Most people expect their hospitals to be clean, sanitary, and safe, especially when a risky procedure like surgery is performed. While many hospitals do an acceptable job in keeping the environment sanitary, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has fallen short, according to reports released to the Los Angeles Times. Federal authorities say the hospital has “failed to maintain a sanitary environment for surgeries” which is a cause for concern for those who have recently received treatment at the hospital. Due to an influx of infections, medical malpractice concerns have mounted.

“Thank God for the federal inspection,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “It is necessary for the purposes of accountability and quality of care.”

After a federal inspection was performed, the hospital was found to have holes in the ceilings where potential debris may have fallen onto patients. In addition, reports also found rooms to be dusty and cluttered. Operating rooms were considered potentially unsanitary since they were kept at an incorrect humidity level which would allow for germs to spread more easily. Possibly worst of all, the federal reports say the hospital staff failed to wash their hands properly and according to policy prior to servicing patients.

“The hospital failed to maintain a sanitary environment for the provision of surgical services,” the reports said. “This could lead to contaminated surfaces in the operating room and the spread of infection.”

The inspections were called upon due in part to the infection control problems attributed to the hospital. As the Los Angeles Times reports, “[the problems] were so serious that the federal government sent a letter this summer threatening to revoke Medicare funding, a move that could financially destroy the institution.”

Now the facility is trying to remedy the problem. In a statement, the hospital will undergo new renovations that will hopefully improve the older surroundings that have contributed to the problems.

Understanding medical malpractice

Medical malpractice is generally a mistake or oversight by a doctor or hospital. Commonly, medical malpractice occurs as:

• Infections occurring in unsanitary hospital environments
• A misdiagnosis on behalf of the doctor of hospital
• Errors occurring in surgery and/or anesthesia
• Failure to treat your medical condition appropriately
• Hospital oversight and/or negligence
• Injury to infant or mother in obstetrical malpractice cases

According to the Journal of American Medical Association, over 225,000 people die as a direct result from medical malpractice. Deaths that occur by fault of a doctor or hospital account for the third leading cause of wrongful death in the United States.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

Michael Pines, founder, is one of San Diego’s leading personal injury lawyers, helping injured people in San Diego seek maximum recovery in medical malpractice cases. If you suspect you have been injured while under the care of a doctor or hospital, including infections or worsening of your case, call us now at 1-800-655-6585. We will answer your medical malpractice questions free of charge. Call us today.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

After the stress and devastation of a car accident, thousands of Americans are left with chronic or acute pain and suffering, and unfortunately, much of the pain cannot be detected by typical x-ray or laboratory tests. But now, doctors in Sweden are working to release a new “pain x-ray” that will help doctors visualize pain.

Various kinds of pain including whiplash, backaches, migraines, or body aches have caused serious problems for many Americans including ongoing physical therapy and dependence on medication. And, pain affects more people in the United States than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer combined, as NBC News reports.

For years, though, patients with chronic pain were often dismissed by doctors, or as NBC reports, simply met with disbelief.

Now, doctors in Sweden have developed a new tool that will allow doctors and patients alike to visualize pain in ways never encountered before. Dr. Torsten Gordh, professor of pain medicine at Uppsala University Hospital who oversees the program, explains that “there’s been great difficulty for the patient and difficulties for the doctor because we haven’t understood the pain problem in depth. We have only had a description, and that makes it difficult to work with.”

The technology works like this: a special substance marked with positrons is injected into the bloodstream, where it later pools into the site of pain – often at the site of internalized inflammation. Using a pet scan, doctors can identify the tracer marked with positrons, thereby noting the location of pain.

Unfortunately, more than 50 million Americans live with chronic pain including headaches, migraines, back pain, and deep tissue pain. Acute pain which typically arises out of injury affects nearly 25 million people in the United States.

Personal injury as a result of a car accident

Of course, until the “pain x-ray” makes it to the United States, many Americans will continue to suffer from bodily pain. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and now suffer from chronic or acute pain, you have options, and an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand the legal details of your case including how to recover for missed work, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are experienced lawyers handling complex San Diego car accident cases. Every personal injury lawyer works hard to understand the details of each and every case.

