-- According to information gleaned from the National Practitioner Data Bank and compiled by Diederich Healthcare, New York continued to lead the nation in malpractice claims in 2014, the most recent year for which data has been made available. Figures point to misdiagnosis as the most prominent basis for claims across the country at 33 percent. An estimated 30 percent of documented malpractice cases resulted in death of the patient in question with another 18 percent leading to significant permanent injury. This is old news to the legal team of the Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein (http://www.medicalattorneyny.com).
Having represented medical malpractice victims in New York for more than 20 years, the firm recently sealed its latest victory on behalf of local clients. In regard to the case, attorney Joseph M. Lichtenstein commented, "We've seen a number of serious medical malpractice and birth injury situations over the years, many of them bringing about devastating consequences for those involved. For the Enriquez family, a treatable illness took a turn for the worse due to a number of medical oversights, leading to a harrowing journey for little Jacob and his parents. It's a prime example of just how profoundly mistakes in the health care industry can impact patients."
Jacob Enriquez' medical malpractice case began to take shape when he was five months old. During a family visit to California, he developed a fever of 105.5 and was taken to a local emergency room. Following brief testing and treatment, he was cleared for travel, and his family returned home to New York where they immediately took him to his pediatrician. There, his parents were told he had a virus and needed only over-the-counter pain and fever reducers to combat his symptoms.
Hours later, Jacob suffered what his parents believed was a seizure, prompting a visit to the emergency room at Long Island Jewish Hospital/Cohen's Children's Medical Center. Triage revealed a heart rate of 185 with a respiratory rate of 54 breaths per second, and his pain level was documented at four on the conventional scale of one to ten. Hospital personnel discharged Jacob despite his abnormal vital signs, diagnosing him with a viral syndrome. No further testing was performed.
Investigation conducted by the The Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein's legal team discovered the physician present at the time of the incident spoke primarily with Jacob's father, who spoke and understood little English. Although a translator was readily available, hospital staff failed to make use of this resource. This lack of effective communication was found to be a contributing factor in the initial misdiagnosis.
Four days later, after no improvement in Jacob's condition, he and his parents returned to Long Island Jewish Hospital/Cohen's Children's Medical Center, and he was diagnosed with disseminated meningitis. Jacob developed severe permanent hearing loss as a result of his illness. He also continues to suffer significant speech, language and cognitive delays stemming from the delay in proper diagnosis and treatment.
Visit http://www.medicalattorneyny.com/ to learn more about additional cases successfully handled by the firm.
Concluded Lichtenstein, "Medical personnel made far too many mistakes in the days leading up Jacob's accurate diagnosis, all of which could have easily been avoided. In spite of those shortcomings, the defendants were only willing to offer $100,000. We're proud to have had a hand in securing Jacob the compensation he deserved, ultimately amounting to $9,300,000."
Information regarding the legal team at The Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein can be found at http://www.medicalattorneyny.com/about-us/.
About The Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein:
Committed to representing medical malpractice and personal injury victims, The Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein serves those in New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Mineola and Long Island.
Contact Info:
Name: Joseph M. Lichtenstein
Email: Send Email
Organization: The Law Offices of Joseph M. Lichtenstein
Phone: (516) 873-6300
Website: http://www.medicalattorneyny.com/
Release ID: 128054
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