McKeen & Associates

Resources for parents of children with cerebral palsy

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Birth Injuries on Monday, August 19, 2019.

Most expectant parents are excited to welcome their child into the world. And although many questions often arise during pregnancy, parents rely on trained medical professionals to ensure the arrival of their healthy baby.

A cerebral palsy diagnosis can be a devastating shock to any new parent. Noticing a lack of age-appropriate muscle strength or developmental delays in your infant can be heartbreaking. In addition to the difficulties your child will face throughout their life, the expenses you may incur for their treatment can create added stress. Here are some resources that can ease the challenge for you and your child.

Beaumont hospital under fire following pattern of misdiagnosis

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Injuries to Children on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

Michigan’s Beaumont hospital system has come under scrutiny recently for rampant misdiagnosis of epilepsy. One of its doctors has been sued by 251 plaintiffs who were wrongly diagnosed—and treated—for the disease.

The hospital’s response to these concerns has been similarly flawed—rewarding executives who ignored complaints and red flags that had been raised for years.

Can you sue if your child is injured in a school sport?

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Injuries to Children on Friday, July 26, 2019.

If your child has ever joined a sports team at school, you've probably had to sign a liability waiver in order for them to participate. This waiver protects the school from litigation if your child is injured while playing.

But is such a waiver enforceable in all cases--regardless of the injury or its cause? The answer is no. A liability waiver may hold up in court for certain types of accidents or injuries. However, as a parent, that doesn't mean you're giving up all your rights to protect your child.

Errors in imaging reports can lead to serious patient harm

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC on Friday, July 12, 2019.

Mistakes can sometimes be addressed and then never thought of again. These are usually the minor ones like not putting the milk back in the refrigerator or forgetting to stop by a store on the way home. Unfortunately, not all errors are small mistakes. When it comes to someone's health care, errors, even when they are referred to as mistakes, can be fatal.

Doctors count on imaging studies to reveal details about a patient's condition. While they can review the diagnostic images themselves, they count on the radiologist's report. Any misstatements can cause the doctor to make incorrect treatment plans for a patient.

3 tips for handling medical malpractice

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Medical malpractice can impact nearly anyone, from infants to adults. If you seek medical treatment at any time, then you could be a victim of malpractice.

Malpractice includes making mistakes that harm a patient and intentional participation in misconduct involving a patient. Unfortunately, many people who suffer injuries never know for sure, because the medical provider is unlikely to admit to a mistake and risk a malpractice claim.

Recall of warfarin test strips has been expanded

By McKeen & Associates, PC on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Last November, Roche Diagnostics recalled over a million packages of test strips used with the CoaguCheck Test Meter, which measures the level of the blood thinner warfarin. The strips were determined to be faulty, which could result in inaccurate readings.

Joint Commission seeks input for perinatal safety hospital accreditation

By McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Birth Injuries on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

The Joint Commission has introduced the possibility of crafting new standardized protocols and procures in hospitals designed to improve prenatal safety.

For those unfamiliar with the Joint Commission, the organization was formed in 1951 with the singular goal of ongoing health care improvement. The organization now provides accreditation and certification for upwards of 21,000 organizations and health care programs. These include services that range from ambulatory care to nursing and even laboratory protocols. Underscoring the accreditation and certification role, the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare provides determined health care solution work to enhance critical safety and quality gaps that may exist.

Hospital errors can destroy a patient's life

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC on Monday, May 6, 2019.

Patients in a hospital are often so focused on the issues plaguing them that they might not be worried about anything else. Unfortunately, there is a chance that they will fall victim to hospital errors that can have serious impacts on the rest of their lives.

Many patients don't realize the full extent of things that can happen in the hospital. Understanding these risks can help them avoid becoming victims of avoidable mistakes. If the patient is unable to speak up and keep an eye on what is going on, loved ones will need to step in to fill the void.

Has my doctor been sued for malpractice before?

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Medical Malpractice on Monday, April 22, 2019.

If you have a major surgery coming up, you might be nervous about the ways in which it could go wrong. You want to be sure your doctor knows their stuff—whether you are facing a risky procedure or not. No doctor is going to tell you that they are incompetent—so how can you be sure of their track record?

Could screen time be damaging your child’s brain development?

On behalf of McKeen & Associates, PC posted in Injuries to Children on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

Staring at a smartphone or tablet is quickly becoming the default pastime for many of us. Social media has become an ever-present temptation that’s difficult to resist. We enjoy the constant stream of entertainment, and the ability to connect with friends and strangers around the world.

A current study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking to uncover the ways in which screen time—and social media in particular—may be impacting the neurological development of young people.