As one client put it, “I never thought I’d write a thank you card to an attorney, but, it is said there is a first time for everything, and we are deeply appreciative for the way you concluded our case. … Thank you again for practicing what you preach (and helping Josh).” Read the rest of our testimonials, and you’ll understand why we’ve earned a 5-star rating on review sites like Yelp, Avvo, Google and more.

If you have been injured in a car accident and suffer from chronic or acute pain, call the Law Offices of Michael Pines now at 1-800-655-6585 or submit your case online for a free and confidential legal review.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Woman recieves first hand transplant in California | image source: Fox News

A Northern California woman received a new hand this month after a successful transplant at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center —the first transplant of its kind in California. The young mother, just 26, lost her right hand in an injury accident five years ago. While the young woman’s disfigurement is unfortunate, the transplant affords a brighter hope for those who suffer from similar injuries as a result of a car accident.

The recipient, whose name has not been released, was identified as a good candidate for surgery last year after she contacted UCLA interested in a hand transplant. While doctors were eager to perform the groundbreaking surgery, they still had to wait for the right hand—one that was similar in size, color, and hair pattern.

When a Southern California family made the donation through Lifesharing, a non-profit organ and tissue recovery organization in San Diego County, the recipient and her family were elated.

“It was really uncanny how perfect the match was. It’s going to look very natural,” he said. “The recipient was, in many ways, the ideal candidate, in that she found us, she had amazing knowledge about hand transplantation, she had done her homework,” the lead surgeon says.

Advances in health care offers promising hope for those who suffer from injury

For those who suffer from car accident injury, new advancements in healthcare such as these offer a sense of hope.

Individuals who are injured may receive medical care through the benefit of grants and funding.

For instance, in another transplant success story out of Boston, Massachusetts, a man who underwent face transplant surgery received a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to receive his medical treatment, according to The Washington Post.

For more information on grants and funding for medical care, go to http:///www.Grants.gov and search for medical grants available right now.

Other ways to get medical treatment if injured in an accident

There are the unfortunate individuals who may be injured in an accident and are unable to receive grants. There are also many injured individuals who need medical treatment right away and are unable to wait for a grant. In this case, these injured individuals may also be missing work and may even be uninsured.

For these individuals, if fault can be proven in court, your medical bills and even future transplants such as these can be accounted for in your settlement package. That’s why it’s very important to seek a qualified personal injury attorney who can make sure your potential insurance settlement is fully account for – including future damages.

If you are injured, learn more about the process of proving negligence. While research can be helpful, your best bet is to call and speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible, and preferably as soon as the injury occurs. Personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC can professionally guide your insurance claim process and maximize your settlement.

If you are suffering from personal injury resulting from any kind of accident – car, occupational, medical, or otherwise – speak to our San Diego injury attorneys right away. There are no out-of-pocket expenses required for representation. Call 1-800-655-6585 or contact us online.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Dr. David Chao, team doctor for the San Diego Chargers, was ordered to pay $2.2M to his former patient for a botched surgery gone wrong. The doctor was found liable for causing permanent damage to Kathleen Adams’ right hip after a surgery in May 2008. Shortly after the surgery, Adams reported personal injury to include chronic pain the hip area and a limp, accompanied by no pulse in her leg.

As the personal injury lawsuit progressed, Dr. Chao claimed the patient’s damage was initially caused by poor surgical scissors. Later, the doctor retracted his statement and attributed the personal injury to faulty retractors.

“The truth is, no one could give a good explanation for how it happened,” said Adams’ San Diego personal injury attorney.

The medical malpractice will cause Adams to suffer long-term, as her personal injuries will never fully recover, according to her personal injury attorney. Adams’ is currently taking numerous medications just to manage her pain. She will now live with a lifetime of injury.

