Medical malpractice awards remain in an overall downward spiral, according to the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, despite a slight upward movement in 2013. Although the numbers for awards did climb somewhat last year, the group notes that the general trend over the past 15... Read More

A jury in Georgia has awarded $8.4 million to the plaintiff in a cerebral palsy lawsuit against Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Jakob Medley was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after his 2008 birth was delayed and Medley required immediate resuscitation after he was delivered. The lawsuit... Read More

Patients and patient safety advocates in California had high hopes for this past election day, when Californians cast their votes to approve or disapprove a proposed medical malpractice law, known as Proposition 46 or Prop 46. Their hopes were dashed when it became apparent that... Read More

In recent decades, there has been a public outcry against the supposed rising medical costs due to defensive medicine. But the National Institute of Health (NIH) has awarded a $2 million grant to George Washington University researcher Steven Farmer, M.D., Ph.D., to study the effects... Read More

Two Milwaukee County judges have questioned the need for Wisconsin’s sizable medical malpractice fund ─ currently totaling $1.15 billion. The fund was placed under strict scrutiny in separate hearings to determine the validity of the state’s $750,000 maximum on noneconomic damages for issues that can... Read More

The nation’s state medical boards allow thousands of doctors who have been found liable for multiple acts of serious medical misconduct to continue to practice medicine. Many of these doctors have settled lawsuits with millions of dollars in medical malpractice payouts and been barred by hospitals yet... Read More

United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel issued a direct order to all branches of the military in October, 2014, demanding increased safety measures, reduced patient trauma and more accessible military medical facilities for patients in need. The order came on the heels of a... Read More

Narcotic painkillers such as opioids can make a major difference to those suffering from chronic or seriously debilitating pain. While these prescription medications can be an effective therapy when used in moderation, new research suggests that elderly patients are more at risk for injury, hospitalization... Read More