Category: Medical Malpractice

On August 25, 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court approved changes to the state’s medical malpractice rules. These amendments end a 20-year policy that had limited the filing of medical malpractice lawsuits to the jurisdiction in which they occurred.

Effective January 1, 2023, the court’s order allows plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases to sue providers in jurisdictions where they regularly conduct business—rather than restricting them to suing in counties where they received the problematic care and treatment at issue.

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On March 24, 2021, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub arrested Dr. Richard Kondan for violating multiple components of the Drug Act. Dr. Kondan, 58, works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Kondan was charged with illegally prescribing highly addictive opioid medications to at least 14 of his patients. In addition, the investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and Bucks County Detectives revealed that, for 16 years, Dr. Kondan failed to keep patient medical records up-to-date, increased dosages to inappropriate amounts, prescribed dangerous combinations of medications, and authorized refills without prior examinations. He has been officially charged with 14 counts of Unlawful Prescription of a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner.

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The birth of a child is an opportunity for joy and excitement, as well as a little anxiety for new parents. After all, the birth process can be scary, especially given the rising maternal mortality rate in the United States. Although no parents want to deal with a medical malpractice suit as part of their post-birth plan, it is sometimes necessary to bring them the closure they deserve when the mother or baby suffers harm.

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One of the great responsibilities entrusted to doctors is the ability to prescribe medications to patients. These medications range from relatively benign controlled substances, such as Ambien, to ones that carry major risks for patients if misused, such as Oxycodone.

This responsibility is one that should be wielded carefully by doctors, especially considering the ongoing opioid addiction epidemic across the United States. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the opioid overdoses accounted for more than 42,000 deaths in 2016. Of those deaths, an estimated 40% of opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid.

Read More about Doctor Fraud: False Claims and Controlled Substances an Ongoing Problem for the Medical Industry

The ER is a daunting place – and lately, the anxiety of an unexpected health problem has been compounded by the hazards associated with overcrowding. ER visits across the country reached a 10-year high in 2015, and in 2016, there were 145.6 million ER visits, with 12.6 million of them leading to hospital admission. These numbers have a significant impact on quality of care – and the resulting mistakes and lack of adequate attention are putting patients at risk.

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A new study published by the medical journal The Lancet, has revealed that sepsis accounts for 1 in 5 deaths globally. Additionally, sepsis is the most common cause of deaths in the hospital in the United States. According to the study, it is estimated that there were 48.9 million cases of sepsis in 2017, resulting in 11 million deaths. The study also found that highest incidence of sepsis occurred in children and the elderly. This is concerning because sepsis is most dangerous for these populations.

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Hospital safety grades have been released for Pennsylvania Hospitals. The grades are handed out by The Leapfrog Group. The Leapfrog Group is a national non-profit organization that collects and reports hospital performance data. The organization’s mission is to improve safety, quality, and affordability of health care in the U.S.

The Leapfrog grading system rates hospitals based on incidence of infections, problems with surgeries, incidence of falls, incidence of bed sores, quality of medical staff, among other safety issues.

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