West Des Moines, Iowa Personal Injury Blog
West Des Moines, Iowa Personal Injury Blog
Misdiagnosis is leading cause of medical malpractice claims
A new study says as many as 80,000 people die each year in U.S. hospitals as a result of diagnostic errors. Additionally, misdiagnoses related to the “Big Three” diseases – cancer, infections and vascular disease – account for three out of every four malpractice...
How MRIs can help prevent Alzheimer’s misdiagnoses
Central Iowa residents should know that not all cases of dementia, or memory loss, are due to Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association itself says that up to 40% of dementia cases are caused by other conditions than Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, the link is such...
Medical malpractice statistics from 2009 to 2018
Iowa residents may be surprised to learn that in the US, medical malpractice ranks as the third-leading cause of death. Data collected from the years 2009 to 2018 shows that more than 250,000 people die every year because of negligence on the part of medical...
Informed consent is a necessary part of any medical procedure
You were riding your bike when you hit a rough patch on the sidewalk. You were thrown from your bicycle and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Luckily, the driver was able to stop nearly completely before hitting you. The impact was minor, but you did have broken...
Four diseases doctors commonly misdiagnose
Everyone in Central Iowa and across the nation knows that doctors are not perfect. In fact, it has been estimated that around 20 percent of patients are misdiagnosed. For individuals to protect themselves, it is good to be aware of some of the common diseases that...
Disorder mistaken for dementia can improve with treatment
Some people in Iowa could be misdiagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease while actually suffering from a treatable disorder. Memory loss and balance control problems are common symptoms of different types of cognitive disorders, but they are also...
Negligence and medical malpractice
Iowa doctors and other health care practitioners are expected to reach a certain level of professionalism and proficiency. When the required standard of care is not met, the patient may have a claim for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice cases are dependent on a...
Finding pancreatic cancer early is often the key
More patients are surviving pancreatic cancer every year. It’s a relief for patients, families and doctors to finally see better success in the treatment of the disease. The survival rate of patients five years after diagnosis is currently about 9%, while in...
Klumpke paralysis: an overview
Iowa residents who are expecting a child should know that difficult deliveries are not uncommon. The baby can be injured in these, and one of those possible injuries is called Klumpke paralysis. This rare condition is defined as an injury to the nerves in the child's...
How patients can protect themselves from common medical errors
Iowa readers may be surprised to learn that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. However, patients can reduce their risk of harm by educating themselves and learning to spot the situations where medical mistakes are more likely to...
Misdiagnosis is leading cause of medical malpractice claims
A new study says as many as 80,000 people die each year in U.S. hospitals as a result of diagnostic errors. Additionally, misdiagnoses related to the “Big Three” diseases – cancer, infections and vascular disease – account for three out of every four malpractice...
How MRIs can help prevent Alzheimer’s misdiagnoses
Central Iowa residents should know that not all cases of dementia, or memory loss, are due to Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association itself says that up to 40% of dementia cases are caused by other conditions than Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, the link is such...
Medical malpractice statistics from 2009 to 2018
Iowa residents may be surprised to learn that in the US, medical malpractice ranks as the third-leading cause of death. Data collected from the years 2009 to 2018 shows that more than 250,000 people die every year because of negligence on the part of medical...
Informed consent is a necessary part of any medical procedure
You were riding your bike when you hit a rough patch on the sidewalk. You were thrown from your bicycle and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Luckily, the driver was able to stop nearly completely before hitting you. The impact was minor, but you did have broken...
Four diseases doctors commonly misdiagnose
Everyone in Central Iowa and across the nation knows that doctors are not perfect. In fact, it has been estimated that around 20 percent of patients are misdiagnosed. For individuals to protect themselves, it is good to be aware of some of the common diseases that...
Disorder mistaken for dementia can improve with treatment
Some people in Iowa could be misdiagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease while actually suffering from a treatable disorder. Memory loss and balance control problems are common symptoms of different types of cognitive disorders, but they are also...
Negligence and medical malpractice
Iowa doctors and other health care practitioners are expected to reach a certain level of professionalism and proficiency. When the required standard of care is not met, the patient may have a claim for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice cases are dependent on a...
Finding pancreatic cancer early is often the key
More patients are surviving pancreatic cancer every year. It’s a relief for patients, families and doctors to finally see better success in the treatment of the disease. The survival rate of patients five years after diagnosis is currently about 9%, while in...
Klumpke paralysis: an overview
Iowa residents who are expecting a child should know that difficult deliveries are not uncommon. The baby can be injured in these, and one of those possible injuries is called Klumpke paralysis. This rare condition is defined as an injury to the nerves in the child's...
How patients can protect themselves from common medical errors
Iowa readers may be surprised to learn that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. However, patients can reduce their risk of harm by educating themselves and learning to spot the situations where medical mistakes are more likely to...