July 03, 2018
All medical procedures come with some level of accepted risk. Unfavorable results may be one of these. However, not achieving ideal results does not automatically indicate negligence. Sometimes, even tragic outcomes are simply unavoidable. Unfavorable results may occur regardless of the steps…
April 02, 2018
The incident occurred almost five and a half years ago when a doctor at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown wrapped a child’s head with ACE Bandages to treat swelling after she was born prematurely. The procedure, said the doctor, John O. Chan, was something he had learned during his…
February 11, 2018
When on trial in a personal injury case, it is important not only to win a verdict but to ensure that it’s conducted in a manner that protects against a possible – and often probable -- appeal later on. Take, for instance, the birth injury case that resulted in April 2017 in a $41.6 million…
February 05, 2018
Medical malpractice lawsuits are generally lengthy and complicated legal cases. For the average lay person, they can seem shrouded in mystery, and many common misconceptions about medical malpractice cases have arisen over the years. At Kline & Specter, PC, we want to help our clients…
January 29, 2018
Anesthesia is one of the marvels of modern medicine. However, mistakes made in administering anesthesia cause thousands of injuries each year and can result in death. Types of Anesthesia Anesthesia is commonly administered in operating rooms, surgical centers, dental offices, and other medical…
January 11, 2018
A recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Superior Court may substantially change the future of litigation over Risperdal, the anti-psychotic drug linked to gynecomastia, the growth of female-like breasts in boys and male adolescents. A panel of the court decided to allow juries to consider punitive…
November 20, 2017
A recent study published in JAMA Surgery titled “Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Involving Surgical Residents,” analyzed a decade of medical malpractice cases involving surgical interns, residents and fellows. The results of the study showed that lack of supervision of these doctors by more…
November 11, 2017
Civil actions often end with jury verdicts or settlements that provide an injured party with monetary compensation. But in some cases they bring about change – such as safety improvements or revamped policies and regulations -- that helps ensure there won’t be future victims. Such was the case…
November 09, 2017
When you check into a hospital, your usual expectation is that you will be treated, and then be released in better health. However, for thousands of patients each year across the United States, that is not the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that for patients…
October 17, 2017
Cerebral palsy is not one distinct condition, but an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect a child’s ability to move and develop muscle tone. These disorders are caused by damage to the baby’s developing brain during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or immediately after birth. When the…
October 10, 2017
A recent article in JAMA Surgery reported that seven procedures account for 80 percent of the deaths, complications, and costs associated with the nearly three million emergency surgeries performed each year. Researchers found upon reviewing 421,476 patient records for 2008-2011 that seven…
October 02, 2017
The recent $57.1 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson over its defective vaginal mesh devices did more than produce a large award for a plaintiff who suffered permanent injury. It also raised awareness among many more women across the country who may endure permanent and severe pain as a…
August 08, 2017
A Cesarian section is often medically necessary to avoid complications during labor and delivery and to provide a safe birth for both mother and child. A C-section may be safer than a vaginal birth for many reasons, among them: Complications During Pregnancy You previously had a C-section…
July 25, 2017
Surgery on the incorrect part of a patient’s body – or “wrong-site surgery” – is rare, occurring just once in 112,994 operations, according to a study cited recently by The Washington Post. Yet they do occur. The Post gave several examples, including the case of a Minnesota man whose healthy kidney…