Atlanta Injury Attorney Jeff Dover's Blog

Hurt by a Medical Mistake? Atlanta Malpractice Attorney Suggests Help

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

You can tell something isn’t right. You went to the doctor and clearly laid out your symptoms. Yet, your doctor paid little attention to you, failed to order diagnostic tests, made a diagnosis that makes no sense or ordered treatment that should be helping and is not working as it should. You are concerned that you have been the victim of a medical error, but you are unsure of what to do.
Your Atlanta Malpractice Attorney Suggests that You:

Contact an Independent Doctor for a Free Consultation. It is important to present your concerns to a doctor who is not in practice with the doctor whom you believed made a medical error, so that you can get an accurate diagnosis and begin proper treatment for your condition.
Read a FREE Book about Medical Errors. The Dover Law Firm, an Atlanta medical malpractice law firm, has published a FREE book on its website that is available to you. Why Did This Critical Medical Error Happen to Me may answer some of your important questions.
Consult with an Experienced Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer. Each case is unique. In order to understand your legal rights and potential recovery it is important to speak directly to an Atlanta malpractice lawyer.

How to Reach an Experienced Atlanta Malpractice Attorney for Help
You can reach an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney today by calling 1.770.518.1133 or by filling out the online contact form on this page. Our compassionate lawyers wish you the best in your recovery and look forward to speaking with you to see if you we can be of assistance to you in your recovery.

Avoid Distracted Doctoring With Help from Atlanta Malpractice Attorneys

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

When you think about it, the expectations set up by doctors and the culture of medical care in this country is unique to the medical profession. You would not show up to get your hair cut and accept your hairstylist talking on her cell phone while cutting your hair. You would not attend a meeting with an Atlanta malpractice attorney and accept having your lawyer distracted by his cell phone or tablet. As a customer, or a client, you deserve better treatment just as you do when you are the patient.
How to Get the Attention You Deserve as a Patient
As a patient you have the right to protect yourself from medical malpractice. Atlanta doctors may not be used to being asked to put down their devices and to pay attention, but you are the patient. You are the customer. You (perhaps via your insurance company) are paying for the service. You deserve to be heard. If you feel uncomfortable questioning your doctor or asking your doctor to put down his cell phone or tablet to look at you, then bring someone else to your appointment who can speak up for you.
How to Contact an Atlanta Malpractice Attorney for Help
Distracted doctors are just one example of how a doctor may be negligent in a way that causes you harm. If you have been the victim of medical negligence, then it is time to learn more about your rights by reading our FREE book: Why Did This Critical Medical Error Happen to Me? and by calling our Atlanta medical malpractice law firm directly at 1.770.518.1133. One of our experienced Atlanta malpractice lawyers would be pleased to talk to you about your rights and potential recovery.

AMA Study Indicates Safety Problems for Outpatients

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

In December 2011, the American Medical Association’s Center for Patient Safety (AMA) released the results of a decade long study that looked at safety for outpatients who receive ambulatory care. The report found significant problems in ambulatory care patient safety and recommended more research and action to deal with the problems.
Some of the problems identified in the AMA study include:

Incorrect prescribing of medication
Misdiagnoses
Missed test results
Poor communication in physician practices

One of the flaws of the existing study, and part of the reason for the AMA’s call for more research in this critical area of patient care is because the problems described above are not prioritized. We simply do not know which of these problems is the most significant and causes the most harm or fatalities to outpatients in this country.
Outpatient services outnumber inpatient hospital services by an estimated ratio of 300 to one. However, research has been significantly focused on hospital safety and not enough is known about ambulatory safety, according to researchers.
Different organizations are calling for more research to be done and for clinics and doctors’ offices to become involved in this critical area of patient care.
As Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys, we remind patients that medical malpractice may occur in any medical setting and is not limited to hospitals. We encourage organizations and individual offices to continue research in this important area of patient safety so that more patients are spared the pain of medical errors.

