Officials with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration recently reopened the National Practitioner Data Bank.  The database of medical malpractice claims and cases was closed to the public in September while new restrictions were put in place.

The public is able to download the database, but now viewers must agree to not identify any entity or medical professional listed in the bank and to make any changes to the file upon request.

Certain healthcare entities like hospitals and licensing boards are able to view the NPDB with identities included.

The changes were made after a journalist was able to connect data from the database to court records and other documents and identify a surgeon involved in a medical malpractice case.

To speak with an experienced attorney about filing a medical malpractice claim, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130 today.

A third veteran suffering from vision loss at the Palo Alto Veteran’s Hospital has settled a medical malpractice lawsuit.  68-year old Lt. Kennedy Jr. will receive $400,000 from the federal government as a result of the settlement.  The veteran served in the Korean war with the U.S. Air Force maintaining fighter jets.

Kennedy and 7 other veterans were informed by the hospital in 2009 that their treatment at the hospital may result in vision loss.  The hospital discovered the treatment errors when looking into their glaucoma treatments.  The hospital’s optometry department had failed to follow hospital protocol which required that glaucoma patients be seen by not only an optometrist, but an ophthamologist.  The department was closed and is being investigated further.

If you or someone you love is experiencing a medical complication related to hospital negligence, contact the Philadelphia hospital negligence attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.

The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that hospital injuries related to a broken bed fall under the state’s medical malpractice cap.

The case was brought up by Irving Marks, who fell as a result of a broken bed frame while recovering from back surgery at Houston’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in 2000.  Marks originally filed a premises liability lawsuit alleging that a broken foot board on his hospital bed caused him to fall and injure himself.  However, in court the hospital argued that the case was a case of medical malpractice.  Medical malpractice cases in Texas require a “timely expert report” and are subject to a $250,000 damages cap.

The ruling prevents Marks from obtaining any damages because there was no report filed after he fell.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact the Philadelphia hospital negligence attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.