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The Difference Between Being Classified as an Observation Patient or Inpatient

Nov 20, 2013

Patients receiving treatment from health care professionals at a hospital are generally classified under one of two categories, inpatient or observation patient. While the level of care an individual will receive is often the same, inpatient and observation patients are treated very differently when the time comes to pay the bill. Who is Considered an Inpatient? An inpatient is an individual who has been formally admitted to the hospital for care. These individuals are generally...

Actual Examples of Hospitals Leaving Objects in Patients

Nov 11, 2013

Objects left behind in a patient after surgery, or “retained surgical items” as they are called in the medical industry, should not be an issue with the high standards and advanced technology available today. However, thousands of patients have objects left behind in their bodies every year, with the surgical sponge being the most common. Surgical Sponge A Kentucky nurse Another Surgical Sponge An Air Force Major underwent a cesarean section, an operation that...

Patient Dumping and the Mentally Ill

Nov 8, 2013

Perhaps the worst outcome for the mentally ill is being cut off from support networks and placed in a position where they genuinely have nowhere to go. In some cities and states, the practice of “patient dumping” has become the answer for authorities struggling to manage burgeoning caseloads of social workers in mental health. A History of Patient Dumping The “patient dumping” phenomenon isn’t new. Reports of patients with serious illnesses and limited funds being...

Understanding Doctor-Patient Confidentiality

Nov 5, 2013

In the medical community, doctor-patient confidentiality is considered to be of paramount importance. When a patient consults with a physician it is done with the expectation that their doctor would keep certain types of information in confidence. So what types of patient information are doctors expected to keep confidential? It would include the following types of personal information: The psychical and mental health of the individual Family history of psychical and mental health Information relating...

The Serious Risks of Anesthesia

Oct 30, 2013

Anesthesia is part of most surgical operations or medical procedures in order to protect the patients from severe pain. Most healthy people don’t have any problems taking anesthesia to reduce or stop the pain. General anesthesia itself is safe for patients suffering from unbearable pain. However, the risk of complications due to Common mistakes in the use of anesthesia Errors in application can happen during childbirth and even in the simplest form of medical...

Can You Protect Yourself From Hospital-Based Infections?

Oct 25, 2013

A hospital-based infection is also known as a nosocomial infection in the medical literature. These types of infections are engendered in the hospital environment itself. For instance, just the act of visiting a loved one in the hospital or conversing with hospital staff could increase the likelihood of developing a hospital-based infection. Etiology and Risks of Hospital-based Infections Patients with weakened immune systems are especially prone to fungal and bacterial infections in a hospital setting...

The Most Common Types of Labor Complications

Oct 21, 2013

Every parent hopes to experience a normal pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. Unfortunately, not all pregnancies and deliveries are normal for the expectant mother, for the baby, or for both of them. Complications during labor can arise without warning. Some are minor, others are life-threatening. Here are some of the most common labor complications to watch out for. Prolonged Labor Such a condition occurs when the labor lasts too long and thus endangers the...

Wrongful Death in Nursing Homes

Oct 16, 2013

When you decided to put your loved one in a nursing home, it was likely the hardest decision you ever made. As a parent they cared for you, and it was hard to admit that in their time of need you could not give them the care they needed. But you trusted the facility where they were going had the staff, expertise, and equipment to give the care that you simply couldn’t provide. When your...

Wrongful Death vs. Manslaughter

Oct 8, 2013

If you have lost a loved one due to the actions (or inaction) of another person or persons, you may be considering a wrongful death lawsuit. You may also be wondering whether a manslaughter trial affects your ability to pursue and win a Wrongful Death and Manslaughter Definitions Wrongful death is a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of the decedent’s estate seeking compensation for a death caused by deliberate action or negligence on the...

Celebrity Wrongful Death Cases

Oct 3, 2013

Celebrities’ lives play out in the public eye, and all too often their deaths do, too. And often these lives and deaths serve as a miniature version of what is going on in our country as a whole. Here are 5 recent celebrity Michael Jackson Questions still at issue in the wrongful death trial are whether the concert promoter that connected Jackson with his doctor adequately screened that doctor, and whether they were in...