Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

"Baby boomers are spending more and more time in hospital emergency rooms because of the medications that they take," said New York medication error lawyer Michael A. Bottar, Esq., an attorney with Syracuse-based Bottar Leone, PLLC, a team of lawyers handling New York emergency room lawsuits. "Unfortunately," Bottar added, "many of the medications that seniors take do more harm than good."

According to Dr. Carolyn Clancy, the Director of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, Americans take a record number of medications to maintain their health. This is because many medical problems can now be treated with drugs that were not available years ago. However, a constellation of drugs used to treat virtually all ailments have been linked to three troublesome conditions, including: (1) drug-induced delirium, (2) drug overdose, and (3) drug withdrawal.

Often, when seniors present to emergency rooms with complaints, they are prescribed drugs that are not compatible (i.e., contraindicated) with their current medication regimen. For example, seniors on blood thinners should not receive tPA, a stroke drug we blogged about previously in a post titled "What Is tPA and Is It Available In Central New York Emergency Rooms." Likewise, prescriptions are frequently discontinued in the emergency room setting even through the patient should not stop taking a drug. "Either scenario can have devastating consequences," said Bottar, whose office is currently prosecuting several medication error lawsuits involving severe personal injury and permanent disability, including stroke and blindness.

Continue reading "New York Medication Mistakes On the Rise In Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton and Watertown" »

We frequently blog about labor and delivery complications, including precipitate delivery, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and placenta accrete. Each can lead to serious injury to a baby, such as cerebral palsy.

Some Syracuse labor and delivery complications can be avoided if a baby is delivered by cesarean section (c-section), rather than a vaginal delivery. A recent study on 230,000 deliveries in 19 hospitals around the country revealed that about 1/3 of the babies were born by c-section. Rates are expected to continue rising because most women experience repeat c-section, rather than a vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC).

According to Syracuse birth injury lawyers Bottar Leone, PLLC, the medical industry was quick to blame the rise in abdominal deliveries on obstetrical medical malpractice claims and doctors practicing "defensive medicine." However, the study did not cite legal concerns as the basis for the statistical increase. Rather, it cited "chemically-induced" labors as the primary reason for c-sections. Indeed, women whose labor was induced were twice (2x) a likely to have a c-section. The chemical commonly used to induce labor is Pitocin or "pit."

Pitocin (Oxytocin) was not intended for use in pregnant women. Nevertheless, it has been used "off-label" for years to stimulate contractions. This can be dangerous because a pregnant woman's response to chemicals used to induce labor can be difficult to predict and control. Too few contractions will not result in a delivery; whereas, too many contractions may lead to fetal distress. The failure to progress, also known as a prolonged second stage of labor, and fetal distress marked by decelerations may result in a c-section.

Michael A. Bottar, Esq., a Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer with Bottar Leone, PLLC, recently secured $700,000.00 in compensation from a group of medical defendants. The New York medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that the defendants' improperly prescribed birth control pills to the plaintiff for mid-cycle pain, causing a stroke that led to mild foot drop, mild speech and memory deficits, a (controlled) seizure disorder and the need for lifetime Coumadin.

In sum, the 19 year old plaintiff presented to her obstetrician with complaints about mid-cycle pain. She was prescribed birth control pills to relieve the pain. The which were contraindicated because the plaintiff had a genetic blood disorder which the defendants knew about, or should have known about. Months later, the plaintiff suffered a stroke. The stroke prevented blood from reaching the plaintiff's brain, causing mild, yet permanent brain damage.

The $700,000.00 recovery was for past and future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome ("SJS") is a rare disorder in which the skin and mucous membranes react adversely to a medication. According to Syracuse wrongful death lawyer Michael A. Bottar, SJS "commonly starts with flu-like symptoms. A painful red or purple rash follows, with blistering, and skin death and shedding, also known as sloughing." In some cases, as much as 100% of the skin can be lost. Other unsafe medication complications include infections and blindness.

A New York dangerous medication lawyer recently settled a product liability lawsuit against Pfizer for the sum on $3.780,000.00. The lawsuit alleged that a nine year old girl was given Dilantin, an anti-seizure medication, together with Flagyl, an anti-fungal medication. Less than one month later, the young girl developed toxic epidermal necrolysis ("TEN") and, before her death, lost almost all of her skin.

