Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Published on: December 12, 2018

Father Sues Rehabilitation Center Caused Son to Suffer Further Injuries

People struggling with drug addiction are especially vulnerable and rehab centers are well aware of that. These individuals, like any other patients, trust their doctors to provide them with competent treatment and care. If you have been injured at a rehab center, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim on your hands. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our highly skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys have the necessary experience and knowledge base to evaluate your claim.

A West Virginia father is suing a rehabilitation facility alleging medical malpractice in causing his son to sustain further injuries. According to the complaint, the patient received medical care and treatment at the rehab center after suffering a drug overdose. However, the rehab center allegedly provided negligent care for someone who suffered a drug overdose, which actually worsened the patient’s condition instead of improving it. As such, the patient claims to have suffered injuries, diminution the ability to enjoy life and limited in his ability to perform daily activities.

Published on: December 5, 2018

Singer’s Widow Files Medical Malpractice Claim Against His Doctor

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Sadly, suicide is a leading cause of death among people under the age of 35 in the United States. Losing a loved one to suicide can be a harrowing experience. Not only are you dealing with the loss of a loved one but also wondering if anything could have been done differently to prevent the suicide. If you lost a loved one to suicide in which you believe medical negligence caused or contributed to the death, you should contact a Syracuse medical malpractice attorney as soon possible. These cases are much more complex than standard malpractice cases but we can help you understand your legal rights and options in the aftermath of such a tragedy.

Chris Cornell, a singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave committed suicide by hanging last year. Now, his widow Vicki is suing Cornell’s doctor for medical malpractice in California. In the complaint, Cornell’s family alleges that the singer was carelessly and recurrently prescribed “dangerous mind-altering controlled substances” that clouded his judgment and led him to partake in unsafe impulsive behavior that he was not able to control. Cornell was allegedly prescribed over 940 doses of the anti-anxiety drug known as Lorazepam from September 2015 to when he died despite being known as an “addiction-prone” individual.

Published on: November 28, 2018

New York Woman Wins Malpractice Suit for Failure to Diagnose Glaucoma

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged. It is a progressive disease, which means timely diagnosis and treatment is imperative to correcting or improving the condition. If you suffered serious vision problems as a result of a medical provider’s carelessness, you may have a right to compensation. Our reputable medical malpractice advocates in Syracuse can examine your incident and decide whether a medical professional’s incompetence or error was a factor in your injury.

A New York woman who went blind after physicians misdiagnosed her glaucoma has won a multi-million dollar award against the hospital. The woman was seven months pregnant and just 20 years old when she went to the medical center complaining of blurred vision and pressure around her eyes during prenatal check ups. According to the lawsuit, doctors never diagnosed her with glaucoma even though she visited the hospital six times indicating the same symptoms every time. Two months later, the woman could not even see her newborn son when the doctor placed him on her chest. Several weeks later, she was officially diagnosed with glaucoma. By the time she had surgery for the condition one month later, it was too late and she was left 90 percent blind. After just a few hours of deliberation, the jury awarded her $15 million in damages.

New York Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice can be the cause of glaucoma related vision loss if the doctor failed to recognize the signs and symptoms of a patient’s glaucoma, or if the doctor failed to treat the condition properly. Failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing glaucoma can be the fault of primary care doctors, internists, optometrists or an ophthalmologist. Doctors are required to provide patients with a certain standard of care. The standard of care is typically the level of care and caution that a medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In order to obtain compensation for a diagnostic error related to glaucoma, you will need to prove that the mistake made by doctor was the direct and proximate of the injury.

Published on: November 21, 2018

Shorter Wait Times Associated with Better Physician Reviews

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you suspect that you or someone you love has been the victim of medical negligence by an ophthalmologist, you can potentially recover financial damages for your injuries. Our trusted Syracuse ophthalmologist negligence attorneys will review your case and create a legal strategy accordingly. We know that your time is valuable, which is why we try to resolve every case in an efficient manner.

The Study

People nowadays turn to online reviews before making a decision in many aspects of their lives, and choosing a doctor is no exception. There are a number of websites that permit patients to post reviews of their doctors. In a new study released by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock, researchers set out to examine how ophthalmologists are rated in online reviews and what factors led to higher ratings.

According to the data, 25 – 85 percent of doctors have an online profile on patient review website pages and 90 percent of those doctors have at least one rating. The study collected reviews about ophthalmologists, examining a total of 84,288 online reviews of 7,372 ophthalmologist profiles. Data shows that doctors who included a photo, biography and academic affiliation had higher ratings. In addition, shorter wait times and no history of malpractice also led to higher ratings.

