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Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
- Medical Malpractice Victim Receives $2 Million Jury Verdict in Richmond Circuit Court
- Malpractice Reform Would Save Little Money, Harm Patients Already Injured
- Surgical Mistake Reportedly Led to Rep. Murtha’s Death
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Firm News
- New Hospital Plans to Decrease Number of Beds, Will Quality Improve?
Posted on 3/6/2010 - Use of "safe-surgery checklist" could reduce medical mistakes
Posted on 2/4/2010 - Virginia (VA) Jury Awards $7.5 Million in Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer Case
Posted on 6/5/2009 - West Virginia Family Files Medical Malpractice Suit For Woman’s High Blood Pressure Death
Posted on 4/17/2009 - Virginia Pilot Demands That Dangerous Doctors Be Disciplined
Posted on 4/1/2009
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Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
Why You Shouldn't Waive The Meningococcal Vaccine
20 states now require all new college students to be vaccinated against Meningococcal meningitis prior to enrollment. However, other states still allow students to bypass the vaccination by signing a waiver. Many students pursue this option, because Meningococcal meningitis only strikes 3,000 people in the United States. But when it does strike, the resulting infection is extremely deadly, killing 10 to 12 percent of all those that in infects, sometimes in a matter of hours. Bacterial meningitis is treatable with a number of antibiotics, but effective treatment requires early detection. Even those that survive are left with a reminder of this decision, as 20% will suffer from brain damage, kidney disease, loss of hearing and/or sight, or other complications.
Meningitis is a bacterial infection that is spread through air droplets or direct contact with the infected. Meningitis is characterized by an inflammation of membranes around the brain and spinal cord and can develop suddenly or over time. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. Because of the close quarters that college students, especially those in dorms, keep, they are at increased risk for infection.
The FDA has approved a vaccination called Menactra, which is 83% effective against the infection. Still, in 2006, only 12% of all teenagers were vaccinated. The Center for Disease Control recommends that all children receive the vaccination between the ages of 11 and 18.
Most college students choose not to waive the vaccination. Since Virginia passed a law mandating that all students at four year universities either obtain the vaccination or sign the waiver, the percentage of those vaccinated has jumped from 55% to 95%, according to Dr. Jim Turner at the University of Virginia. Additionally, the vaccination is covered by most insurance plans. Even when the plan will not pay for it, the cost is generally $120.
Menactra does have certain side effects, such as allergic reaction or redness of the injection site. In addition, it has been linked to a few cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which targets the peripheral nervous system and causes a gradual, temporary paralysis. However, this occurs in approximately 1.25 cases out of 1,000,000.
Click here for a map that shows which states require vaccinations and the corresponding rate of infection. Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina require the vaccination, but South Carolina, D.C., and West Virginia do not.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.
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Our Injury Lawyers Have Been Selected For Many Achievements Outlined Below:
Several Injury Attorneys With Our Firm have been included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition (Lewis-Injury Law, Shapiro-Railroad Injury Law) and been Named As Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009 Ed.)(Less than 5% of Outstanding Lawyers are Chosen); also selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009); named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Virginia by ATLA (Shapiro - 2009), and our law firm was the first Injury Law Firm in Virginia Invited to Join Primerus, a select group of Highly Ethical, Respected Law Firms .
In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained, what was then, the largest record verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person (46 Million Dollar Verdict, with Interest, 60 Million Dollars, Settled confidentially during appeal). Click on icons for more details.
Geographical Areas:
Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.
As to Virginia (VA), this includes: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond (entire area), Petersburg, Roanoke/Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, all areas of the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island, Ashland, Big Stone Gap and any other city/ounty.
As to West Virginia (WV) personal injury claims: Bluefield, Beckley, Bridgeport, Charles Town, Charleston, Fairmont, Huntington, Lewisburg, Madison, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Moundsville, Parkersburg, Ripley, Sutton, Weirton, Wheeling, and any other town or county.
Injury Lawyers licensed in VA, WV, NC, SC, KY & Wash., DC.
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DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, AND THE VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS MENTIONED ON THIS WEBSITE, WHILE ACCURATE, DO NOT REPRESENT WHAT WE MAY OBTAIN FOR YOU IN YOUR CASE.
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
- Retained Surgical Sponge and Subsequent Complications
- Failed Back Surgery
- Failure to Diagnose/ER Doctor/vascular incident (aortic aneurysim)
- Gastric Bypass (stomach stapling) Surgery complications
- Gallbladder Surgery Error
Awarded: $425,000.00 Settlement
Awarded: The case was settled before the trial for 1.25 million dollars.
Awarded: $700,000.00
Awarded: $550,000.00 settlement during mediation.
Awarded: $425,000
FAQs
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
- A family member died in a nursing home, and after talking with members of the staff, it sounds like they died due to nursing home neglect. Should I get a lawyer?
- I have a feeling something is wrong at my family member's nursing home. What should I do if I suspect nursing home abuse or neglect?
- A family member died in a nursing home, and after talking with members of the staff, it sounds like they died due to nursing home neglect. Should I get a lawyer?
What is the Virginia (VA) statute of limitations for personal injury in a medical malpractice case?