A report recently released by CRICO Strategies, a division of the Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions, focuses on medical malpractice cases brought because of diagnostic errors. CRICO maintains a database with information about more than 300,000 malpractice cases, both open and closed. For this study, they analyzed more than 23,000 malpractice cases […]
Author Archives: Steve Heisler
Liquid Nicotine — A Little Can Be Lethal
Would you leave a bottle of bleach within the reach of a toddler? Parents know to store household chemicals behind locked cabinet doors or on a high shelf, aware and wary of accidental poisonings that befall curious children. And yet, too many parents are leaving containers of significantly more toxic and enticing liquids where children […]
“It Was A Dark And Stormy Night . . .”
We’re barely past the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. On January 30, Baltimore will have only 10 hours of daylight, and even by the end of the first quarter that will increase to only 12.5 hours. That means a lot of us are likely to be doing most of our driving in […]
McDonald’s: He Was Lovin’ It . . . Until He Got The Ticket
Recently a motorist from Alabama was pulled over in Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta. Confused, since he was pretty sure he hadn’t been breaking any laws, the man was soon surprised to discover that he was being ticketed for “eating while driving.” “Maybe I was enjoying the burger too much, I needed to tone it down,” […]
Got Blood?
It’s not unusual to be driving down the highway when you suddenly hear emergency sirens and glimpse flashing lights as an ambulance streaks past, carrying an accident victim to the nearest trauma center. You might wonder about the circumstances, maybe even offer up a little prayer for the person inside. What you should be praying […]
Putting An End To DUI Deaths
ENDUI . . . No, it’s not pronounced on-dou-ee and it’s not a fancy French sausage. It’s pronounced end-dee-you-eye and it’s an app newly developed by the Maryland Highway Safety Office as one more weapon in the arsenal intended to save lives which could be taken by drunk drivers. ENDUI is an app which can […]
‘Tis The Season
This time of year, newspapers and social media post photos of homes lavishly decorated and lit for the Christmas season. Homeowners associations often sponsor decorating contests, drawing sightseers to “oooh” and “aahhh” as they slowly wind through neighborhood roads illuminated by all manner of electric light displays. What doesn’t always make the news are the […]
The Dangers Of Space Heaters
As cold weather settles in again, a tragic accident in Westminster, Maryland, reminds us that space heaters, when improperly used, can be the cause of serious injuries, property damage and death. Early in the morning on November 9, Bernie Toporzycki opened the door of a backyard shed and was met with a huge explosion. Mr. […]
Fighting Lung Cancer In Maryland
What is the most deadly form of cancer in the U.S.? Lung cancer. In fact, lung cancer accounts for about one-third of all cancer deaths — more than breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer combined, according to the American Cancer Society. And what causes lung cancer? 90% of lung cancers develop from the use […]
Hot Tub Infections A Hot Topic
Maybe you’re one of those folks who have tickets to board a cruise ship in Baltimore to escape the chilly days of winter in the Northeast. We couldn’t blame you for wanting to sail to a hotter climate, but if you spend part of that cruise sitting in a hot tub, you may come back […]