The United States currently has the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized country in the world. Approximately 4 million women give birth in the country every year. Of these women, 50,000 will endure serious or life-threatening complications related to...
12 women accuse jailed New Mexico psychiatrist of sexual abuse
In July, a New Mexico psychiatrist was arrested on six counts of criminal sexual penetration as well as five counts of criminal sexual conduct. The sexual abuse occurred during "visits to his office during office hours that were part of supposed treatment," according...
Is your loved one’s nursing home prepared for an emergency?
Hurricane Irma slammed into South Florida on Sept. 14. The next day, eight residents of the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills died. The facility did not seek evacuation even though the air conditioning was knocked out by the storm, and some elderly and disabled...
How some dosage errors occur
New Mexico patients may be interested to learn that some harmful errors in drug prescribing occur because of 10-fold dosage mistakes. For example, a trailing zero, such as 1.0 mg, might be misread as 10 mg. Similarly, the lack of a leading zero could lead to confusion...
Diagnosis failure results in jury award
New Mexico patients who are concerned about whether their illnesses have been properly treated may be interested to learn of a case in which a hospital was required to pay $29 million to a patient because of a failure to diagnose her condition. The patient, who has...
Many labeled with penicillin allergies are not really allergic
Someone designated as allergic to penicillin in New Mexico might not really have the allergy. It's important to know that being misdiagnosed with this allergy could alter someone's health care for a lifetime. Less effective and more expensive alternative drugs might...
Preventing wrong-patient errors
New Mexico patients may be interested to learn that situations where a treatment or procedure is administered to the wrong patient still occur in all stages of diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, health care providers may document a patient's information in the...
Was It Medical Malpractice?
Everyone who goes through a medical procedure of any kind hopes that it goes well. However, there are always risks. There is always the possibility of a bad outcomeA bad outcome does not necessarily mean that the doctor or any of the medical professionals involved did...
Learning more about informed consent
Patients in New Mexico and throughout the country are entitled to have all the information necessary to make informed decisions about their medical treatment. Medical professionals are required to discuss alternate treatment options as well as the risks and possible...
Las Cruces case regarding improper pacemaker implant goes to jury
LAS CRUCES >> Jurors on Friday heard closing arguments in a civil trial based on accusations that a German company conspired with a doctor in 2007 to unnecessarily implant a pacemaker in a man's chest.The suit, filed by Tommy and Barbara Sowards of Las Cruces,...