Doctors and hospitals are using past lawsuits to avoid repeating mistakes that could put patients at risk and give rise to future claims. [powerpress]
How Lawsuits Are Helping Doctors Prevent Birth Injuries
Hidden slip and fall hazards of steps and stairways
Slip and fall accidents on stairs can cause serious injuries. Stairways come with inherent dangers that are usually not present on level surfaces. While sometimes the hazards may be obvious, in other cases they may be harder to detect. Property owners can be liable for stair accidents just like slip and falls in other locations….
Can epidurals be harmful for babies?
Epidurals have become a common method for managing pain during labor and delivery. Over half of all pregnant women in the United States choose to receive the injections for pain relief during childbirth. An epidural injection is a regional anesthesia administered intravenously around the lower spinal cord area. It is popular because it can help…
Florida Motorcycle Accidents on the Rise in 2016
In this month’s podcast, we look at the rising number of motorcycle accidents in Florida. [powerpress]
Why hoverboards are sending people to the hospital
Hoverboards have become increasingly popular, but many people are unaware of how dangerous the self-balancing scooters can be. Florida hospitals have seen a spike in the number of adults and children in emergency rooms due to hoverboard injuries over the past holiday season. Besides posing a fire hazard, the two-wheeled electric scooter also puts users…
How fetal macrosomia is linked to birth injuries
Doctors are responsible for carefully monitoring both the mother and baby to ensure the pregnancy is progressing normally. One possible complication that can arise is fetal macrosomia. The condition refers to a baby being larger than average for its gestational age. Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with fetal macrosomia require proper medical attention as…
Top 3 things to avoid after a slip and fall accident
Experiencing a slip and fall accident can leave one hurt and feeling upset. However, in a state of confusion, one might end up taking steps that can be harmful. Your actions immediately after a fall can have significant impact on a future lawsuit. Here are the top three things to avoid after a slip and…
Why asthmatic pregnant women in big cities face a higher risk of preterm birth
A new study has found that expectant mothers with asthma may be at a greater risk of delivering prematurely if they are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution just before conception and in early pregnancy. National Institutes of Health researchers noted both short-term and continuous exposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides increased…
Can injured pregnant women benefit from care at trauma centers?
Around 8 percent of expectant mothers suffer traumatic injuries such as fractures and open wounds that typically arise from falls or car accidents. A recent study has suggested pregnant women who sustain traumatic injuries may experience better outcomes when treated at trauma centers instead of non-trauma hospitals. According to research published in the Journal of…
Driver negligence is the Cause of Most Car Crashes
A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that mistakes on the part of drivers are the cause of 94 percent of all car accidents, and about 87 percent of drivers engage in unsafe behaviors. Meanwhile, the number of deaths from car accidents has risen sharply. In 2015, there were 38,300 fatalities and…
How pregnant women can stay safe from slip and fall accidents
With a baby on board, pregnant women may find it more difficult to maintain balance and be surefooted. Pregnancy brings with it many bodily changes like a shift in the center of gravity, weight gain, a protruding belly, dizziness and loosening of ligaments. As a result, expectant mothers may be prone to falls. While there…
5 Most Preventable Birth Injuries
In this month’s Florida Injury Report, we look at the five most preventable Fort Lauderdale birth injuries. [powerpress]
C-section rate of United States exceeds global average
The United States has a high caesarean-section rate of 32.5 percent in comparison to the average of 28 percent among developed nations. The high rate has been controversial as the surgical procedure is not always medically necessary. While C-sections may be performed due to a woman’s personal preference, in some cases they are required for…
How exercise can reduce slip and fall accidents among the elderly
Recent research suggests step training and exercises for improving balance may help prevent seniors from slipping and falling. People over the age of 65 are particularly at risk for sustaining serious injuries from such accidents. A Yale University study has found that exercising can help older men significantly reduce their risk of dangerous falls. The…
New app helps identify risk of premature birth
A new app called QUiPP could help doctors predict the risk of preterm deliveries. Infants born before 37 weeks’ gestation are considered premature. Each year 15 million babies worldwide are born prematurely. More than one million die from the resulting birth injures and complications. Doctors use several factors to determine the risk of premature birth…
How shoes can affect the outcome of a slip and fall case
Footwear can play an important role in slip and fall lawsuits. Florida’s liability system is based on comparative negligence, which means a jury can reduce an award by the extent the victim is deemed responsible for causing their injuries. While wearing certain types of footwear does not automatically make someone negligent, the defendant in a…
Study warns not to underestimate birth injury risk for second-time mothers
Researchers have claimed doctors should not assume that a mother who has previously undergone a vaginal delivery is exempt from the risk of her subsequent babies sustaining brachial plexus birth injuries. A recent study analyzed all brachial plexus birth injuries that occurred between October 2003 and March 2013 at an academic medical institution. There were…
Palm Beach County plans health fairs to reduce slip and fall accidents
In an effort to tackle the large number of slip and fall accidents reported in Palm Beach County, Florida, officials announced three senior health fairs in January. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said 87 percent of the 911 calls they received in 2015 were regarding medical emergencies. The most common calls they responded to involved…
Hoverboard Travelers Are Hovering Over Danger
As the product reportedly catches on fire, a number of retailers are pulling the products from their sites, and the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission is conducting an investigation. [powerpress]
Diabetes drug may help treat preeclampsia in pregnant women
A diabetes medication considered safe for pregnant women could potentially be used to treat or prevent preeclampsia, a leading cause of maternal death. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that kills more than 60,000 women around the world each year. It occurs when an insufficient blood supply to the placenta causes the release of toxins into…