Medical School Could Set the Stage for Future Medical Malpractice

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Chances are if you are seeing a doctor for a diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury, then that doctor has completed medical school. Many doctors in the United States are trained at medical schools in the United States, but are those medical schools preparing doctors for the future jobs? Will your doctor be able to listen to your concerns, make a proper diagnosis and implement a proper treatment plan for you?
Recently, some potential flaws in medical education have been raised that may give you reason to pause and think about whether the doctor treating you is prepared to do so. Specifically, concerns have been raised about:

Medical school professors who overwhelmingly tend to be research based professors and not experienced medical clinicians.
Medical school curriculum that may be too focused on the science of medicine and not enough on the art of medicine. For example, is too much emphasis based on physics and chemistry to the detriment of time spent teaching how to effectively communicate with patients and make tricky diagnoses?
The attitude of doctors when they finish their medical education. Does the current model of medical school, internship and residency give doctors too much unfounded confidence? Are too many doctors graduating thinking that there is nothing that they don’t know and thereby overlooking possible diagnoses and making mistakes?

Our Atlanta malpractice lawyers know that there are no easy answers that will prevent all forms of future medical malpractice. However, looking at medical education may be an important place to start.

Medical Malpractice Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer Changes Things

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Patients who suffer from the misdiagnosis of thyroid cancer have a lot to lose. Thyroid cancer is relatively easy to diagnose and treat. It can be found at an early stage in many patients. When thyroid cancer is detected at Stage I or Stage II the five year survival rate is close to 100%. However, that survival rate changes significantly when the patient is the victim of medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose thyroid cancer changes everything.
Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer Significantly Decreases a Patient’s Chances of Survival
According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rate for Stage I or Stage II thyroid cancers is nearly 100% while the survival rate for Stage IV thyroid cancer is significantly lower. Patients who suffer from Papillary thyroid cancer have a 51% chance of surviving five years if they are diagnosed at Stage IV. Likewise, patients who suffer from Follicular thyroid cancer have a 50% chance of survival, and patients who have Stage IV Medullary thyroid cancer have just a 28% chance of surviving five years.
Contact an Atlanta Lawyer if You’ve Been the Victim of Medical Malpractice / Failure to Diagnose
If your thyroid cancer should’ve been caught earlier and you suffered because of a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis, then you may have important legal rights. To learn more about your rights, please read our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors, which is available on our website. Please call an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.

Young Adult Cancer Death Rate Has Not Fallen as it Has for Other Ages

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

2012 started with some good news from the American Cancer Society. The rate of cancer deaths has fallen by about 1.8 percent for men and 1.6 percent for women in recent years. However, the news is not all good – especially for teenagers and young adults. Those between the ages of 15 - 39 have not experienced the drop in cancer deaths that other age groups have experienced.
Approximately 72,000 people aged 15 - 39 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer researchers are beginning to focus on this age group, which has different needs than other age groups. People between 15 - 39 years old typically get difficult to diagnose cancers and are not typically screened for cancers. When adolescents and young adults go to the doctor complaining of pain, doctors may be more likely to misdiagnose cancer and claim that the pain is due to another reason.
Researchers hope that by focusing on this 15 – 39 age group distinct from pediatric or adult cancers, they will be able to help doctors make proper and timely diagnoses and to prevent cancer malpractice that results in lifetime of problems or death.
If you have suffered, or lost a loved one, due to a cancer misdiagnosis, then please contact the experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyers of The Dover Law Firm at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.

Pediatric Failure to Diagnose Cancer Case to Move Forward

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Five-year-old Jocelyn Dickhoff likes to play with her dolls and do other typical five-year-old activities. Sadly, she also has cancer. Cancer, that her parents allege, should’ve been diagnosed by her doctor one year before it was actually diagnosed.
According to experts hired to testify in Jocelyn’s medical malpractice case, her likelihood of surviving cancer dropped from 60%, or more likely than not to survive, to 40%, or less likely to survive than not. Today her chances of survival are estimated to be about 5%.
The family’s lawsuit was originally dismissed in a Minnesota trial court. However, a recent ruling by the Minnesota Appeals Court will allow the case to be tried, unless the defendant doctor and medical center are successful on any appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. They argue that Jocelyn’s condition is the result of the natural progression of her disease rather than doctor error.
Our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers are pleased to hear that the Dickhoff family will have its day in court and will be able to present the alleged cancer malpractice case to a jury. We extend our best wishes to Jocelyn for a full and fast recovery and to her family during what is likely a difficult time.

From Bone Pain to Bone Cancer to Failure to Diagnose Attorneys

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

We’ve all heard expressions like “I feel it in my bones” or “It hurts down to my bones”, but it isn’t until you truly experience bone pain that you understand how excruciating it is and how much it affects your life. Bone pain can be a symptom of a serious condition such as bone cancer or another type of cancer that has metastasized to the bone. Accordingly, our failure to diagnose attorneys want you to know what you should expect from a doctor when you experience bone pain and when you should call us for help.

