A patient goes into a hospital for planned surgery and while that initial treatment may go well, he ends up with a staph infection that nearly kills him. Another patient, scheduled for shoulder surgery, receives the planned operation on the wrong side of her body...
Dementia is not always Alzheimer’s
New Mexico residents who have been affected by a diagnosis of Alzheimer's in their family may be interested in information about a similar medical condition that is sometimes confused with Alzheimer's. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration is a type of dementia that is...
When patients should get a second opinion
Many New Mexico patients may have heard how it is extremely important to get a second opinion. However, thosewho are diagnosed with an illness may feel confused about their diagnosis and may want to begin treatment immediately. While prompt treatment can save a...
Medicare pushing for improved hospital patient safety
Sometimes, a person experiences a worsening of their health during or after a hospital stay. In some instances, this occurs as a result of things outside of a hospital's control. In others though, it comes about from a mistake by the hospital and its staff. Such...
Medical Mistakes are the Third Leading Cause of Death in the US
Researchers have determined that medical errors, which fall under the medical malpractice umbrella, have become the third leading cause of death in the United States. These errors cause the death of over 250,000 patients each year, a number that exceeds that of...
Pursuing financial compensation for wrongful death
After a person is killed in New Mexico, the deceased person's surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit against a party that was responsible for the death. To prove that another party is liable for a person's death, family members must be able to show...
Understanding wrongful death litigation
New Mexico residents familiar with the murder trial of O.J. Simpson might wonder why the celebrity was found liable in a civil trial after being deemed not guilty in the criminal case. The standard of proof is typically lower in a civil case, which can allow an...
Addressing problems with high medical error death rates
New Mexico health care providers may work extensively to ensure the wellness of their patients, but there is always the risk of a medical error occurring. While errors may not be intentional, there are some actions that can be taken to minimize the risk of a patient...