Every parent's nightmare is that something harmful happens to their child. That scenario is magnified during childbirth, which can easily turn from routine to dangerous. Unfortunately, childbirth injuries are much more common than people realize, with thousands of...
New report finds that 25% of hospitals mishandle “never events”
In hospitals throughout New Mexico and other states, "never events" can sometimes occur. According to the National Quality Forum, these are serious, reportable events that should never take place. A few examples of these events are performing surgery on the wrong part...
3 commonly misdiagnosed sports injuries
If you play amateur or professional sports in New Mexico, you're probably no stranger to the occasional injury. You may even get back up on your feet after a painful accident because you think you can just "shake it off." As an athlete, it's not your job to diagnose...
Birth injuries can be devastating
It can put the parent at ease, knowing that they are getting top tier medical treatment when giving birth. Conversely, it can be absolutely devastating for the parents to realize that the medical team made a mistake that caused birth injuries. These can occur when...
Misdiagnosis is top cause of serious malpractice claims
Diagnosis errors are the top cause of all serious medical malpractice cases filed in New Mexico and across the United States, according to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The research was funded by the Society to...
Misdiagnosis alarmingly high among Parkinson’s patients
In a poll conducted for the charity Parkinson's UK, 26% of the more than 2,000 Parkinson's disease patients surveyed said that they were misdiagnosed at first. Twenty-one percent even said that they had to see their general provider three times before being referred...
Graves’ disease is commonly misdiagnosed
People in New Mexico with Graves' disease are dealing with a debilitating medical condition that can be frustrating and difficult to manage. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce too much of the thyroid hormone, causing an overactive...
Conditions that gout can be mistaken for
Some New Mexico residents may suffer from gout, the inflammatory arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid. What's worse is that when they go to the doctor for a diagnosis, they often receive the incorrect one. Below are six conditions that gout can often be...
Even small errors can lead to great patient harm
Despite the ample evidence that shows doctors make more errors when they are fatigued, many still have to work hours that would force someone in a different profession to quit. This atrocity is one that can lead to harm to patients who are counting on their doctors to...
Learning to keep your doctor focused
Let's be clear: Your doctor should always be focused on you when you come in for an appointment. It is no more your job to make sure they don't get distracted than it is your job to make a diagnosis before you get to the office. That said, you do need to understand...
