Rochester Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Federal Jury Awards Over $18 Million to HIV Patient in Medical Malpractice Claim

Published on: July 24, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Diagnosing HIV is in its early stages is critical to ensure the disease does not progress. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a missed or delayed HIV diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to holding medical professionals accountable for their negligent conduct.

Last month, a federal jury in Boston awarded $18.4 million in damages to a man who claimed that two of his former doctors did not test him for HIV, despite risk factors that made him more vulnerable to contracting the disease. S.S., age 48, argued that being gay and previously working as a paramedic made him particularly vulnerable to the disease.

Despite S.S.’s explicit consent to an HIV test in 2007, his treating physicians failed to perform one. Approximately three years later, another physician ordered the test and the results came back positive. By that time, the man’s disease had progressed to AIDs, resulting in him suffering brain damage and ending his career prematurely.

EMT Negligence in Rochester

Published on: July 17, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

New York medical malpractice cases can take many forms. If you or someone close to you has been injured by an EMT’s carelessness or error, you need to reach out to a Rochester medical malpractice attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to getting our clients the compensation in the form of damages for the injuries you suffered. Proving paramedic or New York EMT malpractice can get complicated and requires a thorough understanding of the law.

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have a significant impact on how well patients will recover from trauma they have suffered. Since these medical professionals are typically the first to arrive at the scene of the emergency, they have to be prepared to respond quickly and accurately, as well as have the proper equipment to do so. It is also important to remain calm and levelheaded in these high stress situations. Unfortunately, paramedics and EMTs often make medical mistakes that lead to serious patient harm. Examples of such errors include, but are not limited to:

Delayed response by first responders or ambulance;

PTSD and Medical Malpractice in Rochester

Published on: July 10, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

We often hear about PTSD affecting soldiers or crime victims, but the reality is that it can also affect victims of medical malpractice. In fact, a medical professional’s mistake can cause severe psychological problems for patients. If you or someone close to you has been seriously affected psychologically following a medical mistake, you need to contact an experienced Rochester medical malpractice attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to treating you and your family with the compassion you deserve, while advocating for your rights every step of the way.

While medical malpractice can lead to serious physical harm, in some cases malpractice can also cause severe psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Medical malpractice refers to an act or omission by a physician during treatment of a patient that deviates from accepted norms of practice in the medical community and causes an injury to the patient. For example, when a medical professional’s act or omission causes the patient to wake up during surgery, that patient may develop PTSD.

The Mayo clinic defines PTSD as a mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. PTSD Symptoms generally include nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety as well as ongoing intrusive and distressing thoughts about the events. While anyone who goes through a traumatic event will experience some distress and difficulty, they typically improve with time. However, people who have PTSD often feel extremely stressed even though they are no longer in danger. When symptoms continue to get worse over a prolonged period of time and interfere with a person’s ability to complete day-to-day life, that person may have PTSD.

Girl Wins $135M in Medical Malpractice Case

Published on: July 3, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Individuals rely on medical professionals to help them to maintain proper health. When doctors make an error in judgment, it is your right to seek compensation. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our highly skilled Rochester medical malpractice attorneys will analyze the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. We understand how devastating medical injuries can be, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost compassion.

A 17-year-old Michigan girl recently won $135 million in a medical malpractice claim against Detroit Medical Center (DMC). F.G., who was ten years old at the time, received improper medical treatment that left her with permanent weakness in her arms and legs and loss of bowel and bladder control.

The facts at trial showed that DMC doctors who had operated on F.G.’s spine for a simple scoliosis surgery disregarded immediate signs and symptoms that showed her spinal cord was being compressed and injured by hardware place in her spine by the physicians. Instead of remedying the compression, the doctor went on holiday twice and left her alone lying paralyzed and incontinent of bowel and bladder for 10 days. At this time, another doctor identified the problem and removed the hardware from the girl’s body. However, it was too late, and the patient was left with partial paralysis of her four extremities and permanent loss of bowel and bladder control.

Medical Malpractice in Buttocks Augmentation Cases

Published on: June 29, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Errors in buttocks augmentation procedures can lead to serious complications. If you have suffered a complication after this type of procedure, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our diligent Rochester medical malpractice attorneys can evaluate your case and determine a legal strategy accordingly.

Buttocks augmentation can be accomplished in a few different ways. A Brazilian butt lift takes place when a patient uses fat from one part of their body to be transplanted into their buttocks to increase the size, according to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Butt implants, on the other hand, require a surgeon to insert silicone implants into the patient’s rear end. Women who are thin and do not have enough fat for liposuction are typically the candidates who go the implant route.

The ASPS reports that butt implants and lifts are the fastest-growing type of plastic surgery in the United States. In fact, butt implants increased by 18 percent between 2015 and 2016, while fat grafting procedures jumped 26 percent during the same time frame. In total, 20,673 butt augmentation procedures were performed in the country in 2017.

