The emergency room (ER) is a busy place but hospital staff still has a duty to meet the standard of care. This means recognizing which patients need treatment right now and which patients can wait. The failure to meet this standard of care can result in the failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis, or misdiagnosis. According to the CDC, 1...
Read MoreThe heart is one of the most important organs in the body, which is why it is categorized as a “vital organ.” It follows then that any problems with this organ have the potential to cause serious injuries. According to the CDC, 785,000 people have an initial heart attack and 470,000 have a second heart attack each year in...
Read MoreAccording to the CDC, there are more than 51 million inpatient surgeries in the United States each year. These procedures include endoscopy, hip and knee replacement, hysterectomy, and open heart surgery (i). Doctors and surgeons have a duty to provide patients with treatment that meets the reasonable the standard of care. This includes avoiding errors during surgery. Researchers at...
Read MoreMassachusetts requires all employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. This is an insurance program that covers certain expenses like weekly lost wages, medical and prescription bills, and other benefits. In order to qualify for benefits employees must have suffered a work-related injury. Employees should file the proper paperwork as soon as possible and keep copies. According...
Read MoreBreast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in the United States. It is estimated that in 2013 alone there will be 232,340 of new cases invasive breast cancer and 39,620 women will die from this disease (i). As this disease progresses to later stages the survival rates are lower which is why early detection...
Read MoreCerebral palsy is a condition that affects the brain and nervous system. It can occur during fetal development, during birth, or through an injury during infancy. This condition can cause a number of disorders but most frequently it is associated with lack of muscle control and coordination. About 70% of the time this condition is caused by insufficient development...
Read MoreVictoza (liraglutide) is a once-daily injection used to control blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes patients. This medicine increases insulin while making the stomach feel full. The FDA approved this drug in January 2010 and it earned more than $2.3 billion in sales its first year on the market (i). Victoza, like all medicines, may cause side effects. According...
Read MoreDistracted driving has become increasingly commonplace with the growing number of gadgets like cell phones, GPS, iPods, and radios. According to the most recent government statistics, at any given moment there are approximately 660,000 people using electronic devices while driving. Additionally, in just one year 3,331 people were killed in car crashes involving distracted driving and an additional 387,000...
Read MoreMany residents of Rhode Island and Massachusetts earn their living by working on the open seas. These seamen face dangerous conditions every day and injuries are common while at sea. It is important for seamen to be aware that they may be entitled to recover for their injuries under the Jones Act. This federal statute states that “any seaman...
Read MoreAccording to the Department of Transportation, motor coaches make more than 750 million passengers trips each year in the United States. Statistics show that on average 17 passengers die each year while making these trips. The most dangerous bus accidents were rollovers causing 61% of deaths followed by running off the road and multi-vehicle collisions. The top three causes...
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