One of the highest-paid surgeons in the United States was hit with two lawsuits alleging that the doctor was not performing his own surgeries. According to the lawsuit, Dr. David Samadi, the head urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, routinely allowed medical residents, who are still in training, and other doctors to perform the surgeries. […]
Medical Malpractice
Nursing Home Staff Convicted After Neglecting Ventilator-Dependent Senior Citizen
Two registered nurses and one certified nurse aid were convicted in a Nassau County courtroom for willful violation of health laws in a tragic case that led to the death of an 81-year-old nursing home resident at A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Unionville, NY, according to LongIsland.com. According to prosecutors, the elderly resident […]
New York Woman Claims Doctor Used Cell Phone During Procedure
A New York woman filed a lawsuit against a Westchester doctor alleging that he used his cell phone during a medical procedure to take a Spanish language test. Mary Edwards is suing for damages caused by “severe emotional distress” after hearing her doctor speak Spanish phrases into his cell phone during the procedure. Edwards is suing both […]
Lawsuit: New York Nursing Home Residents Left Lying in Feces, Urine
A lawsuit in New York claims that a nursing home’s residents were forced to lie in their own feces and urine for extended periods of time. The class action suit filed in Syracuse, New York claimed that potentially hundreds or thousands of patients may have been affected by the nursing home, James Square Health and […]
On Hospital Safety: New York Ranks a Lowly 47th in the US, Mixed Results for Hudson Valley
According to a watchdog organization, New York has the 47th worst record in the United States when it comes to hospital safety. New York’s ranking has been in a slow decline – dropping a full seven spots in the last five years. The watchdog group, Leapfrog, was founded by healthcare employers and unions wanting to provide more […]
Medical Errors are More Common and More Lethal
Medical errors are gaining more attention as a whopping one-fifth of Americans admit to having personally experienced one. At the same time, Johns Hopkins University has released a new study that reports medical errors may be the third highest cause of death in America. With America’s healthcare industry continuing to reshape itself, healthcare advocates worry that unintentional […]
Brooklyn Jury Finds in Favor of Infant; Understaffing at Hospital was Alleged Cause of Infant’s Injuries
A jury returned a verdict in favor of a Brooklyn mother in the amount of 26 million dollars after an understaffed hospital recklessly sent the pregnant woman home without proper monitoring. Speaking to the New York Post, the mother, Danielle Madden Buck, described Maimonides Medical Center as a “baby mill” that brushed away her complaints ultimately leading […]
New York: After Slipping Into a Coma In ER, Family Sues
The family of Angel Rivera is suing a Bronx hospital after he was ignored in the ER waiting room only to slip into a coma that he never woke up from. In 2014, the 53-year-old Rivera went to Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx after being punched in the head during a fight with a friend. After going […]
Plastic Surgeon for Celebrities Charged with 29 Counts of Negligence
A New York doctor has been charged with 29 counts of negligence, fraud and medical malpractice for his treatment of eight patients. Doctor Ayman Shahine, famous for his plastic surgery on reality TV star Renee Graziano, is accused of everything from talking on his phone during surgery to falsifying medical records and violating New York state laws. […]
New York: Man Sues After Hospital Faxes Man’s HIV Status to Employer
Only months after receiving a positive diagnosis for HIV, a Mt. Sinai patient endured another living nightmare when the hospital faxed his HIV status to his workplace. The man, who declined to name himself in court documents (opting for “John Doe”), told the New York Daily News that, “For years now, I have been struggling […]
HHS Inspector General: One in Four Cases of Elder Abuse Not Reported in Nursing Homes
The Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report stating that at least one in four instances of elder abuse or neglect are not reported. While horrific in scope, the results are not entirely surprising – other, smaller samples have found that 15 to 20 percent of elder abuse […]
Trump Administration Moves to Limit Nursing Home Resident’s Access to Court System
As part of President Trump’s promise to roll-back federal regulations, the Trump administration has announced its intention to scrap a federal rule prohibiting nursing homes from requiring their residents to pursue legal claims through arbitration. In the simplest terms, arbitration is a catch-all term for a dispute-resolution that, while legally binding, does not utilize the […]
AP: New York State Group Home Resident Found Infested with Maggots
A group home for the disabled, run by the State of New York, in Rome, N.Y. is facing calls for a federal investigation after an explosive report was leaked by the Associated Press detailing a resident who, on two separate occasions, was so severely neglected that he became infested with maggots. The resident, Steven Wenger, […]
