Health

Quality healthcare is vital, but when mistakes happen, the consequences can be severe. Our health coverage examines how Virginia’s legal system addresses medical negligence, unsafe facilities, and patient harm. We also look at larger public health concerns and how policy decisions affect access to safe, reliable care.

Never Events: Preventable Medical Errors

Never events are medical mistakes that are easily identifiable, preventable, and pose serious to severe consequences for the victim. They are also a warning of a major issue regarding safety protocols at the hospital or medical facility where they occur.

By Eric Washburn

/ 12 Jul 2024

Never Events: Preventable Medical Errors

The Danger of SIS Following a Brain Injury

Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a rare but life-threatening condition that can occur if a second traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sustained before the brain has fully recovered from a previous injury.

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 10 Jun 2024

The Danger of SIS Following a Brain Injury

Dealing with a TBI from a Slip and Fall Accident

One thing that every slip and fall accident has in common is the risk of the victim suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is an injury to the head that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain.

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 11 May 2023

Dealing with a TBI from a Slip and Fall Accident

FDA Recalls Blood Pressure Medication Because of Cancer Risks

Despite all the testing and oversight, dangerous medications do find their way into pharmacies and into patients’ medicine cabinets.

By Eric Washburn

/ 7 Nov 2021

FDA Recalls Blood Pressure Medication Because of Cancer Risks

Does Your Hospital Make the Grade?

When a person becomes injured or suffers an illness, they are putting their trust in the medical facility treating them. Unfortunately, as borne out by the number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed each year, that is not always the case.

By Eric Washburn

/ 24 Apr 2020

FDA Announces Changes to Medical Device 501(k) Process

When a company develops a medical device, it must go through the 501(k) process for approval by the FDA.

By Eric Washburn

/ 7 Feb 2019

FDA Announces Changes to Medical Device 501(k) Process

Steps You Can Take When You Receive the Wrong Medication and Get Sicker

In April 2018, leading pharmacy trade magazine Drug Topics published a feature titled “Your 10 Worst Pharmacy Mistakes.” One pharmacists wrote about directing a parent to give a child a teaspoon of an opioid-infused cough suppressant instead of 1 milliliter. The mistake resulted in the…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 19 Jun 2018

Steps You Can Take When You Receive the Wrong Medication and Get Sicker

Makers of Xarelto Pay Physicians More Than Any Other Drug Company

Far too often, our Virginia personal injury law firm has brought our readers information about dangerous drugs which are on the market despite the serious side effects they can cause. One of those drugs we’ve written about is Xarelto, a drug which is prescribed to…

By Randy Appleton

/ 27 Feb 2017

FDA: Dozen U.S. Hospitals Fail to Report Medical Device Deaths and Injuries as Required

Federal law requires hospitals to report any serious injury which was potentially caused by a medical device to the manufacturer of that device within 10 days the injury occurred. Hospitals are also required to notify both the manufacturer and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…

By Randy Appleton

/ 14 Dec 2016

Several States File Lawsuits Against J and J for Pelvic Mesh Implants

Johnson & Johnson for many years represented the risks of vaginal mesh implants for thousands of patients, according to the attorneys general of Washington state and California this week as they filed lawsuits against the healthcare giant. One of the patients named in one of…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 28 May 2016

Transvaginal Mesh Claims on the Rise

The number of transvaginal mesh lawsuits has now increased to more than 100,000 in the US. Women in the US who have had the procedure are continuing to have complications from these relatively new defective devices. What Is Transvaginal Mesh? TVM is an implant that…

By Randy Appleton

/ 29 Apr 2016

Watch Out for the Deadly Duodenoscope Superbug

Olympus, the manufacturer of the endoscope involved in two superbug deaths at UCLA, never had FDA approval to sell the device. The device is used in patients with gastrointestinal complaints. The FDA was unaware, until 2013, that Olympus started selling its TJF-Q180V duodenoscope (or ERCP…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Oct 2015