By Maples Law Firm on April 1, 2013 -
A Tulsa oral surgeon is suspected of exposing thousands of his patients to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and even HIV because of his poor sterilization practices. According to an ABC News report, the doctor is under investigation by the state dental board, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and the state bureau of narcotics because one of his patients tested positive for Hepatitis C and HIV. Officials say the victim had no other known risk factors besides receiving dental treatment from Harrington.
The Oklahoma Board of Dentistry conducted a surprise inspection of the doctor’s Tulsa practice on March 18. During their visit, they allegedly uncovered a number of problems, including:
- rusty instruments were regularly used on patients;
- bleach was used on wounds until they turned white;
- a number of sanitation issues;
- drug cabinets were unlocked and unsupervised;
- unlicensed dental assistants were allowed to administer medication;
- expired drugs including one drug vial that expired in 1993;
- re-used needles;
- patients were given morphine in 2012, but no morphine has been ordered since 2009;
- instruments used for infected patients were dipped in bleach but had red-brown rust spots, which made them porous.
The Tulsa Health Department will send out letters by mail to potentially infected patients. Anyone who receives the letter will have access to free testing. The Tulsa Health Department has also set up a hotline for concerned patients at (918) 595-4500.
It is important to remember, however, that transmission of HIV through dental work is rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 8,000 Coloradans were notified of a similar HIV scare in 2012 and not a single case was identified. It is not clear, yet, if more victims will have HIV in this case or if the dentist will face criminal charges.
If you or a loved one is a potential victim involved in this case, please contact an experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorney at the Maples Law Firm. We can provide you with a free consultation regarding your legal rights and options. Please contact us at (888) 226-6159 to find out how we can help you.
By Maples Law Firm on May 12, 2011 -
Oklahoma doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals and facilities have a duty to provide the utmost standard in care for their patients. This is unfortunately not always the case. Approximately 225,000 people die nationwide as the result of medical malpractice. But what is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice is generally defined as professional negligence or wrongdoing by act or omission by a healthcare provider that causes injury or death to the patient. The various types of Oklahoma medical malpractice include, but are not limited to: misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis, surgical error, anesthetic error, medication error, incorrect treatment, continuing ineffective treatment, failure to attend to a patient, substandard treatment, and lack of informed consent. If a doctor is employed by a hospital, the hospital will likely be held liable for that doctor’s malpractice.
The victim of medical malpractice in Oklahoma, or a victim’s family, must bring a medical malpractice action within two years from the date of malpractice injury or death. There are exceptions to this rule, however. A medical malpractice claimant must also provide expert testimony to prove medical malpractice, unless of course it is blatantly obvious. In addition, there are laws governing the awarding of damages. Oklahoma medical malpractice law can be very complicated and can easily confuse those attempting to understand it.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in Oklahoma, the experienced Oklahoma City medical malpractice lawyers at Maples Law Firm, LLP, will apply their critical understanding of Oklahoma medical malpractice law to determine the validity of your claim. We are committed to providing quality legal advice and action, and will never charge a fee if we do not recover fair compensation. For a free consultation, please call 1-888-226-6159. Our attorneys look forward to answering any questions you may have.
By Maples Law Firm on March 3, 2011 -
A dentist from Tulsa, Oklahoma has voluntarily given up his license after multiple accusations of negligence, medical malpractice, and unnecessary dental procedures, according to NewsOn6.com. The dentist gave up his license only a few short days before the dental board was likely to revoke it. The article states that the dentist ran infomercials advertising a procedure that he had created, but patients who received the procedure complained of teeth that didn’t fit, breaking resin, intense pain, and dental work that needed to be redone. Some patients reported having trouble even eating such foods as apples and corn on the cob.
Because the dentist in question did not have Oklahoma medical malpractice insurance, many of his patients may be out of luck when it comes to recovering the procedure expenses. Only one patient was able to with a judgment against him. Depending on the extent of dental work was for each patient, the cost of the procedures varied between $15,000 – 50,000.
