Results tagged “California” from Medical Malpractice Lawyers & Attorneys

Recently, one hospital in Alabama and three hospitals in Los Angeles, California have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-exposing 270 patients to radiation through CT scans. 

After reports were made, the FDA launched investigations in a series of cases in which 270 patients claimed that they were subjected to excessive amounts of radiation during CT brain perfusion scan procedures in L.A. and Alabama.

In October, the issue surfaced after it was discovered that 206 patients over an 18 month period were exposed to 8 times the normal amount of radiation normally used during CT scans.  The incidents occurred at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

At Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California, it was reported that over a period 10 months, 10 patients were exposed to 4 times the normal amount of radiation.   During that time, a 59 year old woman in Alabama came forward after she noticed a bald strip on her head a few days after she received a CT scan.  The woman reviewed her medical records and found that she had been exposed to a higher amount of radiation than other patients at Cedars Sinai. 

When patients have been exposed to higher amounts of radiation, they may develop symptoms such as hair loss and redness on their skin after procedures. 

At this time, the FDA is continuing investigations in conjunction with the state and local health authorities to determine how and why patients were subjected to such high amounts of radiation.  The FDA also released literature to help hospitals prevent over-exposure and medical errors.

If you have been a victim of a medical error, click here to find a medical malpractice attorney who can help!

Today, arbitrators ruled in favor of a middle school administrator who filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente.  The administrator, Timothy Howard, filed his claim after physicians failed to diagnose his symptoms, which led to him becoming disabled permanently.

Kaiser Permanente, California's largest non-profit HMO, was ordered to pay Howard $5 million for his injuries.  According to Howard's claim, his physicians failed to diagnose signs of an impending stroke, which later left him paralyzed and disabled indefinitely.  Additionally, an infection related to his stroke led to him having both of his legs amputated.
 
On November 18th, a panel of three arbitrators ruled in favor of Howard.  They said that the physicians at Kaiser Permanente were negligent and failed to properly diagnose Howard's symptoms, some of which included blindness and persistent headaches. 

Howard's lawyer argued that if his client had received proper treatment with medication, his artery would have repaired itself in a few months and the stroke may have never occurred.  However, the condition remained undiagnosed and led to a traumatic stroke two years later. 

Jim Anderson, a spokesman from Kaiser Permanente said, "We all agree that this is a terrible tragedy for Mr. Howard and his family, and all of them have our deepest sympathy."

If you have been harmed by failure to diagnose, click here to find a medical malpractice attorney near you!

In California, it is being reported that a baby's body was finally found after it had been missing for six days.  According to sources, the baby was 20 weeks premature and had been delivered at Kaiser Permanente.   The baby survived for 2 hours after being delivered and then passed away.

The baby had been named Autumn and once she died, her body went missing for 6 days from the hospital.   Autumn's parents had been making funeral arrangements when they learned that their daughter's body could not be found by the hospital. 

Representatives from Kaiser approached the parents and told them that the hospital had somehow lost track of their baby.  Days later, the hospital told the parents that their daughter's body was found in a refrigerator in the pathology department.  They claimed that the body was mistaken for an ice pack.

After the incident, a representative from Kaiser Permanente issued the following statement, "Due to patient privacy laws we are not able to discuss the details of any individual patient matter. In a case such as the one described we would offer our sincere apologies, work around the clock to investigate every possible avenue that could lead to an explanation and resolution of such a painful situation, and reach out to those involved to offer comfort and support."

The hospital went on to reiterate that they were taking pro-active measures so incidents like this would never happen again in their medical facilities.  At this time, it has not been revealed if the parents will take legal action against the hospital or not.

If you are dealing with a medical malpractice matter in California, click here to find a skilled medical malpractice lawyer!

 

In Stockton, California, a family recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a doctor.  In their lawsuit, the family alleges that the doctor treating a retired California policeman abandoned attempts to save the man so that he could steal the man's Rolex wristwatch.  The man was being treated for a heart attack.

The doctor, 32 year old Cleveland James Enmon is also facing charges of grand theft.  He is a resident of Hermosa Beach. 

According to the family's lawsuit, the deceased, Jerry Kubena Sr. was a retired police lieutenant from Manteca.  He was brought to St. Joseph's Medical Center on June 1st because he had a heart attack.  He died that same day.  Following his death, nurses noticed that Kubena's Rolex was missing.  They also noticed that Enmon had a bulge in his pocket which resembled a watch.

In their 15 page civil suit, Kubena's family said that Enmon "formed the intent" to steal the victim's watch while he was treating him.  They say the emergency room doctor "abandoned his efforts to resuscitate the decedent, leaving the decedent to dies so that he would not be able to reclaim his watch."  They also allege that St. Joseph's Hospital covered up the theft crime committed by Enmon to avoid being held liable.
 
This week, Enmon was arraigned in San Joaquin county Superior Court.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice in California, click here to find a qualified medical malpractice lawyer!

 

 

 

 

 

Recently on Fresnobee.com - The California Medical Board accused another doctor of medical negligence, tying the doctor to a case in which a baby girl died 4 years ago.  The Board is accusing Dr. Evelyn Maddela of gross negligence because they feel that the doctor did not fully recognize the baby's high risk status.  Dr. Maddela cared for the baby immediately after her birth. 

Fresnobee.com reports, "Maddela treated baby Paris intravenously and placed her in an oxygen hood. But repeat tests showed the baby's condition worsening. Another doctor, a neonatologist, later assumed care of the baby and immediately intubated the baby and ordered other intervention before she was transferred to Children's Hospital Central California in Madera. The baby was back at Kaiser a week later, was discharged in February and continued to have severe respiratory distress."

Dr. Hamid Safari, a perinatologist, is another defendant in the medical negligence case.  He is a specialist who treats high-risk pregnant women at Kaiser Permanente's Medical Center and is reported to have treated the young baby's mother.

According to Safari's lawyer, Stephen Schear, the accusation against Dr. Maddela, "indicates the medical board concluded he [Safari] was not the primary cause of any problems of the infant after birth."

Last year, the California Medical Board accused Dr. Safari of negligence and connected him to the death of the baby girl.  He was accused of negligence because he failed to call for an immediate C-Section, despite the fact that the fetal heart monitor showed immediate problems.  He was also accused of using excessive force with a vacuum during the delivery of a twin baby boy in April of 2005.  Due to the use of excessive force, the twin baby's spinal cord was severed. 

The State Board is refusing to comment further on the proceedings as the Board has a quality review process that it must adhere to.

If you or a loved one has suffered from medical negligence in California, click here to find an experienced California medical negligence lawyer!