Ohio Personal Injury Law Blog

Medical malpractice: New hospital sued over water supply

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Hospitals are typically where sick or injured people go to get well. As such, one would certainly expect a certain standard of cleanliness and freedom from bacteria, particularly in a newly opened facility in Ohio. There have been two lawsuits filed against Mount Carmel Grove City, a hospital that opened for patient care in April of this year. The most recent suit stems from a visitor to the hospital contracting a disease that is believed to have been spread through the water system. The presence of a dangerous bacteria in the water supply could be a contributing factor in a medical malpractice lawsuit and could also be grounds for a premises liability claim.

A woman visited a patient in the hospital in May of this year. She was later diagnosed as having contracted the Legionella bacteria, and it is believed she came in contact with the bacteria while visiting the hospital. The bacteria is not spread by casual contact and the hospital's hot water system is believed to be the source.

Failure to disclose test results ends in medical malpractice suit

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

The anticipation of the birth of a new baby can be one of the happiest times in a woman's life in Ohio. If a woman is in her 30s or older, concern for the health of the unborn baby may prompt her to undergo certain tests to help determine the health of the fetus. Failure to accurately disclose the results of such tests resulted in a medical malpractice case in another state.

A woman who had a four-year-old son with Down syndrome had an ultrasound to check on the health of the child she was carrying. The test revealed the presence of a foot deformity known as a sandal gap. The deformity, a larger-than-normal gap between the big toe and the second toe, is sometimes seen in babies with Down syndrome.

Legionnaires' kills 1, sickens others at Mount Carmel Grove City

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Mount Carmel Grove City hospital has reported an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease with at least 14 confirmed cases, including one death. The $361-million facility opened on April 28, and the first case of Legionnaires' was reported on April 29. This could indicate a serious problem with the facility's water system or maintenance practices.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which typically enters the system through inhalation. Legionnaires' is generally not transmitted by person-to-person contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires' disease is commonly associated with buildings with complex water systems where the bacteria can spread.

Failed back surgery results in a medical malpractice lawsuit

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Thousands of people in Ohio are plagued by back pain. Open a magazine, watch TV and one may get the impression it's one of the foremost health issues in the country, and it is. The population is aging and body parts are not immune. Back pain is one of the most common complaints among those who are middle-aged or elderly. There are many types of surgeries that strive to relieve back pain, and one such surgery in another state failed and resulted in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

A 42-year-old woman suffered from numbness and pain in her lower back. Doctors performed a laminectomy, also known as spinal decompression. Complications resulting from the surgery left her mostly paralyzed from the chest down. It is believed that the complications were caused by a failure to remove a gelfoam dressing used during the surgery as well as an absence of drains to drain off excess fluid from the surgical area.

Football helmet is possibly a defective product

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Products Liability on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

Football is a dangerous sport. Players wear a significant amount of padding and specially designed helmets in an effort to protect themselves from serious injury. In Ohio and elsewhere, it remains a very popular sport with young men beginning at a very young age. Even with the protection, injuries can still occur. One such injury, that may have contributed to the death of a 22-year-old man, has resulted in a products liability case involving a potentially defective product.

The young man had played football from the age of 8 and played through high school. He played his last game at the age of 18. The man's family were not unaware of the dangers of their son playing football but had spoken with members of the medical community and felt that the safety equipment used provided sufficient protection.

Ohio Family Dies Due To Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Products Liability on Friday, May 17, 2019.

A recent tragedy occurred in Geona Township, Ohio when four members of the Reitter family died after a faulty water heater released carbon monoxide into their home.

According to local investigators, the water heater was similar to a model that was part of a recent product recall by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Medical mistake can end a career

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

A professional is typically someone who has undertaken rigorous training and or education to attain a level of expertise in his or her chosen field. Surgeons are among this group and people entrust their lives to them. A surgical error, or medical mistake, can have catastrophic consequences in Ohio.

A man in another state, who happened to be a professional athlete, brought a lawsuit against a surgeon and a hospital for a mistake made in a surgery that the gentleman claimed caused the end of his career. The man had been admitted and was scheduled for surgery to relieve back pain that was hampering his athletic career. Following the surgery, the patient continued to suffer back pain and also had issues involving his spinal fluid.

Failure to accurately report test results causes medical mistake

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Medical Malpractice on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Baby boomers are looking to enjoy a long and healthy retirement in Ohio. One proactive measure that many take to help ensure that outcome is to have a cancer screening. Recommended screenings include colonoscopies, mammograms and monitoring moles and other irregularities for possible skin cancers. While having the tests done is an excellent idea, a medical mistake can severely limit the efficacy of the test itself.

A recent case illustrates how failure to accurately report test results can have a catastrophic impact on a patient's life. A woman went for a colonoscopy when she turned 50. The examination revealed a polyp in the colon. Polyps can be cancerous and are typically removed if encountered in a colonoscopy and sent to a lab for further examination. That occurred in this case and the polyp was found to be cancerous, and there was evidence that not all of the cancer had been removed.

Hospital parking lot's negligent security concerns many

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Premises Liability on Monday, April 29, 2019.

Whether arriving for work, going shopping or taking care of business matters, Ohio residents may use parking lots at any time of the day or night. With distractions like cellphones, to-do lists and deadlines, they may not always be aware of their surroundings. In fact, they may take for granted that they are safe from harm until a predator takes advantage of a parking lot's negligent security.

A woman in another state is still trying to recover from the emotional trauma of a robbery at gunpoint. She had parked in the employee lot of the hospital where she worked when three men attacked her, took her purse and keys, and drove off in her car. Although two of the men supposedly crashed the car the next day, police did not arrest them despite finding a gun in the vehicle.

Nicotine in vaping devices may be a dangerous product

On behalf of Colley Shroyer Abraham posted in Products Liability on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

Until recently, nicotine use among young people in Ohio and around the nation was on the decline. However, the introduction of e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, appears to be reversing this trend. It is estimated that as many as 21% of high school students have taken up the habit of vaping. The juice that is used in the vaping devices often contains nicotine, which is known to be a dangerous product that is an addictive and potentially cancer-causing substance. It is also believed that the liquids contain chemical ingredients that can interfere with brain development.

In a move to help protect young people from the potential dangers of vaping, the Governor of Ohio is proposing raising the age to purchase these products from 18 to 21. A recent study showed that fewer than half of the regular users began using before the age of 18. It is hoped that increasing the purchasing age will help reduce the number of first-time users in the school population.