According to the New York Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawyers at Bottar Leone, PLLC, as many as 20% of patients in a recent study were diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis while taking Dilantin. While Pfizer warns patients in Canada of the increased risk of Dilantin Hypersensitivity Syndrome (which may include TEN) in certain patient populations, similar warnings are not issued in the United States.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or have been diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis, you may be entitled to compensation for disfiguring skin loss, blindness, nerve damage, permanent disability and death.

To discuss your case or concerns, contact the Syracuse adverse medication reaction lawyers at Bottar Leone, PLLC at 1-800-336-5297, or by email at info@bottarleone.com.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare disorder that involves a skin reaction to medication. Medications with a known link to SJS include non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, as well as anticoonvulsants and sulfa antibiotics.

According to Michael A. Bottar, a Syracuse toxic epidermal necrolysis lawyer with the law firm of Bottar Leone, PLLC, SJS or TEN commonly starts with non-specific symptoms such as a headache, cough, or fever. These symptoms may be followed by a whole-body rash and then blisters forming in and around the eyes, mouth and genitals. In some cases, the damaged skin then peels in sheets, and hair and nails may fall out. As people suffering from severe cases of SJS often lose much of their skin, they are commonly treated like burn patients in specialized health care facilities. Risk of infection is high.

In Syracuse, most SJS patients are treated at the SUNY Health Science Center - Burn Unit, located at 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, New York. Other area facilities include St. Joseph's Hospital in Elmira, New York, and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Treatment usually includes immediate termination of the drug that is the suspected cause of the reaction followed by the administration of intravenous fluids and aggressive infection treatment and management.

SJS and TEN can be deadly. Individuals who have been disfigured by Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and families who have lost a loved one to toxic epidermal necrolysis, may wish to speak with an attorney to determine if the reaction, or the death, was preventable.

To determine whether you or a loved one are entitled to compensation from the party that prescribed or manufactured the drug that caused SJS or TEN, contact the Bottar Leone, PLLC legal team at 1-800-336-5297 or by email at info@bottarleone.com.

Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer Anthony S. Bottar, managing partner of Bottar Leone, PLLC, one of Upstate New York's oldest law firms with a practice limited to medical malpractice, wrongful death, birth injuries, work injuries, brain injuries, and product/premises liability, was elected president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, an organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and enhancing the civil justice system.

The New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers boasts a membership of more than 1400 judges, law clerks, law firms, lawyers, paralegals and law students, including: Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers handling cases concerning stroke misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose cancer and failure to prevent a heart attack; Syracuse work injury lawyers handling cases concerning construction site accidents, scaffolding accidents and injuries caused by a fall from a height; Syracuse birth injury lawyers handling cases concerning fetal hypoxia and ischemia, cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy; Utica brain injury lawyers handling cases concerning concussions, post-concussion symdrome and TBI; Watertown medical malpractice lawyers handling cases concerning Samaritan Medical Center negligence and Fort Drum physician mistakes; and Watertown injury lawyers handling New York State Thruway accidents.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is a very serious condition where a baby's circulatory system does not adapt properly to life outside of the womb. While in utero, a fetus obtains oxygen from the placenta through the umbilical cord. Because there is no real need for the lungs before a baby is born, a fetus maintains high lung pressure which causes blood to steer away from the lungs and toward other developing organs via a "switch" known as the ductus arteriosis.

After birth, a baby needs to breathe. In babies with PPHN, the ductus arteriosis does not close on day one of life, leaving blood directed away from the lungs and low blood oxygen levels. While many babies suffer from PPHN due to a birth injury, according to Binghamton New York birth injury lawyers Bottar Leone, PLLC, a recent study also links PPHN to maternal consumption of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Symbyaxm Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor and Lexapro.

The study reported a shocking statistic. That is, that women who took SSRIs during their third trimester were six times more like to deliver a baby diagnosed with PPHN after birth (usually within 12 hours, if not sooner). A failure to diagnose persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn can result in damage to a baby's brain, kidneys and liver. Many babies with PPHN are diagnosed with cerebral palsy secondary to PPHN oxygen deprivation.

