How serious of an issue is medical malpractice in the United States? By almost any empirical measure, the answer to that question is sobering, if not flatly troubling: Mistakes made by medical professionals that contribute directly to patient injuries are common and persistent in medical facilities across the country. […]
It is certainly food for thought to see the word “only” in a sentence that refers to the 2,739 traffic deaths that reportedly occurred on California roadways in 2010. By any measuring stick, that number would seem notably high and remarkably sad. It equates, on average, to more than seven people dying in motor vehicle accidents on state roads every single day of the year. […]
It depends on who you talk to. Whether things are getting better or worse on California’s highly varied roadways — that is, from a safety perspective — seems to be, well, variable and just a bit hard to pin down with any certainty. […]
Whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, or, driving a private passenger vehicle, every time you get on the road in Los Angeles, you’re at-risk for an accident. It’s no secret the streets pose a danger to everyone on them, and, the statistics bear this fact out. In fact, City of Angels drivers kill bicyclists and pedestrians way above the national average, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The reason? It’s simply a matter of sheer exposure, where there’s such density, 7,000 people per square mile, there are going to be more collisions. Injury and fatality crashes are quite commonplace, [...]
You’ve probably heard the cliche, “nobody walks in L.A.” Well, the numbers certainly don’t support that misnomer, and what’s worse, the grim statistics demonstrate quite a different, grim reality. Los Angeles is only second the the Big Apple in the numbers of pedestrian deaths. In the latest figures available, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that about 100 pedestrians are killed each year in the City of Angels, that’s not many less than NYC, which had nearly 130 pedestrian deaths. Bicyclists certainly don’t fare much better in L.A., and, if you’re a male, over 20 years of age, and live in [...]
What do you think is the most dangerous and deadly driving condition? Is it snow or ice? Nope; turns out its rain. So if it seems rainy commutes are the most dangerous times to drive, it’s not just your imagination; it’s a statistical fact. A new analysis of federal data shows rain causes more driving fatalities than snow in 39 out of 50 states. In fact, car accidents are the deadliest weather hazard in the United States – whether caused by rain, snow, fog or wind – and kill about 7,000 Americans a year. Over eleven years, California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System and National Oceanic [...]
Is it any wonder that many millions of Americans view would-be exculpatory statements made by automotive executives at press conferences and before congressional bodies with a strong measure of cynicism? How much backpedaling, restating, rationalizing and no-comment responses have American consumers grown accustomed to hearing over the years? […]
We alluded to the seemingly intractable problem of misdiagnosis in medical facilities across the United States in our immediately preceding blog post. In today’s entry, we spotlight some of the catalysts that notably contribute to diagnostic error. Here’s an initial point to note on that subject: There are lots — truly, lots — of reasons why a wrong medical diagnosis results following a patient exam. A recent article notes some of the more prominent culprits that underlie wrong diagnostic calls. […]
It’s certainly reasonable to assume that the bottle of pills you’re now carrying out of a Ventura County pharmacy that were prescribed by your doctor contain the correct medication for dealing with your diagnosed medical condition, right? If you want an updated answer to that question, one is likely forthcoming relatively soon, and we will be sure to pass along the details. The influential U.S. Institute of Medicine is slated to weigh in next month with a revised report regarding the degree to which medical misdiagnosis is — and persistently continues to be — a problem in American medicine. […]
On average, California state regulators spent nearly $270,000 per day — that is, every day — on programs aimed at promoting highway safety during a recent year. That equated to $98 million-plus doled out during 2013, with hopeful expectations being obviously attached to the disbursement. […]
