In February GM issued a massive recall of more than 2.6 million cars on models where it was suspected that faulty ignition switches were automatically turning off and preventing airbags from deploying. GM has known of the problem for over a decade and failed to take action until after 13…
If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, then you have the right to appropriate medical treatment that should be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier. However, you could be entitled to additional compensation if the accident was caused by a third party’s negligence, such as with a dangerous…
A nursing home’s responsibility to provide appropriate care to residents goes beyond administering medications and protecting the residents from injuries. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including verbal and psychological abuse. Readers in South Carolina may have seen disturbing headlines about a woman’s experience at a nursing home in…
A group of researchers has finished a study that comes to an unsettling conclusion about outpatient medical care: misdiagnosis is widely underreported and surprisingly common. Much is said about diagnostic errors in hospitals, that is, in facilities that provide inpatient care. However, there is a great dearth of information about…
In terms of statewide laws, only three states have not yet placed restrictions on cell phone use while driving. South Carolina is one of those states. However, on April 1, a distracted driving ordinance will go into effect in the city of Greenville. In particular, the ordinance bans the use…
Since 1999, hospitals throughout the United States have made well-intentioned efforts to adopt systems meant to prevent hospital errors. However, studies have shown that the widespread use of systematized medicine, by which hospitals use checklists to follow established protocol, has not significantly reduced the number of preventable hospital deaths. In…
After coming under increasing criticism and pressure GM finally folded under intense pressure and recalled 1.6 million vehicles for a defect in the ignition switch which caused vehicles to shut down while being driven. The recall included six models – all from between 2003 and 2007 model years – including the…
A federal law gives protection to those employees of hospitals, doctor’s offices and others who blow the whistle on those who are defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. While other private citizens can also blow the whistle, over 70% of all claims come from employees within the healthcare system. $35 billion has…
Residents of assisted living facilities are generally allowed to come and go as they please. They may be asked to sign in and out so that staff members are aware of the residents’ whereabouts, but assisted living facilities typically offer residents more mobility than would a nursing home. However, depending…
As readers of our blog know, employees have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits if they suffer a work-related injury. But as many may not know, certain laws can conflict with this right and cause a person to lose access to their benefits. While a lawyer is often considered…