Not all medical devices are safe. Patient harm can occur when a device malfunctions, or otherwise causes harm. When a device is deemed dangerous, manufacturers usually issue a device recall. As patients, we should know if we have a dangerous medical device implanted in our bodies, or if we use a dangerous device to monitor […]
Patient Safety
Sales Reps Helping Surgeons in the OR – Is this Safe?
It’s logical to assume there will be many medical staff members in the operating room during a surgical procedure. Everyone expects that in addition to the surgeon(s), there will be anesthesiologists, nurses, and perhaps doctors in training. However, did you know there are often medical device sales reps helping surgeons in the OR? Why are […]
How Do You Get C. Diff Infections?
Many of us think of hospitals as sterile places, kept immaculately clean, free of germs. And certainly, no one goes into the hospital expecting to get even sicker from a bacterial infection. However, hospitals are not kept as clean as they should be, exposing patients to dangerous germs. One such germ, Clostridium difficile (often referred […]
Dangers of Black-Market Medications – More Common Than you Think
I think it’s safe to say that most of us assume the medications we get at the pharmacy or hospital are actually the drugs they are supposed to be. Most people would not even think of checking authenticity. But what if you took a medication, at home or in the hospital, that didn’t contain the […]
Handwashing in Healthcare Could Save Your Life!
Imagine you saw something disgusting on your hands, such as a bit of feces or blood. You would not hesitate for even a second. You would be at the sink, scrubbing away the yuckiness. It’s gross and seems dangerous – of course you’d want to wash it off immediately. But what if there is something […]