Diagnosing Bone Cancer
Screenings for bone cancer do not exist the way they do for other types of cancer. A diagnosis of bone cancer often starts when a patient reports pain, swelling, a broken bone or other symptoms to his or her doctor. A reasonable doctor who believes that bone cancer may be the reason for the symptoms will likely order diagnostic tests which may include one or more of the following: X-rays, bone scans, MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and biopsies.

If proper tests are not done to rule out or diagnose bone cancer, a misdiagnosis of cancer may result, the condition may progress, and the bone cancer may create more significant health problems than it would have if it had been diagnosed and treated early.

Contacting Failure to Diagnose Attorneys

If your doctor failed to diagnose your bone cancer after you reported bone cancer symptoms, then it is important to find out more about your rights. Our failure to diagnose lawyers invite you to read our book, I Have Cancer Should it Have Been Caught Earlier?, which is available for free on our website. Additionally, we invite you to call us directly at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.

Contacting Failure to Diagnose Attorney for Cancer Death is Not Greedy

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

It is true that failure to diagnose attorneys cannot bring back your loved one who has died as a result of cancer malpractice. The best the legal system can do to compensate you for your loss is to provide you with monetary damages. Our failure to diagnose lawyers know that money alone is not going to change what happened to your family, but we believe that you may have good reasons to file a cancer malpractice wrongful death case and none of those reasons have to do with greed.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case
Medical malpractice wrongful death law seeks to compensate you for injuries that you have suffered. It is not intended to provide you with a windfall or a way to profit from your loved one’s death. Specifically, wrongful death compensation may include:

Money for outstanding bills. Bills may include medical expenses and funeral costs, for example.
Recovery for lost income. If your loved one, or you, were unable to work because of the misdiagnosis of cancer, then you may be compensated for the lost income. This may also include the future lost income that your loved one may have earned had he or she lived.
Damages for your loved one’s pain and your suffering. Money is an imperfect compensation for non-economic losses, but it is the best that can be done.

Failure to Diagnose Attorneys May Be Able to Help You
Before you can determine if you may be eligible for potential compensation, it is important to understand whether cancer malpractice caused your loved one’s death. You can find out more about cancer malpractice in our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors, and you can find out more about your rights by calling an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer at 1.770.518.1133.

What to Expect at Your First Meeting with a Cancer Malpractice Lawyer

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

You believe that you have been the victim of cancer malpractice, and you are facing a scary and uncertain future because of it. In order to take control and get the recovery that you deserve for yourself and for your family, you have contacted an Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyer and are now getting ready for your first meeting. Keep reading to find out what to expect at that meeting and how to make the most of it.

Your First Meeting with an Atlanta Cancer Malpractice Attorney
The first time you meet with your Atlanta medical malpractice attorney, you can expect to talk to a(n):

Compassionate person who is sympathetic to the physical and emotional harm you are suffering.
Knowledgeable attorney who understands the law.
Lawyer who will ask you questions about your diagnosis, about the actions (or inactions) of your doctor, about your treatment and about your recovery.
Attorney who will explain your rights to you and discuss potential next steps in your case.

You can find out more about the types of questions your lawyer will likely ask and the issues relevant to your potential case in our FREE book: I Have Cancer Should it Have Been Caught Earlier?.

How to Schedule a Meeting with an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you are ready to schedule a meeting to discuss your rights after cancer malpractice, please call the experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice law firm, The Dover Law Firm, today at 1.770.518.1133 or contact us via our online contact form.

Avoiding Cancer Deaths: UGA Researchers Share Exciting Cancer News

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Recently, researchers at the University of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic released exciting news in the fight against cancer. Researchers report that they have developed an anti-cancer vaccine that has shown positive results in reducing the size of cancer tumors in mice.
The vaccine can train the immune system to distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells and to only attack the cancer cells. The vaccine triggers a powerful immune response in the mice that can reduce tumor size in mice by up to 80% and is seen as particularly powerful in fighting deadly forms of cancer such as breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.
What’s Next for the Vaccine?
Laboratory testing of this important vaccine is expected to continue during 2012, and clinical testing may begin as early as next year.
Will the Vaccine Be Enough to Treat Cancer?
Researchers warn that while the vaccine may be an exciting and effective tool in treating cancer, it alone is not enough. In order to be most effective, the vaccine must be combined with an early cancer diagnosis and the misdiagnosis of cancer must be prevented. Then, it is the hope of researchers, doctors and most especially patients, that cancer will become a more manageable disease and result in fewer deaths.

