Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Published on: November 8, 2018

Medical Malpractice Related to Sleep Apnea in Syracuse

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.

Published on: October 4, 2018

Pediatric Malpractice in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

When you take your child to the doctor, you expect to receive competent care. If your child sustained an injury due to a pediatrician’s negligence, you might be able to recover compensation for the child’s harm. Our reputable Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys will examine every detail of your case to determine whether malpractice occurred. If we accept your case, you can take comfort in the fact that we will vigorously advocate for your rights every step of the way.

Examples of Pediatric Errors

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that pertains to the medical care of infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric errors can cause severe damage at an early age and can impact the child’s entire life. Common examples of such errors include, but are not limited to:

Birth injuries;
Failure to diagnose serious infection;
Surgical errors;
Medication errors;
Diagnostic errors; and/or
Emergency room malpractice.

Published on: October 1, 2018

Hospital Sued for Malpractice After Boy Suffers Severe Brain Damage

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Cerebral palsy is a devastating birth injury that can have lifetime consequences for a child. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you have the right to know if it was the result of medical malpractice. Our reputable Syracuse cerebral palsy attorneys will investigate the circumstances of your injury to determine if malpractice occurred.

A jury recently awarded the family of a boy $130 million in a medical negligence case after he suffered severe brain damage at a Detroit hospital, resulting in cerebral palsy. According to the complaint, technicians at the hospital failed to give chest compressions to the boy when it was required and his brain was deprived of oxygen leading to permanent injury. The boy was just two months old when the injury took place in 2006. He is now 12-years-old and requires a lot of assistance in day-to-day life, including needing help getting in and out of the bathtub. The boy’s mother looks after him full time. The jury made its decision after a three-week civil trial. The hospital plans to appeal.

Suing for Birth Injuries

Damage to the developing brain during or after birth can cause cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a broad medical term used to describe many neurological disorders that affect movement and muscle coordination. While the condition does not worsen over time, it can have a costly and lifelong impact on an individual’s life. Cerebral palsy is often the result of a lack of oxygen to the brain at birth, decreased blood flow to the brain, or trauma and hemorrhage can injure the brain tissue.

Published on: September 25, 2018

Complications Arising from Untreated Jaundice in New York Newborns

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the happiest times in your life, but it can quickly become stressful when something goes wrong. If your doctor failed to diagnose or treat infant jaundice, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our hard-working Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys have the determination, skill and experience to handle your case. We will analyze the circumstances surrounding your child’s injury to determine if there is enough evidence to file a lawsuit.

Jaundice, also referred to as hyperbilirubinemia, is characterized by a yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin of a newborn infant. This happens because the baby’s blood contains excessive amounts of bilirubin, a pigment that is released when red blood cells are broken down. Under normal circumstances, the liver removes bilirubin from the body, but in some newborn children, the liver is not mature enough to do this properly. When jaundice is not identified and goes untreated, a condition called kernicterus can develop. Kernicterus is a type of brain damage caused by very high levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Six out of every ten children are born with some degree of jaundice that is diagnosed as a relatively minor condition. Most infants recover from jaundice on their own with non-invasive treatments; however, if jaundice is severe or goes untreated then newborns may experience severe health problems such as hearing loss, vision problems, intellectual disabilities and even cerebral palsy.

Published on: September 18, 2018

Physician Assistant Malpractice in Syracuse

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Physician assistants (PA) play a valuable role in the overall healthcare system by working with physicians to deliver care. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to the negligence of a physician’s assistant, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our reputable Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers can analyze the facts of your case and make sure you understand your legal rights and options.

A Nevada physician assistant who was dubbed a “danger to public health” is in serious trouble. While A.L. is not a doctor, she is facing 18-new counts of alleged disreputable conduct and medical malpractice. These charges are based on A.L.’s conduct from 2012.

A.L. allegedly falsified records, overprescribed dangerous drugs and even used expired and black-market medications. When she lost her medical license, she found new ways to keep practicing. Earlier this month, she pleaded guilty in district court to prescribing controlled substances using the stolen DEA number of her former supervising physician. In addition, A.L. performed medical services on her own that she was not allowed to perform without supervision from a doctor.

Published on: September 11, 2018

New York Court of Appeals Rules Jury Had Ample Evidence to Make Conclusion

by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a medical professional’s negligence, you need to consult a seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice attorney right away. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we have helped many New York clients obtain a fair outcome in their case and can help you as well.

In Clark v. Loftus, the plaintiff commenced a medical malpractice action as a result of complications after a surgical procedure performed by the defendant doctor. At trial, plaintiff and defendants presented contradictory expert testimony regarding the defendant’s alleged negligence. The Supreme Court of the State of New York provided the jury instructions on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitor. “Res ipsa loquitur” is latin for “the thing that speaks for itself.” When a case is tried under the theory of res ipsa loquitur, the circumstantial evidence in the case is so strong that it eliminates other possible causes of the patient’s injury other than the defendant’s negligence.

The jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant and the plaintiff moved to set aside the verdict as against the weight of the evidence for a new trial. In other words, the plaintiff sought judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The court granted the plaintiff’s motion, reasoning that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence and directed a new trial on the issue of negligence, including the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. The appellate court reversed the order and reinstated the verdict.