According to the ECRI Institute, cybersecurity concerns were among the top 10 hazards that patients face. If a hacker gained access to a hospital network, it could cause harm to patients in Florida or wherever the attack occurred. In some cases, it could lead to data breaches or devices unable to work as intended.
Delayed diagnosis: Stroke malpractice
Strokes are serious medical catastrophes. When a blood vessel is blocked or bursts, the brain cannot get the oxygen it needs, resulting in brain cell death. When a doctor fails to diagnose a medical condition that could lead to a stroke, or do not realize that a stroke occurred, they may be liable for the outcome.
Doctor's immunity claim denied in malpractice case
On Sept. 26, a Florida appeals court agreed with the state's Department of Health that a doctor cannot use a state program to shield him or herself from liability in a medical malpractice case. The claim arose after the death of a pregnant patient who sought prenatal care at a Department of Health clinic in 2007. One state program that seeks physicians to provide free care to patients provides extra protections, akin to the state's sovereign immunity, for medical malpractice claims arising from that treatment.
Losing weight can reduce risk for breast cancer, study says
A study published in the journal Cancer has clarified the link that exists between one's weight and one's risk for breast cancer. One third of postmenopausal women in Florida and across the U.S. are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so the results of the study have a wide applicability.
Detecting LBD
Florida residents who suspect that they or a loved one may suffer from Lewy body dementia, or LBD, should be aware that early detection can be a key factor in having successful treatment. People who have LBD tend to respond more favorably to certain types of dementia medications than individuals who have Alzheimer's. This means that receiving treatment during the early stages can help enhance and extend the quality of life for LBD sufferers and their caregivers. The accurate and early diagnosis of LBD is also important because many LBD sufferers tend to have poorer responses to certain types of drugs for movement and behavior than individuals who have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