Malpractice Caps Have Led to Doctors Ordering Fewer Invasive Tests

Published on: June 22, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States. About one in every five deaths take place due to a heart attack. Sadly, many of these deaths occur because a doctor failed to diagnose or treat the condition properly. This is especially true in emergency room settings, where it is extremely busy and medical professionals are juggling many different things at the same time. If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack due to a medical professional’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Rochester medical malpractice attorneys understand this area of law and can apply our knowledge to use in your case.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that after malpractice caps were implemented, doctors ordered fewer invasive tests to diagnose heart attacks. A research team from George Washington University highlighted how in nine states that adopted medical malpractice caps, doctors ordered 24 percent fewer angiographies as a first test than doctors in 20 states without such caps. Doctors in states that adopted a damages cap also ordered 21 percent fewer coronary angiographies as a follow up and 23 percent fewer coronary procedures, such as stenting, which some researchers believe is an overused procedure.

Doctors often report to practicing defensive medicine to reduce malpractice risk. In other words, doctors often conduct tests simply to reduce the risk of being sued, rather than because they genuinely believe those tests are necessary. The study is important because it shows that reducing malpractice risk is associated with clinical decisions involving coronary artery disease testing and treatment. While overall testing rates did not change, the kind of tests that doctors ordered did change. In sum, doctors tolerate greater clinical uncertainty in coronary artery disease testing and treatment if they face lower malpractice risks.

Organ Puncture or Perforation Caused by New York Medical Malpractice

Published on: June 15, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

When an organ has been punctured or perforated during surgery, the results can be devastating. If you or someone close to you has suffered this type of harm, you may be entitled to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault surgeon. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Rochester surgical malpractice attorneys can help you and your family pursue the compensation you are rightfully owed for your injury.

Unfortunately, when an organ is perforated, not only is the vitality and functionality of that organ threatened, but also it can lead to loss of fluids, infection, rupture of sutures, and loss of blood through transport by the organ that is affected. In addition, harmful liquids and other materials from inside the organ can also be released inside the patient’s body. The bowel suffers the most as a result of an organ perforation during surgery. Other organs that are commonly affected are the stomach, liver, and intestines.

During an operation, it is possible for the patient to suffer an organ puncture or perforation due to a medical professional’s negligence, equipment malfunction, or other complications. Organ punctures or perforations are a common type of surgical malpractice. Errors in surgery, whether by an inadvertent slip of a hand or a tissue tear by an instrument during surgery, that lead to the perforation of an organ can have dire consequences.

Medical Malpractice Fatalities in New York

Published on: June 8, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

There is nothing more devastating than unexpectedly losing a loved one. If you have recently lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, we can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our dedicated Rochester medical malpractice attorneys are committed to helping loved ones hold negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause. With years of experience, we can examine the facts of your case and devise a legal strategy accordingly.

Unfortunately, medical mistakes result in a staggering number of injuries and deaths every year across the United States. In fact, approximately 220,000 to 440,000 preventable deaths every year are caused by medical malpractice. In fact, medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the country, according to one study. Medical malpractice can happen in a variety of ways, including but not limited to diagnostic errors, medication errors, birth injuries, emergency room malpractice, hospital malpractice, surgical errors, anesthesia errors, and more.

Medical professionals are expected to provide a high standard of care to each and every patient. When a patient dies due to a hospital or physician error, the family of the deceased person has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. A wrongful death occurs when a person dies as a result of someone else’s negligence. A wrongful death claim may be appropriate in situations in which the deceased person could have pursued a claim in court had that person been alive. There are strict rules regarding who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Under New York statutes, a wrongful death claim can be brought by:

Neonatal Seizure Injuries in New York

Published on: June 1, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

The joyous occasion of a birth can quickly turn into a nightmare if something is wrong with the baby. Unfortunately, the error or carelessness of a medical professional often leads to harm such as neonatal seizures. If your baby experienced seizures or is experiencing seizures after birth, you need to reach out to a skilled Rochester birth injury attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we have helped many families and can help you as well.

A seizure is uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain that generally produces physical convulsion. Neonatal seizures are typically characterized as seizures that take place within the first month of life. Seizures are typically signs of brain dysfunction. In newborns, seizures can be a sign that a baby suffered some type of brain damage. Often, they are the first sign of a birth injury. There are four types of seizures in newborns:

Subtle seizures: blinking or rapid side-to-side eye movement, leg bicycling, and mouth smacking movements. These occur in about 50 percent of all newborns with seizures.

Nerve Damage Due to Medical Malpractice in Rochester

Published on: May 30, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Medical malpractice can result in many different types of injuries, including nerve damage. If you or someone close to you suffered nerve damage due to a doctor’s mistake, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled Rochester medical malpractice attorneys can scrutinize the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.

A nerve is one or more bundles of fiber forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, pain, pressure, temperature, and more. Put simply, nerves transit messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Nerve damage can include a wide range of injuries from minor to severe. Nerves that have been severely injured can suffer a permanent loss of function or sensation. If a nerve is damaged but not severed, the result can be chronic pain. Unfortunately, this pain typically gets worse over time. Nerve damage can be a result of a variety of medical mistakes, including but not limited to:

A surgical mistake causing damaged or severed nerves;