61-year-old Max DeVries was at St. Joseph's in St. Paul for a routine procedure. He was having surgery in March when he rolled off the table, hitting his head. He died five weeks later. Hospital staff says that apparently three straps were not enough to keep the 330-pound man on the table. According to WCCO, "He hit his head on the side where doctors had previously taken out bone to help him recover from a stroke."

Devries' family claims that hospital negligence caused the death of their treasured father. The family is suiing for damages but wishes not to specify the amount. CBS reports, the family is attempting to recover, "the loss of aid, comfort and companionship in the loss of their father. In fact, they claim St. Joseph's staff never admitted what happened to their father until the family pressed staff about the incident."

ProPublica, a non-profit news group, reports that certain states are organized into compacts, allowing nursing licenses to transfer between them. It was designed to help alleviate nursing shortages in individual states. ProPublica reveals and USA Today reports that this compact system has actually allowed bad nurses to move freely between the participating states. If a nurse is disciplined for misconduct in one state, they just pack their things and head to another member of the compact of states.

The screening systems in some of the state groups are lagging. USA Today writes that, "Nurse Craig Peske was fired from a hospital in Wausau, Wis., in 2007 after stealing the powerful painkiller Dilaudid 'whenever the opportunity arose,' state records say. In one three-month period, he signed out 245 syringes full of the drug — nine times the average of hisfellow nurses." He was reported to Wisconsin police. So, Peske moved to North Carolina and became a nurse there, where he could continue his habit.

This lack of screening can significantly affect patient care. If you or someone you know has suffered as a result of hospital negligence, contact experienced Washington medical malpractice lawyers at Fuller & Fuller today.

According to Fox News, "House lawmakers have started calling for an investigation into reports that more than 1,800 veterans from Missouri, Illinois and other states may have been exposed to HIV or other diseases while getting dental treatment at a VA medical center in St. Louis."

The VA reported that their equipment was sterilized but not to exact manufacturer guidelines. Both Republicans and Democrats are calling this unacceptable. The VA did say that the risk was extremely low, but still felt the need to send a letter to the, "1,812 patients who were treated at the medical center during the 13-month period," writes Fox News. The clinic now offers free blood test for HIV and Hepatitis B and C screening.

This announcement comes at a time when VA hospitals are already under scrutiny. Last year, three Veterans Affairs hospitals were under investigation for everything from incorrect treatment to poorly sterilized equipment.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of malpractice at a military hospital, dial 1-800-570-4878 today to contact a Washington military hospital claim Attorney at Fuller and Fuller. 

Ohio-based company Neurowave Systems has been granted to sell a new medical device, the Neurosense anesthesia monitor in Europe. The device actively monitors the brain status of patients who are under anesthesia. The company is currently awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell the product in the United States. The company says that the device helps monitor brain activity in individuals who are under general anesthesia or are sedated for medical procedures, and may be able to help prevent serious injuries or harm caused while the medical procedures are being completed. 

 If you have suffered serious injury due to an anesthesia error, you may be eligible for compensation for your pain, suffering, and medical expenses. For more information, contact the Washington anesthesia error lawyers of Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878. 

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The state of Washington will be receiving four grants from the Department of Health and Human Services.  The money will be going to state programs that will work to provide and evaluate patient safety standards.  President Barack Obama announced in September 2009 that he would be passing a new health care bill that reformed United States healthcare.  The Washington investments are part of the patient safety and medical liability initiative that Obama included in the bill. 

The projects that will be funded by the grants will involve communication training for healthcare workers, implementation of a plan for integrating a medical liability and patient safety program, contributing to fostering patient-friendly shared decision making tools for patients undergoing surgery and evaluating the best practices for medication risk management.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice or has been medically mistreated in any way, contact the Washington medical malpractice attorneys of Fuller & Fuller by calling 800-570-4878.

Medication error is a type of medical malpractice. It often occurs when a medical professional is responsible for a patient being medicated in a missapropriate or harmful way. 

Some common types of medication error include giving the patient the wrong medication or giving the patient the incorrect dosage. One other type of medication error is giving a patient medication that reacts poorly with another medication used by the patient. 

If you or anyone you know has suffered from medication error, contact the Washington medication error attorneys of Fuller & Fuller 800-570-4878.

A Maryland woman was awarded $3.5 million in compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit decided this week. The jury ruled that the woman had suffered from medical malpractice in 2008, when two doctors performed a surgery that left her unable to walk.

According to the patient and her lawyer, the surgeons performed an inappropriate technique that did not conform to proper medical standards. The woman experienced spinal damage and blood loss from the surgery that has led to paraplegia. The compensation awarded in the case includes payment for pain and suffering, past medical expenses, and future medical expenses.

If you or someone you love has been injured by medical malpractice, you may have grounds to initiate a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. To learn how you can take action to recover the payment that you deserve, don't  hesitate to contact the Washington surgical malpractice lawyers of Fuller & Fuller by calling 800-570-4878.