A hospital's emergency room is where people go when they require immediate medical care. They cannot wait for an appointment with their primary care physician because their condition puts them at immediate risk. They have pain or other concern symptoms that they need...

“Never events” in medicine refer to a category of entirely preventable mistakes – the kind of mistakes that are so serious that they can kill or leave patients with permanent injuries. The term “never event” is used to emphasize the fact that proper adherence to...

When you consider the symptoms of a heart attack, what is the first thing you think of? Odds are good that you think of chest pain. This is one of the most common symptoms, and it’s what a lot of people – and doctors – are looking for. But this focus can cause...

Surgery is dangerous for a variety of reasons. Some people have bad reactions to anesthesia. Any cut in the body increases someone's risk of infection. People can have unusual side effects or struggle to physically heal from surgery. There is also the possibility that...

When someone initially goes to the doctor, they may have been thinking about their health condition for days, weeks or even months. They may have spent time trying to figure out what was wrong on their own. They may have asked other family members and friends. In...

You may have heard that a number of states have enacted medical “apology laws.” These are laws that limit the use of doctor’s expressions of sympathy, regret or even outright apologies for negligence or error if a patient or surviving family members bring a...