Continue reading "Syracuse New York Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Of The Newborn Lawyers Survey Connection To Birth Injury and SSRIs" »

A recent study of Medicaid patients reveals that the better a patient follows a blood pressure medication prescription, the lower the patient's risk of stroke and, ultimately death.

According to North Country medical malpractice lawyers Bottar Leone, PLLC, patients who took just one more pill (a week) decreased their risk of stroke by nearly 10%, and their risk of death by around 7%. Most of the nearly 50,000 patients in the study were on two blood pressure medications; however, some were taking as many as six. Roughly 60% of the patients did not fill their prescriptions 80% of the time. These patients, known as non-adherent patients, were .5% more like to die over a five-year period.

There are many different types of blood pressure medications. Diuretics, such as Amiloride, Bumetanide, Chlorothiazide, Chlorthalidone, Furosemide, Indapamide and Spironolactone, decrease blood pressure by causing the body to purge excess fluids and sodium. Angiotensin Converting Enzymes (ACE) inhibitors, such as Benazepril, Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril and Moexipril, decrease blood pressure by allowing blood to flow more freely, which makes the heart's job easier. Beta blockers, such as Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Carteolol, Metaprolol, Nadolol and Sotaolol, decrease blood pressure by decreasing heart rate and cardiac output.

Continue reading "Watertown New York Stroke Misdiagnosis Lawyers Recommend Taking Blood Pressure Pills" »

As many as 200,000 people die every year due to mistakes made in U.S. hospitals. Central New York hospitals are no exception.

In 1992, a 64 year old woman presented to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, for cancer therapy. She was supposed to receive an injection of carboplantin, but due to a medication mistake made by a hospital pharmacist, the woman received cisplantin. Cisplantin is far more powerful than carboplantin. Because of the Crouse Hospital prescription medication error, the woman died.

Probably because the woman was the wife of New York State Court of Appeals Judge Richard D. Simoons, Crouse administrators accepted responsibility for undeniable Central New York hospital negligence, stating that it was an "unmistakable human error." The hospital also stated that "it would not surprise us if we settled this without going to a lawsuit." Whether a lawsuit was necessary to secure compensation for the woman's pain and suffering is unknown.

Continue reading "Syracuse New York Hospital Wrongful Death Due To Cancer Medication Mistake" »

Meridia (sibutramine) is a weight loss drug marketed by Abbott Laboratories. It acts on chemicals in the body that are associated with weight maintenance. In most people, consumption of the drug, which can be taken with or without food, results in a 4 pound weight loss over the course of 4 weeks (when joined with a low calorie diet).

The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it will require that Meridia bottles be labeled with a warning that the drug may increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, especially in patients with a history of heart problems. The new label will further emphasize how Meridia can cause a heart attack or stroke in people suffering from hypertension, irregular heart beats, or heart failure. If you have had a heart attack while taking Meridia, or if you have had a stroke while taking Meridia, your doctor may have made a medical mistake by prescribing you a drug that was not safe given your history.

If you take Meridia, you should see you doctor on a regular basis so that he or she can monitor your blood pressure and pulse. The drug should not be taken for longer than 2 years.

Continue reading "Heart Attack Warning Added to Meridia To Warn Syracuse Doctors" »

Prescription medication errors occur every day. Most drug mistakes are harmless; however, the prescription of improper medications can have severe consequences, including coma, stroke and death. In fact, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) one person dies every day because of a medication error.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in conjunction with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, recently unveiled the National Alert Network for Serious Medication Errors ("Network"). The Network will notify as many as 35,000 pharmacists and medical professionals every time a medication error is reported. The hope is that notifications will raise institutional awareness about medication errors and, in turn, decrease the number of wrongful deaths caused by prescription drug mistakes.

Abbreviation errors lead to many mistakes in the administration of medication. Examples of common mistakes include confusing Bt (bedtime) with BID (twice daily), 10mg (ten milligrams) with M (risking 100x overdose), and IJ (injection) with IV (intravenous).

Continue reading "Syracuse New York Prescription Drug Mistakes Should Decrease If ISMP Network Is Adopted" »