Recently, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has attracted criticism for a confidentiality clause that is included in many of their medical malpractice settlements.

The clause was brought to attention by District Judge Eliza Ovrom, who initially refused to approve a settlement between the hospital and a patient because the clause contradicts the beliefs of Iowa legislators.  Ovrom later approved the settlement but declared the details of the settlement public record in Iowa stating, “the confidentiality provision does not apply to the state of Iowa”.

The lawsuit stated that the plaintiffs should not release “any of the terms of the settlement of this lawsuit, including but not limited to the amount being paid”.  Critics argue that confidentiality clauses like the ones often used by UIHC are created to protect the hospital and staff from negative publicity, while denying the public the truth.

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

Last year, the number of medical malpractice lawsuits naming Pennsylvania doctors and hospitals as defendants were the lowest they have been in a decade.

New medical malpractice legislation took effect in Pennsylvania in 2002.  Since then, malpractice cases in the state have decreased by 45.4 percent.  One component of the new legislation included the requirement of a letter from a medical professional that the lawsuit being filed is not frivolous.

Medical malpractice lawsuits filed in in Philadelphia County decreased by nearly 70 percent over the past 10 years.  Across the state, 1,491 medical malpractice lawsuits were filed in 2010.  1,533 cases were filed in 2009.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice in Philadelphia, contact the Philadelphia medical negligence lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 and set up an appointment to meet with one of our experienced attorneys.

A $2.5 million settlement has been reached in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed in Boston on behalf of a four year-old girl who died last year of a prescription drug overdose.

Lawyers for the estate of Rebecca Riley announced last week that they have settled their medical malpractice lawsuit against the girl’s psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji of Tufts Medical Center. The $2.5 million settlement will be distributed between Riley’s two siblings, now 15 and 10. Riley’s parents, Carolyn and Michael Riley, were convicted last year, in separate trials, of murdering their daughter through their reckless dispensing of the drugs used to treat her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar illness.

Attorneys for Riley’s estate, Andrew Meyer and Benjamin Novotny, said the settlement did not contain an admission of wrongdoing on the part of Kifuji, but, Meyer added, the decision to settle for $2.5 million, the maximum paid out by Kifunji’s insurance policy, suggests culpability.

To discuss filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, contact an experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released a report stating that treatment mistakes occur in 1 in 7 hospitalized Medicare patients.  According to the report, the most common causes of the mistakes are incorrect medications, excessive post-surgical bleeding and urinary tract infections from catheters.

“While hospitals have made great strides in improving patient care, the report highlights that there is more we can do,” stated President and CEO of the American Hospital Association Rich Umbdenstock.

Medical researchers estimate that the treatment mistakes affecting hospitalized Medicare patients result in 180,000 patient deaths a year.  Officials suggest that to reduce the risk of suffering from a treatment mistake, always bring someone to the hospital with you, know what medications you are taking and be cautious of catheters.

To discuss filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, contact the experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell announced last week that since 2003 the state of Pennsylvania has seen a 61 percent decrease in medical malpractice claims and payouts.  Furthermore he stated, “The number of catastrophic malpractice cases being filed for more than half a million dollars in damages has been cut in half in the past eight years”.

In 2003, 700 medical malpractice claims received $378 million in payouts.  This year, there have been 329 claims receiving $146 million in payouts.  In addition, the Governor noted that this year 38,000 doctors in Pennsylvania filed for medical malpractice insurance compared to the 32,000 in 2003.  The increased number of doctors purchasing medical malpractice insurance indicates an ease in doctor shortages.

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