Louisville Legal Issues Blog

Modern technology and stringent safety regulations have made surgical procedures safer than ever before in Kentucky and across the country. However, safety regulations only work if surgeons and other health care providers follow these rules. Any deviation or lapse in judgment can result in permanent injuries to the patient, even death. A man in another state filed a lawsuit after alleged medical malpractice left him with lifelong injuries.

The man said he went in for a routine knee replacement surgery but experienced problems with constipation after the procedure. The lawsuit says a nurse incorrectly administered an enema that caused the plaintiff trauma and complications, but the trauma went untreated. Allegedly, the man's condition worsened and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. According to the lawsuit, more issues were discovered and the man required an emergency diverting colostomy surgery, which was performed without the man's consent.

There comes a time in someone’s life that their loved ones may have to make the decision of putting them in a nursing home. This is not an easy decision to make and you want the best care for your parent(s) or grandparent(s). Even though a nursing home has its benefits, abuse is a prevalent issue among facilities nationwide.

As older people are frailer, they are less likely to stand up to abusive behavior. They may not be able to hear or see as well as they could before, putting them at a disadvantage among younger staff members. While signs of abuse can overlap with a weakened mind, it is important to know how to recognize abuse in nursing home facilities.

The birth of a child is a moment of joy and amazement for parents. A delicate and often complex procedure, childbirth happens on a daily basis in most hospitals throughout the state of Kentucky. Amazingly, skilled and highly trained doctors and nurses make this complicated procedure look routine. However, as with any medical procedure, one seemingly minor missed step can turn into major complications later. A mother in another state claims she was forced to undergo a cesarean without anesthesia, and she recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit.

In what she describes as something out of a horror movie, the young mother says that doctors cut into her despite claims that she had not been given any anesthesia. According to the lawsuit, the woman's blood pressure dropped, and her doctor was unable to find the baby's heartbeat. The lawsuit says the doctor then ordered an emergency C-section.

Infections can have major impacts on hospital patients. So, how common hospital infections are is a major safety issue.

Unfortunately, it appears that last year saw a drop in how common it was for hospitals to report zero incidents when it comes to five common types of infections. These five are:

• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections
• Clostridium difficile
• MRSA
• Surgical site infections related to colon surgery