What to Expect When Your Doctor First Says Cancer

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

The word cancer has been spoken by your doctor. Whether your doctor is suggesting that cancer is a possible diagnosis or is backtracking after a failure to diagnose cancer, that word is significant. Once you hear the word cancer, there are certain things that you should expect to happen next.

Medical Malpractice Failure to Diagnose May Be Prevented if Your Doctor Takes Certain Steps

While each patient is unique and may not require all of the following, you should expect your doctor to discuss the following with you:

Additional and possibly invasive tests. Your doctor should discuss why he or she suspects cancer and what tests would confirm a diagnosis. Those tests should be scheduled as soon as possible.
Referral to an oncologist or specialist. If the tests are already back or require a specialist, then your doctor may refer you to an oncologist who will be in charge of your cancer-related medical care.
A quick follow up appointment to discuss diagnosis and treatment options. Typically, it is important to develop and implement a cancer treatment plan as soon as possible to prevent the disease from spreading.

To learn more about the proper diagnosis of cancer and preventing the misdiagnosis of cancer, please read our book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors. It is available, free of charge, on our website.

Contact an Atlanta Cancer Malpractice Attorney if You’ve Been the Victim of Medical Malpractice Failure to Diagnose.

Additionally, we invite you to contact one of our experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation about your potential case, your legal rights, and your possible recovery.

The Support YOU Need After a Loved Ones Cancer Misdiagnosis

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Your child, your spouse, your parent or your sibling has been the victim of medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose cancer has allowed your loved one’s disease to progress and is causing your loved one significant pain and suffering. You too are suffering as you watch what the cancer malpractice is doing to your family.

While you might feel conflicted about taking time to care for yourself when you are not the one with the disease, it is important to remember that you need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

How to Take Care of Yourself After a Family Member’s Cancer Misdiagnosis
Generally, you need to do what gives you the most support. For example, you might:

Lean on your friends. Most people genuinely want to help you through this difficult time. Let them do some of your errands, make you dinner or play with your kids so that you have a few minutes to yourself.
Continue living. Make time to do the things that you enjoy so that you feel refreshed and upbeat when caring for your loved one.
Seek individual counseling. A therapist is someone who will listen to you and help you handle your feelings.
Look for support groups. It can be comforting to be with others in similar situations.

Contact an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer After Medical Malpractice / Failure to Diagnose
An experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice attorney will fight hard for your family’s just recover if a loved one has suffered an injury due to a cancer misdiagnosis. Call our Atlanta medical malpractice law firm today at 1.770.518.1133 to schedule a free consultation and please read our FREE book: I Have Cancer, Should It Have Been Caught Earlier? to learn more about cancer misdiagnoses.

How to Support Your Child After a Misdiagnosis of Cancer in Atlanta

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

You may be caught off guard by your child’s doctor’s medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose cancer may have allowed the cancer to progress to the point where chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery are the only options available to try to save your child’s life. How do you provide your child the support that he or she needs when you are frightened and overwhelmed yourself?

You Can Help Your Child After a Misdiagnosis of Cancer

While every child, and every family, is in a unique situation, you may consider:

Encouraging your child’s “old” support system. The friends and family who supported your child before a cancer diagnosis can continue to be a valuable support system after the diagnosis.
Keeping school as consistent as possible. Work with the teacher, guidance counselor and others to keep your child’s education and school attendance as safe and consistent as possible.
Individual therapy. Your child may benefit from talking to a counselor or therapist one on one.
Support groups and/or programs for kids with cancer. Your child may benefit from being around other kids in similar situations.
Taking care of yourself. Do not feel guilty taking time for yourself. Your child needs your love, support and attention for the long haul.

Contact an Atlanta Cancer Malpractice Lawyer to Discuss Your Child’s Future

In addition to helping with your child’s emotional wellbeing, you may be able to help with your child’s financial wellbeing if your child was the victim of medical malpractice. Failure to diagnose cancer may be a type of medical malpractice for which your child can recover financial damages. To learn more about your child’s rights and what should’ve been done, please read our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors and please call an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at 1.770.518.1133 today.

