The damages in medical malpractice cases in Ohio and around the country are often high because the patients who are affected may require costly medical treatment for the rest of their lives. This is especially true when the victim is an infant. In July, a jury in Maryland awarded the mother of a baby who was born in 2014 with brain injuries $229 million in damages. The award, which was more than the plaintiff had asked for, was subsequently upheld by a judge but reduced to $205 million due to a state cap.
CDC issues warning as vaping injuries spread nationwide
People in Ohio may be at risk of injury or serious illness linked to e-cigarette use, commonly known as vaping. After a spate of reported vaping-related illnesses across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning about an unknown lung disease. Doctors and researchers nationwide are struggling to diagnose at least 450 people in 33 states with a clear illness linked to vaping. In many cases, the vape cartridges involved may have been knock-offs purchased on the street with unknown ingredient lists.
A single brain injury may lead to significant issues
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a condition only found in the brain during a post-mortem examination. There are no tests for it. However, it has some specific signs that manifest as it progresses, including aggression and suicidal thoughts. A build-up of the protein tau causes CTE, and it is usually associated only with individuals who have suffered multiple concussions. Professional football players and boxers are two of the more common demographics of individuals who have been diagnosed with CTE after their death.
Misdiagnosis can lead to issues for OHS patients
When Ohio residents go to a doctor or hospital for treatment, they expect to receive a correct diagnosis and effective treatment. However, far too many patients continue to receive inaccurate diagnoses. As a result, they may not get effective treatments for their conditions, which can progress and worsen over time. One condition that is often misdiagnosed is obesity hyperventilation syndrome, or OHS. It can be very serious, but doctors often do not screen effectively for the condition. Analysts expect more people to be affected by OHS, especially as rates of obesity in the general population continue to rise.