With the loss of his license, the man will not be able to practice dentistry in the state of Oklahoma for five years. Additionally, all complaints and previous instances of negligence (he had been in trouble twice before) will be available for review should he apply for a license elsewhere.
Professionals in the healthcare field, no matter the practice area, have a responsibility to provide the best possible care to their patients. When that responsibility is overlooked, either intentionally or inadvertently, all negligent parties can be held legally responsible for a person’s decline in health and/or injuries and related losses.
At The Maples Law Firm, our Oklahoma medical malpractice attorneys understand the frustration and difficulty that patients face when medical professionals do not properly perform their duties. If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, we can help you understand your rights and build a strong case on your behalf. With an extensive network of resources, our lawyers have the knowledge and skill needed to earn you the compensation you deserve. Contact The Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159 for a free and confidential consultation.
By Maples Law Firm on February 15, 2011 -
A new bill is being considered in Oklahoma that would place a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages for personal injury cases. However, one Oklahoma woman is speaking out against the reform since she sustained severe burn injuries from the waist up due to medical negligence, in 2009 according to OKWatchdog.com. The retired eighth grade teacher, who had endured cancer and chemotherapy, underwent reconstructive surgery, during which a cauterizing tool ignited alcohol that had been used to disinfect the woman.
According to the woman, the cap would only further hurt those who had already suffered so much due to medical negligence in Oklahoma. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) reports that approximately 100 medical fires occur each year, and result in at least 20 injuries and about two deaths. Because these types of injuries can be so severe and often require lifetime care, a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages would cover only a small fraction of the suffering that some of these patients have been forced to suffer.
The woman seeks to educate the public on the effects of medical negligence in Oklahoma and the importance of holding negligent parties accountable for their actions. She says that a jury should decide what her injuries are worth, not politicians who are looking to take over healthcare. She believes legislators should pay attention to making healthcare facilities safer so that incidents like hers do not happen to others.
If you or a loved one has been severely injured due to medical negligence, you have rights and deserve to have them upheld in a court of law. Ray Maples, experienced Oklahoma City medical malpractice attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm, has the skill and knowledge necessary to help you garner the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how Mr. Maples can help you, call 1-888-226-6159 for a free consultation of your case.
By Maples Law Firm on September 15, 2010 -
Medical malpractice in Oklahoma occurs when medical professionals act in negligence and provide care that deviates from accepted medical standards and practices which cause injury or death to patients. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are expected to provide the best healthcare possible, ensuring that the patient’s condition is treated, not made worse.
According to a study conducted by HealthGrades, from 2000 to 2002, an average of 195,000 individuals each year died due to in-hospital medical related errors. Over that time period, of the 37 million hospital admissions in the Medicare population, 1.14 million people were injured due to medical error. The causes of death of over 323,000 of those injured patients were attributed to the injuries they sustained while in the hospital. Additionally, the top causes of medical error related deaths were failure to rescue, bedsores, and postoperative sepsis.
It is vitally important for those involved in the medical profession to practice and provide the best healthcare possible. Because medical error can be caused by a number of factors, including doctor/nurse fatigue, misdiagnosis of medical conditions, or improperly treating a patient, among others, patients and family members of patients who have been wrongfully killed due to medical error have the right to seek legal recourse.
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one because of medical negligence, you may be eligible to file an Oklahoma medical malpractice lawsuit. Physicians, nurses and the rest of the medical field are responsible for caring for patients, not harming them. When that responsibility is overlooked or simply ignored, innocent people are susceptible to injury or even death. The compassionate and competent Oklahoma City medical malpractice lawyers at Maples Law Firm have the resources and the experience necessary to hold negligent parties accountable for your injuries or for the loss of your loved one. To learn more about how Maples Law Firm can help you and your situation, please call us at 1(888) 429-0609.