Communication Breakdown Possible Cause of Failure to Diagnose Cancer

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Cancer is most effectively treated when it is found in its early stages. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that some patients may suffer from a failure to diagnose cancer, and other diseases, because of a breakdown in communication that should be avoidable.

According to the study, medical malpractice payouts for communication breakdowns, such as the failure to share test results, quadrupled in the United States between 1991 and 2010. In 1991, the estimated cost of these mistakes was about $22 million. In 2010, the estimated cost of these mistakes was $91 million.

The study looked at data from 425 hospitals and 52,000 health care providers and found that the most common causes of communication breakdowns were:

The patient did not receive test results from the doctor.
The doctor did not receive the test results from the lab or other physician.
Delays or slow turnarounds in reading test results.
Test results were filed away by the office staff before doctors were able to read them.

Experts suggest that the better coordination of care and the use of electronic medical records could prevent communication breakdowns from causing medical malpractice failure to diagnose problems in the future.

Our Atlanta cancer malpractice attorneys support measures to prevent future medical malpractice accidents, and we wish everyone injured by a failed or delayed diagnosis of cancer a speedy and complete recovery.

How Find Out if Your Delayed Diagnosis was Cancer Malpractice

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Was the delay in your cancer diagnosis the result of cancer malpractice or was it simply bad luck? Is it worth your time to pursue damages, or should you put all of your effort into your physical and emotional recoveries?

Before you make any important decisions, you need to get the facts.

Here’s how you may be able to learn more about whether a doctor’s failure to diagnose cancer was malpractice or whether it was an unfortunate incident that did not rise to the level of malpractice.

First, download a copy of Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors. This book, which is available on our website free of charge, may answer many of your important questions and provide you with the knowledge necessary to ask more questions.

Next, get a second opinion. If you are concerned about a doctor’s diagnosis or whether a doctor was thorough enough in his exam or testing, then it is important to seek another medical opinion from an independent doctor unaffiliated with the first doctor.

Then, consult with an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer. An Atlanta cancer malpractice attorney knows how to investigate cases to determine if a delay in diagnosis was the result of cancer malpractice, or not.

If your lawyer believes that your cancer misdiagnosis was the result of malpractice, then he will fight hard for your full and just legal recovery. For more information, and to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyer, please call 1.770.518.1133 today.

Do You Have Liver Disease? Do You Know About Cancer Malpractice?

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

If you suffer from liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, then you have a lot to think about. You are busy managing your disease while you continue to live your life. However, there is an important risk that you need to be aware of and that you need to make sure your doctor accounts for during your visits.

That Risk is Liver Cancer.

The failure of your doctor to classify you as being at high risk for liver cancer, and treating you accordingly, may be a form of cancer malpractice.

You are at risk if you have one of the following conditions:

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Long term hepatitis infections are the most common cause of liver cancer.
Cirrhosis. This disease, which is caused by heavy alcohol use, replaces normal liver cells with scar tissue that can lead to cancer.
Metabolic diseases. Certain metabolic conditions, such as those that result in too much iron absorption, can also result in liver cancer.
Diabetes. Diabetes may increase the risk of liver cancer, particularly if combined with another disease or risk factors.

Other factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, alcohol use, steroid use, obesity and arsenic exposure may also increase your risk of developing this harmful disease.

Get the Help You Need From an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you have suffered from cancer malpractice, or if you have lost a loved one, then you may be entitled to damages. For more information, please read the book written by Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyers, Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors. It is available for free on our website. We also encourage you to call an Atlanta cancer malpractice attorney at 1.770.518.1133.

3 Things to Do After Skin Cancer Malpractice in Atlanta

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Your skin cancer has been misdiagnosed. You are reeling both from the diagnosis and from the reality that your cancer may have been diagnosed at an earlier, easier to treat stage if your doctor had not committed cancer malpractice. Now what?

