Something we at McKeen & Associates have witnessed is the inadequate care of SCFE (Slipped capital femoral epiphysis). SCFE is a very common hip disorder in adolescents. A growth plate (physis) is found between the femur head (epiphysis) and the neck of the femur,...
Surgical Errors
McKeen Wins More Than $3 million on Behalf of Permanently Disabled Hockey Player
McKeen and Associates attorneys Brian McKeen and Todd Schroeder recently settled a case for $3,250,000 on behalf of an athlete who suffered a spinal cord injury due to physician negligence. The young man experienced a hemothorax-- an accumulation of blood within the...
Surgical sponge never events: One system could help
Sponges are used in surgeries and are designed to absorb blood and keep the visible area clear for surgeons. Unfortunately, the reality is that these may soak up that blood and become nearly impossible to find again. Even though the staff may count how many go in and...
Hospital miscommunication costs Port Huron man his life
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a blockage in one of the heart’s major arteries, resulting in a very serious type of heart attack. A STEMI is a life-threatening emergency, and any delays in receiving medical care can mean the difference...
The Injustice of Medical Malpractice Caps
McKeen & Associates attorneys and Kenneth Lee recently obtained a $550,000 settlement for a wrongful death arising out of the negligent placement of what was supposed to be a central venous catheter. As the name suggests, this catheter...
The importance of checking for contraindications before surgery
When undertaking any surgery, doctors must make sure the patient has no dangerous conditions that are “contraindications” – that is, reasons not to do the surgery. This is particularly true with elective surgeries and those which are not immediately necessary. When...
Assistant to Convicted Doctor Found Culpable
recently won a court of appeals case against an assistant surgeon who worked along Dr. Aria Sabit. Dr. Sabit was a neurosurgeon who convinced dozens of patients to have spinal surgeries that they did not need. Dr. Sabit and his...
Hospitals nationally pay attention to Leapfrog’s graded assessments
“It doesn’t matter how sick you are,” says Leah Binder. “The surgeon and operating room team shouldn’t be leaving sponges or surgical tools in you.”We suspect that every one of our blog readers in Michigan and across the country...
Detroit Medical Center cited for jeopardizing patients’ health
Detroit Medical Center (DMC) could lose its federal funding due to multiple violations of infection control requirements. This marks the second instance of infection control violations by DMC in the last two years.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS)...
Risks are present in same-day surgery centers
Patients who are having surgery might assume that they are going to the hospital for the procedure. This may not be the case. Many surgeons are turning to ambulatory surgery centers to do certain surgeries. The issue is whether these outpatient centers are safe for...