Birth Injury: Pregnant patient was prescribed an improper medication for treatment of mild hypertension during pregnancy. Leading obstetrical authorities agreed that the medication increased the risk of birth defects. Despite the risk, pregnant patient was not monitored appropriately during the third trimester. Her baby was born with a severe brain injury (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) resulting in Cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia.
Birth Injury: Pregnant patient was admitted to hospital at full-term exhibiting signs of fetal distress. Pregnant patient waited over 16 hours in labor before a Cesarean section was performed. The baby was born with a severe brain injury (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) resulting in Cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia.
Wrongful Death: Pregnant patient went to local emergency room with symptoms of the flu. Patient was seen and discharged by the emergency room physician without any medication, such as Tamiflu, which was recommended by the CDC at the time for pregnant patients exhibiting symptoms of the flu. Patient's symptoms grew more severe and several days later it was discovered she was suffering from the H1N1 virus. Patient died two weeks later.
Prostate Cancer: Elderly patient regularly treated with primary doctor. Doctor failed to order appropriate prostate cancer screening tests. Patient later learned he had advanced prostate cancer that would have been discovered earlier if the proper screening tests would have been administered. Patient died.
Rectal Cancer: Doctor failed to order appropriate screening tests for rectal cancer. Patient later learned he had rectal cancer that would have been detected earlier if the proper screening tests had been ordered. Patient now has a permanent colostomy.
Paralysis: Patient suffered paralysis when a surgeon performing and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion plunged through the dura and into the her spinal cord. She will be in a wheelchair and require assistance for everyday living for the rest of her life.
Birth Injury: Pregnant patient was scheduled to see her OB for one of her last prenatal visits. She arrived 20 minutes late and was turned away by the office staff. Unfortunately, the patient was suffering from pre-eclampsia at the time. Her baby was born with severe Cerebral palsy as a result. Admission and treatment three days earlier could have prevented the injury.
Medical Malpractice: Patient presented to a pain management specialist for an experimental procedure allegedly designed to alleviate her chronic back pain. The physician continued performed an inappropriate laparoscopic procedure, and in the process severed the nerve bundle that controls bowel and bladder control. She will never regain either.
Medical Malpractice: Patient presented to a local community hospital for colonoscopy. Local doctor reading the same suspected cancer and sent her to a larger tertiary care center. The colorectal surgeon there decided against reviewing the small-town doctor's findings, deciding instead to perform his own colonoscopy. However, he failed to visualize the area of concern and discharged the patient with a clean bill of health. She continued to deteriorate and approximately one year later presented to her doctor who immediately diagnosed her with stage IV colon cancer.