How You May Protect Yourself After a Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis

Our Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys understand that you are looking for concrete steps that you can take to regain control of your life. Accordingly, we recommend that you:

Find a Qualified Medical Specialist. You’ve suffered from a doctor’s failure to exercise reasonable care and it can be difficult to trust another doctor, but it is important that you do so. Ask around, check qualifications, and find a doctor who specializes in your type of cancer to provide you with the advice and treatment that you deserve.
Surround Yourself with Support. Support may be defined differently for each patient. Many find support in their family and friends. Others benefit from formal support groups and/or religious organizations.
Consult with a Cancer Malpractice Attorney. A lawyer can help protect your legal and financial rights while you concentrate on your physical and emotional recovery.

How to Contact an Atlanta Cancer Malpractice Lawyer and Learn More About Your Rights

If you have questions about whether you may have been the victim of cancer malpractice, then we invite you to read our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors and to call an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.

Mammograms and Cancer Malpractice: What Women Need to Know

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Last month, the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care issued mammogram screening recommendations that were similar to the recommendations issued by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force in 2009.

Both groups are calling for routine mammograms to start at age 50, rather than age 40 as previously recommended, and are no longer recommending yearly mammograms for women under age 75.

These developments, and new screening recommendations, could put a bigger responsibility on doctors to determine which women may need more frequent mammograms. Additionally, doctors may have to pay closer attention to other symptoms of breast cancer in order to prevent the misdiagnosis of cancer that could allow the disease to progress.

Women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer may need to have more frequent mammograms than women in the general public. The new screening recommendations do not relieve a doctor from the responsibility of ordering appropriate screening tests when warranted by a patient’s medical history or symptoms.

Thus, experts continue to encourage patients to have ongoing conversations with their doctors about their individual need for screening and about other preventative measures that they can take to avoid a failure to diagnose that may make them victims of breast cancer malpractice.

3 Reasons Why a Cancer Misdiagnosis in an Atlanta Nursing Home Matters

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

You trust your loved one’s care to the nursing home you choose so that your parent, spouse, or loved one can be safe and have his or her medical needs met in a comfortable manner. When that doesn’t happen, the results can be devastating.

Atlanta Nursing Home Residents May Be Victims of Medical Malpractice. Failure to Diagnose Cancer is One Type of Malpractice.

The misdiagnosis of cancer may cause your loved one:

Pain that is not appropriately treated. If the cancer is not properly diagnosed, then your loved one may suffer unnecessarily and not receive the proper pain medication that could make him or her more comfortable.
The ability to make decisions about his or her future. When cancer is misdiagnosed, an elderly patient may lose the ability to make choices about his or her care because an elderly patient may not be physically strong enough to withstand treatments necessary for late stage cancers.
An earlier death. Without treatment, death may come more quickly and deprive a person and his or her family of time together.

Contact an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney if Your Loved One’s Cancer Was Misdiagnosed

Just because an elderly person is a resident in a nursing home does not relieve doctors of their responsibility to properly diagnose cancer. To learn more about how doctors should diagnose cancer, and about your legal rights if cancer is misdiagnosed, please read our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors.

We also encourage you to call our experienced and empathetic Atlanta cancer misdiagnosis lawyers today for a free consultation. We can be reached at 1.770.518.1133.

Where 2011 Fatal Crashes Occurred Over Thanksgiving Weekend in Georgia

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has released car accident statistics for Thanksgiving Weekend 2011. From Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – Sunday, November 27, 2011, 15 people died on Georgia roads, 247 people were injured and 434 crashes were reported. Thirteen people lost their lives in fatal Georgia Thanksgiving weekend car accidents last year.

This year, fatal Georgia car accidents were reported in the following locations during the holiday weekend:

Gwinnett County
Cartersville
Columbus
Blue Ridge
Forsyth
Richmond County
Toccoa
Villa Rica

A child was among this year’s fatalities. The Georgia State Patrol reports that 10-year-old Michael Jaimes was in a van with his family on Saturday, November 26 when their vehicle was hit by a motorcycle on Ga. 61. This Bartow County crash took Michael’s life and the life of the 27-year-old motorcyclist. Two of Michael’s relatives, ages 5 and 13, were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening car accident injuries. The driver of the van was not hurt in the crash.

We extend our condolences to Michael’s family and friends and to the family and friends of the other 14 people who lost their lives over the holiday weekend.

Atlanta Among Cities With Most Car Accident Injuries and Deaths

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

New information released by AAA last month compares Atlanta car accidents to those in other U.S. cities, and the results are not favorable for our city.

