Woodstown New Jersey Legal Blog

Patients in New Jersey going to the doctor or entering the hospital may be worried about misdiagnosis or the potential failure to diagnose a serious disease like cancer; this is especially true if their illness is currently undiagnosed. Incorrect diagnoses and other doctor errors can lead to serious consequences for patients as mistaken treatment can be applied, causing side effects. Then, the correct treatment may not be received, which of particular concern in the case of progressive diseases. Misdiagnosis can lead to worsened medical conditions and even fatalities if illnesses become untreatable.

The dangers posed by misdiagnosis highlight the importance of reducing diagnostic errors for hospitals. Maintaining excellent patient care and reducing liability exposure both require curbing incorrect diagnoses. When bone density scans are performed using ultrasound or dual-energy X-ray radiology, between 6 and 28 percent of all reports from these tests contain some form of error. While many of these errors are simple or minor, they could carry severe consequences for patients if a physician relies upon them when making a diagnosis. The use of data entry software in radiology departments can lead to a significant reduction in diagnostic errors.

New Jersey residents might be surprised to learn that medical mistakes lead to roughly 250,000 deaths annually in the United States. In many cases, the cause of these errors can be ascertained by reviewing the clinical files of involved patients.

Determining the cause of an adverse medical event requires close scrutiny of the patient's clinical chart and other medical records. Unfortunately, reviewing records and determining the ultimate cause of an adverse medical event is made significantly more challenging when there is no clarity or consistency in the patient's clinical chart. If a nurse makes an error or omission in record keeping, it can lead to liability issues for the nurse and the facility.

New Jersey residents who are involved in a car crash may experience a variety of physical and mental injuries. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder is a common form of mental health issue that may make it difficult for a person to get into a car or drive after an accident. Among the most common physical injuries after a car accident is whiplash.

Those who suffer from whiplash may experience neck or back stiffness. Bruising, lacerations or broken bones may also occur in a minor or severe accident. Injuries to the head such as a concussion are not uncommon after a vehicle wreck. The extent to which a person is hurt may depend on the circumstances surrounding the accident. For instance, if a collision occurs on the driver's side of the car, that person is more likely to be injured compared to those on the other side of the vehicle.

In order for medical malpractice to occur, certain elements must exist. The existence of a doctor-patient relationship is fundamental. There must also be a standard of care owed to the patient.

When medical malpractice happens, there is a deviation from the standard of medical care, causing patient injury. In order for a medical malpractice claim to have validity, the patient must be able to prove negligence contributed to the injury. For victims of medical malpractice, determining what steps to take afterwards can be challenging.