Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

How to Minimize Pregnancy Complications

Women who are trying to conceive and those who are already pregnant can follow some simple tips to promote a healthy pregnancy and to avoid complications at birth.  

1. Select a competent doctor.  
2. Get prenatal care as soon as you think you might be pregnant. 
3. Avoid toxic substances especially in the home and workplace. 
4. Quit smoking - women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to miscarry or have a baby with a cleft palate.  
5. Eat healthy and drink extra fluids when you're pregnant and/or breastfeeding. 
6. Avoid alcohol and caffeine during pregnancy. While small amounts may not be harmful, there is no known safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed by a pregnant woman. 
7. Exercise to benefit you and your baby's health. Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program.
8. Get vaccinated before becoming pregnant.  
9. Avoid X-rays - tell all health care providers, including your dentist, that you are pregnant. 
10. Bring an advocate with you to doctor's appointments and during the birth - having someone else to support you if things don't go as planned will be helpful. 
11. Get a second opinion if you have concerns regarding your doctor's care or questions about your pregnancy that your doctor is not answering.  

Every year, there are approximately 28,000 birth injuries in the United States. Birth injuries can be caused by a number of factors, including prolonged labor, breech birth, and medical malpractice. 

An additional 150,000 babies are born in this country with birth defects each year, according to the March of Dimes. While these statistics may be alarming, the vast majority of babies are born healthy and with no defects or injuries.

If your child was injured during birth (or soon after) you may be entitled to compensation to assist your family with medical and other expenses related to the care of your child. 

Contact us at 1-800-410-2769 and speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney for a FREE evaluation of your case.

When to Consider a Medical Malpractice Claim

Being unsatisfied with medical care does not always represent a reason for initiating a malpractice lawsuit. Every medical treatment is subject to risk, level of provider expertise, and just plain good or bad luck.

Consider the facts and then call a medical malpractice attorney to answer your questions definitively on whether or not you have reasonable grounds for litigation.

Which of these scenarios is a possible result of medical malpractice? 

• Wrong-site surgery
• Poor cosmetic procedure outcome
• Incorrect advice from medical personnel
• Failure to diagnose illness
• Inappropriate or delayed treatment

Any of these problems may indicate malpractice. However, the courts require certain other elements in order to consider a case valid. Even if you do have a rightful claim, a lawyer may refuse to represent you if it is too difficult to substantiate. Medical laws vary by state, too, so recovering damages may depend in part upon your geographic location.

Obvious practitioner errors, such as performing surgery in the wrong area of the body or leaving instruments inside the cavity, are strong contenders for legal retribution. The timing and performance of treatments will carry a current accepted standard of care, but mistakes will have to be verified by an expert medical witness.

Some surgical procedures, such as cosmetic ones, do not generate predictable outcomes. Malpractice liability in these cases may rest on other factors, such as whether informed consent was requested, or whether the treatment was elective or not.

If you feel you have a reason to sue, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at Thomas M. Kiley & Associates, LLP. We will evaluate your case for FREE - 1-800-410-2769.  

Medical Malpractice and the Rise of Health Care Expenditures

The impact of medical malpractice on health care costs is immense, with figures climbing every year.

Complications associated with surgical or medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States, with as many as 98,000 fatalities annually.

Many of these cases will generate medical malpractice lawsuits, which cost the victims' families, insurers and doctors. Insurance companies and medical professionals often pass on this expense to consumers. These employers must find ways to economize within their own organizations, and so the bite is ultimately felt by workers across the country.

Each year: 

• Health care insurance rates rise by as much as 20 percent
• Medical malpractice insurance costs rise by more than 11 percent
• Surgical errors generate a $1.5 billion deficit that insurers must pay

These statistics may hold the answer to reversing out-of-control health-care spending. Hospitals are beginning to focus on mistakes made during surgical procedures as one way to stem the flow of dollars.

A recent study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reported that 10 percent of patient deaths following surgery occurred due to a preventable error. And surgical mishaps represent only a portion of the added expense created by medical mistakes overall. Decreasing or eliminating these errors could save consumers billions of dollars.

As medical facilities move closer to a standard of "perfection," there are steps that individuals can take. Reducing the spread of infection and improving doctor/patient communication are two.

Learn more tips from the Department of Health and Human Services by visiting the AHRQ.

If you, or a loved one, have suffered a medical complication due to medical malpractice contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. We will evaluate your case for FREE - 1-800-410-2769.