MRSA and other infections acquired in hospitals are one of the leading causes of patient deaths in the United States. On average, 1.7 million patients each year are infected during a hospital stay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospital-acquired infections are not related to the injury or illness for which…

  Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women, surpassed only by lung cancer. For women aged 45 to 55, it is the No. 1 cause of death overall. Every year approximately 205,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and of these, more than 40,000 will die. Studies have shown…

  Grievous surgical errors may seem unthinkable, but they occur more often that you probably realize. Although it might feel like something out of a bad movie script, surgical errors occur many times every day in the United States. These irreversible mistakes include amputating the wrong limb, removing organs from the wrong people and even…

  Errors in childbirth can be devastating. Fortunately, these incidents are rare, but when they do occur, birth injury can result in permanent damage, or even death. In many cases, unforeseen complications arise, nothing can be done and no one is at fault. In other cases, however, human errors can happen. Sadly, hospitals and health…

  Retained surgical instruments refer to metal implements, sponges and other items that may be left behind in the human body after surgery. These events are entirely preventable, yet the number of occurrences continues to grow in the United States. Items left behind after surgery can cause devastating consequences for the patient, including disability and…

  Outpatient surgery, also known as ambulatory surgery, has become a way of life in the United States. Insurance companies and doctors alike may direct patients to outpatient facilities, often for reasons that consider finances above patient safety. Experts warn that these facilities may not be equipped to handle complications that can arise, and as…