How to research your doctor’s credentials

For Dr. Chao, being in the news is nothing new. Chao has been sued 20 times for various medical malpractice suits including personal injury, negligence, and even fraud, according to The San Diego Union Tribune. While our San Diego personal injury attorneys can help you if you’ve been injured by medical malpractice, it’s best to avoid all potential risks of injury and research your doctor ahead of time.

Go to the Medical Board of California for useful insight into a doctor’s license type, license status, public records, felony record, and more.

A quick search for Dr. David Chao in this case reveals the doctor plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge for DUI driving in October 2007. And, just recently in December 2010, Linda K. Whitney, Executive Director for the Medical Board of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, filed a First Amended Accusation against the doctor recommending the board revoke his medical license.

In addition to researching your doctor with the state board, ask them questions. A good doctor will never be offended if you ask them about their profession – in fact, many good doctors are proud to share their accomplishments!

• Ask your doctor about his/her specialty and make sure s/he is certified in that area.
• Look for hospital affiliations or membership affiliations – it’s generally a good sign if the doctor is active and supported in his/her field.
• Ask your doctor if s/he has any teaching responsibilities at a teaching hospital.
• Inquire on your doctor’s continuing education courses and if s/he is up-to-date on state education requirements.

Have you suffered personal injury as a result of a doctor’s mistake? Call our personal injury attorneys today for a free and confidential case evaluation. Contact us online or call us at 1-800- 655-6585.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

San Diego County Medical Examiner issues a report on prescription drug overdoses

Unintentional overdoses of prescription drugs are the leading cause of non-natural death in San Diego, outnumbering car accidents, suicides, and homicides, according to a recent article released by KPBS, San Diego.

Commonly a celebrity-related cause of death (more recent victims include Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, and Heath Ledger), no longer are drug-related deaths a Hollywood staple. Tragically, accidental overdose of prescription painkillers are the chief cause of non-natural death in San Diego County.

Pharmaceutical malpractice: Faulty or poorly-prescribed prescriptions may not always result in wrongful death

Dr. Jonathan Lucas, deputy medical examiner of the San Diego County Medical Examiner office, said the number of fatalities resulting from drug overdoses doesn’t fully paint the picture of prescription misuse.

Pharmaceutical mistakes resulting in long-term medical care are all too common in San Diego County as well, resulting in catastrophic injuries for the patient. Doctors can often prescribe the wrong medicines in poorly-dosed prescriptions that lead to medical mistakes. In serious situations such as these, victims can suffer from lifelong medical issues, resulting in countless medical bills, pain and suffering, and additional medical treatments.

“We’re only seeing the population that dies, and for every single death, how many others are out in the community, that are doing the same thing, but just haven’t passed away?” asks Dr. Lucas.

Over the last decade, drug-related deaths occurring in San Diego have increased by a whopping 85 percent, according to Dr. Lucas.

How is drug overdose possible in today’s world? What are the doctor’s responsibilities?

How is a prescription overdose possible? After all, medicines are clearly labeled with instructions on proper dosage, and pharmacists are required to give patients necessary drug-related information upon filling the prescription. Why do so many San Diegans fall victim to wrongful death as a result of prescription drug overdose?

Unfortunately, easy access to painkillers such as Percocet, Vicodin, and Oxycontin—and the doctors who prescribe these medicines like candy—are all too common nationally, and especially in San Diego county. Since these medicines are easily accessible, patients often get prescriptions for them without actually being in need.

Isn’t it a doctor’s responsibility to assess a patient’s needs for proper medical care? When doctors are careless in prescribing these powerful medicines to their patients, the outcome can result in pharmaceutical malpractice, product liability and even wrongful death.

What to do if you’ve been affected by pharmaceutical malpractice

If you’ve been a seriously hurt due to pharmaceutical malpractice, or if a loved one has fallen victim to wrongful death as a result, contact our San Diego law offices today. We’ll make sure your case is handled properly, and most importantly, we will help you recover the maximum financial compensation for your personal injury. You shouldn’t have to worry about fighting insurance companies, so leave that to our experienced personal injury attorneys.  Read about our case results to find out more, or contact us to get started on your case today.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.