The scope of medical malpractice extends to dentists as well as other type of doctors. Such cases are often referred to as dental malpractice. 

Like other medical malpractice cases, dental malpractice cases are caused by negligent or other harmful behavior by the dentist. Dentists typically face malpractice lawsuits when their patients receive poor treatment. However, in many of these cases, the treatment outcome is usually considered medical malpractice if the dentist acted outside the dental standard of conduct. 

In some extreme cases, dental malpractice can result in death. The most common examples include infections that occur during oral surgery.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of dental malpractice, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at800-570-4878.

In cases where a doctor is alledgedly negligent in a medical malpractice lawsuit, that doctor may not be the only potential defendant in the case. For instance, if a hospital or other medical institution has retained the doctor, then that institution may be "vicariously" liable for the doctor's negligence.

The institution's liability is based on a legal theory known as "respondeat superior," which basically means that the employer is partially responsible for the negligence of its employees. Usually this condition exists when the hospital fails to perform necessary direction and supervision roles in the doctor's performance.

Other cases of vicarious liability include private medical practices when the doctor is part of a limited partnership or limited liability company. Vicarious liability may also be applied in cases where doctors are in charge of attending or resident physicians.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice and believes a vicarious liability case exists, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.

As federal lawmakers continue to hash out a new health care plan, medical malpractice has been a frequently debated issue. 

Lobbyists for physicians argue that high malpractice claims inflate the cost of health care. These inflated costs make health care too expensive for many people.

On the other side, lobbyists counter that physicians are committing malpractice at an excessively high rate. Many lobbyists and some studies suggest that the rate of malpractice could be lowered if doctors took more preventive measures. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.

During some births, the baby is injured during delivery. While the injury may be due to factors outside of the doctor or nurse's control, occassionally the doctor or nurse is liable of hospital neglisgence or incompetence during the delivery.

Common birth injuries include the baby's umbilical cord wrapping around the neck of the baby. In such a case, the baby can usually not breathe for a number of seconds, which can potentially cause injury to the brian and other vital organs. 

Another case involves cerebral palsy, in which a doctor or nurse fails to prevent nerve damage during the birth. Although the injury may not be the doctor's fault, some doctors are guilty of negligence in taking proper safety and precautionary measures. 

If you believe your child is a victim of birth malpractice, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.

In the last 20 years, the use of anesthesia has become safer for patients. According to a study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, patient deaths from anesthesia have dropped from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 250,000.

Despite the drop in deaths, however, many new technologies and techniques have caused uncecessary deaths and injuries. The most common mistakes are often the result of one of the following practices:

• Improper diagnosis
• Improper pre-operative care
• Mistakes in monitoring and observing patients under anesthesia
• Improper postoperative care
  

Such medical errors could lead to nerve damage, brain damage, paralysis, or even death. Many of these tragic consequences are often prevntable with better care.

If you or anyone you know has been injured while under anesthesia, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.

A Hearst national investigation reports that an estimated 200,000 Americans will die from preventable medical mistakes and hospital infections this year. The report, titled "Dead By Mistake," was released Friday. 

The Hearst report serves as a follow-up to a 10-year-old federal report, "To Err is Human." In the federal report, the government urged the medical industry to cut in half the number of preventable medical injuries. According to federal figures, more than 98,000 Americans die from preventable medical errors and more than 100,000 die from hospital-acquired infections each year. 

The Hearst Report also highlights a number of recommendations in the federal report but finds that they were never implemented, including a mandatory national reporting system for medical errors. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of a medical mistake, contact the Washington hospital negligence lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.

Some politicians are claiming that medical malpractice tort reform should be a high priority in the health care reform debate. They say that high medical malpractice premiums significantly raise the cost of health care.

Other pundits, however, point to Congressional Budget Office numbers, which indicate that medical malpractice premiums and claims account for less than 1 percent of overall health care costs in the last 30 years. Some of these pundits favor targeting hospitals with a track record of dangerous practices like medical error and hospital-related injuries. 

When Congress returns for the fall session, medical malpractice regulations will likely be debated and could possibly change by the end of the year. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice, contact the Washington medical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878.