While medical advancements create a safer environment for mothers and infants during pregnancy, labor, and the birth process, negligence and recklessness on the part of healthcare workers can cause serious injuries to an infant and mother. Far too many families are affected by serious injuries, some having lasting effects on a child’s development and future.
Endometriosis is a serious condition that affects an estimated one in ten women. It is also a highly misdiagnosed condition, with most women waiting years for a proper diagnosis. March is Endometriosis Month, and the ideal time to raise awareness about this condition.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition which can affect anyone with a uterus. It causes tissue similar to what usually lines the endometrium (uterus) to grow outside the uterus. This lining can grow around the pelvic and reproductive organs, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes, though it can also affect other organs. Like the usual endometrium lining, this tissue sheds regularly, but it has no way to leave the body, so over time scarring and excess tissue can develop around organs, which in some cases can cause organs and pelvic tissue to stick together and surgery may be needed to separate organs again.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness month, making it a good time to raise awareness about this aggressive form of cancer. This disease affects the lower part of the digestive system and can be fatal if not detected and treated early.
Women may visit an OB-GYN in Homestead for many reasons related to pregnancy, fertility, and other health issues. While the goal with these visits is to help women, some women face misdiagnosis and medical malpractice which results in injury and trauma.
Misdiagnosis happens for many reasons. In some cases, such as ovarian cancer, there are simply not the advanced and reliable tests available to ensure accurate diagnosis and the tests that do exist – such as blood tests – are not always suggested. There is also some evidence that medical schools do not always emphasize women’s health as a separate entity and bias as well as lack of research into conditions affecting women can also impact diagnosis.
Diagnosis on the part of doctors, medical specialists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals helps create the correct pathway to treatment. Medical professionals spend years of their education learning how to correctly recognize and diagnose treatments and today they have many tools at their disposal to help them, including lab tests, new technology, and more.
Misdiagnosis in Miami and other communities still continues to occur, however, and it can have devastating consequences. When doctors fail to correctly determine what illness a patient has in a timely fashion, potentially life-saving treatment may be delayed. This can affect quality of life and even lead to fatalities. An incorrect or missed diagnosis can also mean patients suffer the side effects of a treatment they didn’t need.
Dentists help us keep our smiles bright and help us stay confident in our oral health. They are also medical professionals working to prevent gum disease and cavities, treating oral health conditions that arise. Since our oral health is linked to our overall health, dentists can also help prevent or treat conditions which can affect our overall health. For example, they may address abscesses in the mouth before these forms of infection cause sepsis, which can be life-threatening. Dentists may also notice and address early signs of oral cancer during check-ups. In some cases, dentists can save lives.
Despite all the good dentists can do, when these health professionals are negligent, patients can suffer serious injuries. If you have had a negative outcome after visiting a dentist, orthodontist, dental surgeon, or other professional in this sector, you will want to consult with a North Miami Beach malpractice claims attorney to determine whether you may have a claim.
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness and funds for cancer affecting kids and minors. According to The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), each year about 15, 780 American children are diagnosed with cancer each year, with about 1 in 285 Americans being diagnosed with cancer before adulthood. While childhood cancer is rare, it remains the leading cause of disease-related death in children.
Child cancer patients in Coral Gables have access to some of the best children’s hospitals and pediatric oncology departments in the region, with an easy drive to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Kindred Hospital, Miami Children’s Hospital, Holtz Children’s Hospital, and other centers.
The risk of misdiagnosis, medical malpractice, and now exposure to COVID-19, are serious concerns for anyone who is going to a clinic or hospital for medical care. Of course, we all see medical experts to get better and to get quality medical care. Unfortunately, negligence, recklessness, and even mistakes in a medical setting can result in serious complications, injuries, and even fatalities.
As a patient, you have rights. You also have the ability to reduce your risk in a few key ways:
Right now, some medical appointments in Hollywood and South Florida are being taken virtually in order to help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus and to protect the patient’s health. Telemedicine can happen through videoconferencing apps and over the phone. Telemedicine can be a great alternative in helping you avoid exposure while still allowing you access to medical knowledge and expert care. However, there are some challenges with telemedicine which you should be aware of.
Since virtual care providers do not see you in person, they may not notice some symptoms which are evident when they are in the same room as patients. Telemedicine appointments can also be brief and since this is a new form of communication to both patients and some doctors, communication between doctors and patients can be different. In some cases, this can impact care.
Medical malpractice claims in southern Florida are intended to help protect patients who have been injured due to the recklessness and negligence of medical professionals. Medical malpractice claims arise when someone is misdiagnosed, incorrectly treated, or suffers another issue caused by recklessness or negligence. If you have a doctor-patient relationship and a doctor causes injury through their actions, you may have a claim.
Right now, medical malpractice claims are more complex. With the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients believe they have contacted COVID-19 in a hospital or clinic setting. However, they don’t always know whether they have a strong claim. In addition, with hospitals sometimes overrun and with patients worried about the coronavirus, some patients find that their care is being delayed or is being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They, too, wonder if they have a legal claim.
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