Use of forceps causes terrible injury for an Australian child

  They are a tool that has helped save lives in Australian hospitals, but forceps are fast gaining a reputation as a dangerous, and even deadly tool when used by unskilled practitioners. Originally invented by the Chamberlen family in the 16th and 17th century, the forceps soon became common place in birthing suites around the…

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GP missed signs of colorectal cancer

Gary’s story is based on a real case of medical misdiagnosis which resulted in a severe tumor being undetected. Gary was having some stomach pain so he initially went to see his GP who diagnosed the pain as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). He visited his GP regularly for the next 2 years and eventually was…

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Medical misdiagnosis – it’s more common than you think.

The big cases are often seen in the news headlines, however it is smaller instances of medical misdiagnosis and negligence that often go unreported and in some cases, the victims are unaware they have experienced it at all. From out of date or incorrect advice, prescribing the wrong medication or failing to listen to all…

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Medical misdiagnosis – When should you seek a second opinion?

Doctors and medical providers are highly trained and work hard to provide health services for their community. However, like any profession, mistakes can happen and it is important to know how to identify an instance of medical negligence, what to do and when you might need to seek legal help. What is medical misdiagnosis? Medical…

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Vasectomy gone wrong

Tom’s story is based on a real case of a failed procedure which resulted in permanent damage. Tom went into hospital for a routine vasectomy. He was told to expect some discomfort for a few days after the surgery, but Tom was in severe pain and it only got worse. He returned to the hospital…

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Report finds “serious safety concerns for public health”

An Australian government report published January 2018 shows that the number of medical disasters in Australia is decreasing. According to the Productivity Commission’s report on government health services, there were 82 sentinel events nationally in 2015-16. Sentinel events are a subset of adverse events that result in death or serious harm to a patient. The…

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Surgical Errors

Surgical errors resulting in permanent damage – 6 common causes. A surgical error is an avoidable mistake during surgery. There is an element of risk associated with any surgery and it is standard practice to sign an informed consent before undergoing surgery. Surgical errors, however, go beyond the known risks of a surgery – they…

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Prolonged midwife birth leading to cerebral palsy

Jane and Mark’s story is based on a real case of birth trauma which resulted in their child being born with Cerebral Palsy. Their son (Jack) was a big baby and Jane was booked in for a caesarean, however, the midwife insisted on a natural birth. Due to his size and the decision to proceed…

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Can cerebral palsy be prevented? Link between CP and birth trauma

What is CP? Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. It is caused by abnormal development or damage to the baby’s developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. ‘Cerebral’ means the disorder is related to the brain, and ‘palsy’ refers to…

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Australian mum’s emergency after discharge from hospital

  An Australian mother has narrowly escaped death after a hospital made the incorrect call to send her home early. The Blumer’s client had a routine birth in an Australian hospital earlier this year, delivering a healthy baby girl. Not long after being discharged by the hospital and arriving home with her new baby, the…

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