Published on: November 15, 2018

Physical Therapy Malpractice in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you have been injured by a physical therapist’s negligence, you might be wondering what your legal options are. Since physical therapists are considered medical professionals, a physical therapist’s error, misconduct or carelessness could give rise to a medical malpractice claim. Our knowledgeable Syracuse physical therapist negligence attorneys will diligently analyze the circumstances of your injury so we can provide you with an honest opinion regarding your legal options.

The Role of Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who help people regain strength and movement that may be impaired due to a condition or injury. Specifically, physical therapists use exercises and special treatments to help people move their bodies. These professionals also help with pain management. A patient may seek the help of a physical therapist at a rehabilitation center, hospital, nursing home or even at one own’s home. Injuries may take place during a physical therapy session for a number of reasons, including:

Dropping patients during an exercise;
Leaving patients unattended on equipment;
Failure to monitor patients during an exercise;
Using broken equipment;
Sexual assault;
Overextending joints;
Failing to inform patients of risks associated with a particular treatment;
Failing to listen to patients’ complaints of pain.

Published on: November 8, 2018

Medical Malpractice Related to Sleep Apnea in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

It is estimated that 20 million Americans experience sleep apnea. If you have experienced an injury related to sleep apnea misdiagnosis or substandard treatment, you might be able to recover compensation for your injury. Our Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers will investigate your claim with compassion and assist you get the answers you deserve. These cases are very tricky but having skill legal counsel on your side can make a big difference in your case.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is defined as a possibly severe sleep condition in which the breathing recurrently stops and starts. It falls under two categories:

Obstructive sleep apnea: this is the most common type and takes place when the throat muscles relax.
Central sleep apnea: this takes place because the brain fails to send the right signs to the muscles that control an individual’s breathing.

Published on: November 1, 2018

Issues Associated with Lyme Disease Medical Malpractice in and around Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Lyme disease can have a devastating impact on a patient’s life. If you have suffered harm because a doctor failed to diagnose or treat Lyme disease properly, you may have a medical malpractice case on your hands. Our Syracuse medical negligence attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of medical malpractice pursue the compensation they rightfully deserve for their injuries. These cases are very difficult and it is vital to have a skilled legal advocate who can provide advice and assistance throughout your case.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Borrelia, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Symptoms commonly associated with the disease include fatigue, headache, fever and a skin rash that looks like a bulls eye. This distinct rash is the hallmark of the infection. The disease is often misdiagnosed for two main reasons: the disease can affect each person differently and the symptoms of the disease often resemble the symptoms of other conditions. Left undiagnosed and untreated, however, Lyme disease can affect your joints, heart and nervous system.

Published on: October 25, 2018

Malpractice Related to Osteomyelitis in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you or a family member suffered from an osteomyelitis related injury because of a healthcare provider’s carelessness, you could be eligible for damages. These cases can be incredibly complex, which is why it is imperative to reach out to a hard-working Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help.

What is Osteomyelitis?

Osteomyelitis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the bone or bone marrow. Patients with osteomyelitis generally experience serious pain and muscle spasms in the inflammation area, as well as fever. If detected early, the condition can be treated with antibiotics and, in some cases, surgery. If not treated properly, however, the infection could spread to other parts of the body and can lead to bone death. If bone death takes place, amputation may be the only way to prevent the infection from spreading. The condition can even be fatal if not treated in a timely and effective manner.

Published on: October 18, 2018

Balloon Angioplasty Malpractice in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you believe that you or a family member has been injured because of a balloon angioplasty related error, you can potentially obtain financial recovery for your injury. Our Syracuse medical negligence advocates believe that medical professionals should put patient safety first and should be held accountable for any preventable harm that they cause. Cases involving angioplasties can be incredibly complicated but we understand how to evaluate them.

What is Balloon Angioplasty

Coronary artery disease is caused by the build-up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries leading to the heart. A coronary artery block may put an individual at risk for a fatal heart attack. A balloon angioplasty is a common surgical procedure used to reduce coronary artery blockage. The procedure involves widening of a blocked or narrow blood vessel through a balloon catheter. Specifically, a balloon-tipped catheter is temporarily inserted into the clogged artery to enlarge it.

Published on: October 9, 2018

Epilepsy Malpractice in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you have been misdiagnosed or mistreated for epilepsy or seizure disorder, we can assist. The Syracuse medical negligence trial attorneys at our firm can help hold negligent physicians accountable for the harm that they cause. You can rely on the fact that we are committed to acting in your best interests, providing you with reliable legal advice and supporting you each step of the way. Above all, we will aim to secure the payment you need to deal with the injuries you suffered.

What is Epilepsy?

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. The brain communicates with the spinal cord, nerves and muscles via electrical impulses. When electrical activity in the brain is abnormal, a person can have a seizure. Epilepsy is the term use to denote “seizure disorder.” In other words, epilepsy refers to the condition of having recurrent, unprovoked seizures.