According to AAA’s 2009 data:

More than 62,000 people were injured in Atlanta car crashes. Only three cities in the United States had more car accident injuries reported than the metro Atlanta area during 2009. Those cities included the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
498 people lost their lives in fatal Atlanta car wrecks. Only five cities in the United States had more fatal crashes during 2009. Those cities include the metro areas of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City.
The car accidents cost the Atlanta area almost $11 million. Only five other metro areas included in the study had higher costs. Those cities included in the metro areas of Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City.

AAA encourages states to consider the costs of accidents and to make safety a priority when passing laws and improving roads and transportation systems.

Our Atlanta accident lawyers extend our sincere condolences to everyone injured in recent Atlanta car crashes and our best wishes for a full and fast recovery to those who have been injured.

How to Help an Atlanta Teen After a Cancer Misdiagnosis

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The news is a crushing blow for your child, for you, and for your entire family. The unfairness of your child being sick with cancer is only intensified by the unfairness of your child’s cancer being misdiagnosed. A doctor’s failure to diagnose cancer in your child may mean that the cancer has progressed and requires more difficult treatments or has reduced your child’s chances of survival.

You have every right to be angry. However, the steps that you take next can make a big difference for your child and your family.

First, it is important to get the best doctors that you can. Talk to family, friends and others and find doctors whom you believe can provide your child with the best possible care.

Next, it is important to help your child come to terms with the emotional aspects of the situation. Your child is probably scared and in pain. It is important to talk to your child and help your child through this difficult time even as you face your own fear.

Finally, it is important to consult with experienced failure to diagnose attorneys to protect your child’s legal rights and potential recovery. Your child may have suffered because of a doctor’s negligence and may be entitled to compensation for his or her injuries. An experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyer can help you understand your child’s rights.

To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney, please call us at 1.770.518.1133. We also invite you to read our FREE book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors for more information about your rights.

Read More About the Misdiagnosis of Cancer in Teens in our FREE library Article: Atlanta Teen Cancer: How to Avoid Cancer Malpractice Complications for Your Child.

What an Atlanta Melanoma Misdiagnosis May Cost You

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The survival rate for people with malignant melanoma is 99% - if the cancer is caught before the tumor penetrates the skin. The survival rate for people with advanced stage malignant melanoma drops to 15%. *Thus, for melanoma patients the misdiagnosis of cancer may not only require harder treatments but also may cost them a very real chance at survival.

What to Do When Melanoma is Diagnosed

When your melanoma is diagnosed the first thing to do is to speak to trusted doctors about a treatment plan. Typically, the more advanced the cancer is the harder the treatment and recovery may be for you. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and drug therapy depending on the stage at which your cancer is diagnosed and other factors.

What to Do When You Find Out Melanoma was Misdiagnosed

If a failure to diagnose melanoma caused your disease to progress, your treatment to become harder, and your chances of surviving to diminish, then it is important to talk to an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer.

In some cases, when your doctor’s failure to diagnose your cancer was due to negligence, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries. Damages may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses and pain and suffering.

To learn more about your rights, we encourage you to read our FREE book: I Have Cancer, Should It Have Been Caught Earlier? and to call one of our experienced failure to diagnosis attorneys at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.

*Source: The Skin Cancer Foundation, Skin Cancer Facts, Melanoma

Read More About The Misdiagnosis of Melanoma in our FREE Library article: Was Your Atlanta Melanoma Misdiagnosis Avoidable?

Four Teenage Girls Hurt in Coweta County Crash

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two vehicles collided on State Highway 154 last month leaving four teenage girls injured from the wreck. The accident happened on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 around 3:45 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 154 and Freestone Drive in Coweta County, Georgia.

According to authorities, a Jeep Cherokee and an SUV collided at the intersection. The cause of the crash is under investigation and has not yet been reported to the media. A representative of the Coweta County Fire Department has said that the driver’s side of the Jeep was hit by the SUV.

Jeff Denney, an assistant fire chief with the Coweta County Fire Department, told the media that one of the four teenage girls had to be airlifted to an Atlanta hospital. Her identity has not yet been released to the media. However, Mr. Denney did say that she was riding in the backseat of the Jeep Cherokee without a seatbelt. Her condition at the accident scene was described as unconscious and unresponsive.

Two other girls were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, and the father of the fourth girl refused transport to the hospital for his daughter.

Our Atlanta auto accident attorneys extend our best wishes for a full and fast recovery to all the girls injured in this crash.