed against a dentist, periodontist and oral surgeon.

Herta Hopton claimed that oral surgeon Warren Vallerand failed to diagnose cancer in her mouth despite repeated visits. Jurors awarded more than $15 million against Vallerand and the Center for Oral & Facial Surgery. The verdict is the largest dental malpractice award in United States history.

Hopton received the award on paper only. A Michigan law passed in 1994 caps non-economic damages awarded in malpractice lawsuits at $420,000. Hopton was awarded slightly more than $400,000 in non-economic damages.

Filing a Philadelphia medical malpractice claim cannot undo the pain and suffering you and your family has experienced. However, legal action can help you battle the severe financial losses that victims of medical negligence commonly experience as well as prevent damage to future patients by raising awareness to flaws in a particular hospital's system.