Scrutiny Grows As More Surgeons “Double-Book” Surgeries
The practice of concurrent surgery, or “double-booking,” where a surgeon performs or presides over two patients during the same period of time, has become more popular in recent years. As the practice has become more common, scrutiny by regulators and patient advocates, as well as lawsuits by injured patients, have also increased. These opponents of the procedure […]
Despite Four Dead Patients and Ten Malpractice Suits, Hospital Stands by Money-Making Surgeon
Despite a litany of problems surrounding Dr. Ira Kirschenbaum’s tenure as Head of Orthopedic Surgery at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, the Hospital has refused to sanction the surgeon. In fact, Kirschenbaum had already settled three malpractice suits before he was even recruited by the Bronx-Lebanon to lead their Orthopedic Surgery department – two more were still pending at the time […]
Lacking Effective Oversight, Nursing Homes Fail Many Patients
With toothless regulations and ineffective oversight, many nursing homes are still failing the neediest patients. With its budget for overseeing nursing homes slashed in half, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has failed to identify failing nursing homes and keep them accountable. As a consequence, some nursing homes are choosing to accept the […]
Caretaker Charged After Elderly Man Complains of “Being Thrown Around Like a Rag Doll”
A Berkshires caretaker has been charged with elder abuse after an 84-year-old man told hospital staff that his two broken ribs were caused by being “thrown around like a rag doll.” The 52-year-old man, Anthony Marcella II, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on charges of assault and battery on a person over 60 […]
After Leg Amputation Caused by Hospital Delay, Man Sues
On September 22, 2015 Delfino Cuautle was forced to have his leg amputated after a series of bureaucratic errors at two different New York City hospitals led to a 13-hour wait and a fixable medical problem turned into a mandatory amputation. Alleging medical malpractice, Cuautle is suing for $24 million in damages caused by the hospitals. On the […]
After Death from Pressure Ulcers, Bronx Family Sues Nursing Home
On June 17, 2013, a patient at Barnabas Nursing Home passed away from complications arising from her pressure ulcers. Her family has sued the nursing home and hospital and believes that their family member received negligent treatment and that the hospital and nursing home should be held responsible for her death.
Lavern’s Law Passes in Albany; Will Help Victims of Misdiagnosed Cancer
The New York State Assembly passed a bill meant to help victims of misdiagnosed cancer by changing the time period which a lawsuit can be filed. If the bill were signed into law, and Gov. A ndrew Cuomo said he intends to sign ‘Lavern’s Law,’ a cancer patient who was misdiagnosed would have two-and-a-half years from the […]
Family Seeks to Hold Nursing Home Liable After Resident Dies of Septic Shock
On February 27, 2008, a nursing home resident (whose name is not listed) at Sunrise Manor Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation passed away. The nursing home resident had only been at the center since February 19 – a mere 8 days. The cause of death was listed as septic shock – a condition where an […]
Dentist and Nurse Convicted of Operating Without License
According to the Attorney General Schneiderman, both a (former) dentist and nurse have been convicted of operating without a license. The dentist, Alexander Hollander, 70, was convicted by a Kings County Supreme Court jury of “Unauthorized Practice of a Profession” in violation of the New York State Education Law – a Class E Felony. Alexander […]
Hospital Charges Vary Wildly for the Same Services, Often Higher for Vulnerable Groups
In an analysis of Medicare billing records from 2,700 hospitals in 2013, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that emergency departments charged between 1.0 and 12.6 % higher prices compared to what Medicaid paid for the same treatments. The disparity between the fees paid by Medicare patients and other patients were especially […]
Fired Doctor Wins Lawsuit for Whistle-Blowing on Hospital’s Practice of “Double-Booking” Surgeons
Dr. James Holsapple, a prominent neurosurgeon was illegally forced out of his previous job at a New York Hospital, according to a judge. Holsapple blew the whistle on the practice of “double-booking” surgeons – where a senior, more competent surgeon would essentially oversee two junior surgeons. These junior surgeons perform the “bulk” of the surgery, […]
Second Department: Primary Care Physician Retains Duty to Patient After Sending to ER
On December 9, 2008, Paul Lindebaum went to his primary care physician care physician complaining of stomach pains. The physician, Dr. Richard Federbush, recommended that Lindebaum go to the emergency room at Long Island Jewish Medical Center for testing. Lindebaum complied with his doctor’s orders and the next morning faxed over the test results to […]