Tag: surgical errors

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Dentist Gets Jail Time for Paper-Clip Root Canals

A dentist in Massachusetts has been sentenced to a year in prison after it was discovered he was performing root canals with paper clips! He faced assualt and battery charges in addition to charges of witness intimidation. He also faced charges of Medicaid Fraud in the amount of $130,000. For years, despite a suspension, Dr. Michael Clair was filing claims with the government agency using the names of fellow dentists, all colleagues from his practice. Medical malpractice attorneys are astounded that a medical professional would stoop to such despicable means to make money.

The Michael Clair Special: A Pretty Penny for a Paper-Clip Procedure

new jersey medical malpractice attorneys, medical malpractice lawyers philadelphia, dental malpracticeTraditionally, root canals are performed using small steel posts. Dr. Clair’s scheme to use paper clips instead of surgically competent steel posts caused many patients unnecessary pain, suffering, and infection. Brenda Almeida’s young son underwent the procedure in 2005. His tooth turned black and had to be pulled. Almeida also claims that her other children received poor care from Dr. Clair as well.

Almeida is unsatisfied with the one year jail sentence that Dr. Clair will serve, saying, “He put my kids in pain for months…I hope he rots there.” The prosecution had hoped for at least a five year sentence. Judge Moses, the judge who passed down the sentence, explained his decision, citing Clair’s mental health issues, lack of priors, and his acceptance of full responsibility. Judge Moses did, however, satisfy the prosecution’s request to keep Clair away from his victims and colleagues. It was noted that his former staff feared for their safety.

Clair will be on five years probation upon his release from prison. After receiving his sentence and before he was escorted out of the courtroom, Clair offered his gratitude:

“Thank you, your honor, for your consideration.”

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Medical malpractice comes in many forms. Some doctors commit malpractice by making surgical mistakes. Others act negligently due to a temporary lapse of judgement. But Michael Clair purposely put his patients in danger so he could make more money. This type of malpractice is surely the most egregious kind.

If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of a negligent surgeon, physician, or other medical provider, contact the New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys of Messa & Associates, P.C. by calling, toll-free, 1-877-MessaLaw. You may also submit a free online inquiry. You may also click on the CHAT LIVE icon on the right to speak with a representative immediately.

Medical Malpractice Events Not Decreasing, According to New England Journal of Medicine

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published research executed by Harvard Medical School that shows that the number of medical malpractice events (referred to in the article as patient harms) has not decreased in the last 6 years, despite numerous prevention efforts.

Medical Malpractice Study by Harvard Medical School

medical malpractice and negligence attorneys in nj and paResearchers examined 6 years worth of medical records from 10 different North Carolina hospitals. Over 2,300 admissions records were examined from 2002 thru 2007. Records were chosen at random and reviewed by teams of nurse reviewers. The study found 588 patient harms, including surgical errors, medicinal errors, and nosocomial (hospital-aquired) infections. Of those 588 medical errors, 84.4% were reported as “short-lived” and “not serious.” Fifty, however, were classifed as life threatening, with 14 resulting in death, and 17 resulting in permanent injury. Of the errors, 63.1% of them were abolsutely avoidable.

Harvard Medical School researchers explained that they chose North Carolina hospitals because of the state’s pristine history, as well as it’s dedication to preventing medical malpractice and promoting patient safety. Authors of the study said of the results:

“Though disappointing, the absence of apparent improvement is not entirely surprising.”

It seems that while certain preventative measures have been taken, there still exists an alarming lack of free-standing programs that help deter diagnostic and surgical errors. Much of the medical malpractice occurs when patients are transferred from one physician or facility to another. Patient and information transfers must be handled with meticulous attention and sometimes, in the hustle and commotion of an Emergency Room, that kind of attention is impossible to give. That is why programs and protocol should be put into place to assist in these transfers.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

John Mininno, Esq. is a dedicated and hard working medical malpractice attorney practicing in New Jersey and Philadelphia. He is experienced in many different areas of medical malpractice, and is skilled at earning significant recoveries for victims of medical negligence. If you or a loved one have been victimized by neglience in an emergency or operating room, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Surgical Errors Leading Form of Medical Malpractice

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys negligence common surgical errorsAccording to a report by the American Medical Association, 98,000 people lose their lives each year to medical errors, most of which are surgical. This makes medical malpractice the eighth leading cause of death in America, killing more people than car accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS.
The term “surgical errors” includes errors that are made before, during, and after surgery, and can involve medical providers other than a surgeon, including the anesthesiologist, nurses, or other hospital staff members.

Read on to learn about the most common surgical errors, and what to do if you or a loved one are a victim of a surgical error, or any other form of medical malpractice and negligence.

Patient Consent Errors

Before a surgeon can perform a procedure, he has to obtain what is called “informed consent” from his or her patient. This process involves explaining in detail what the procedure entails, possible side effects and complications, and what the patient can expect after the procedure. The patient then signs a consent form, allowing the doctor to perform the surgery.
Many times, however, this process is sped through. Sometimes, doctors fail to mention the possible complications or side effects. Other cases involve the doctor explaining the procedure one way, but then performing it another. This can be very dangerous, as complications could easily arise if a certain plastic was supposed to be used, but a metal that the patient is allergic to was used instead. These consent errors are entirely too simple to avoid to be such a prevalent error.

Surgical Errors

These errors are generally caused my negligence in the operating room, but many times can be caused by the lack of qualifications of the surgeon. General surgeons very often perform procedures that may be best left for a specialist, and as a result, surgical errors occur. They do not need a board certifcation to perform these procedures, and a monetary motivation makes it easy to go ahead with these surgeries even without the proper qualifications.

Surgical Site Errors (Wrong Site Surgeries)

Unfortunately, wrong site surgeries are not something we’ve never heard of. All too often, patients go in for a surgery on the right side of their body, and wake up to find the procedure was performed on the left. This kind of mistake often results from lack of communication, poorly kept medical charts, and understaffing at hopsitals. When not enough doctors are dealing with a multitude of patients, mistakes like this happen.

Anesthesia Errors

These errors can be some of the most devastating. Most surgeries require either local or general anesthesia, and it can be administered by an anesthisiologist or an anesthesia nurse. Errors can arise when too much is injected, causing a drop in heart rate that lead to brain damage or death. In addition, if not enough is administered, a patient can be awake during a procedure! This can not only cause an unfathomable amount of pain, but can also effect a patient psychologically forever.

Infection

Infection is a huge risk when undergoing a procedure. Infection can be caused when instruments are not properly sterilized, or when doctors and or nurses do not effectively “scrub in.” Infection can also grow after a procedure if the patients’ wounds and incisions are not properly cleaned. The most dangerous infections a patient can develop are MRSA, or staph. These infections can quickly lead to death.

NJ and PA Medical Malpractice Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

If you or a loved one have suffered the effects of surgical errors, negligence or medical malpractice in New Jersey or Philadelphia, you will need the assistance of an Medical Malpractice Attorney. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Don’t let negligent medical providers get away with their life altering mistakes. The team at the Mininno Law Office wants to work to earn you the compensation you deserve.