Articles

COA reverses med-mal ruling in favor of doctor, hospital

The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded a judgement in favor of an East Chicago hospital and doctor after finding the Medical Malpractice Act did not govern a claim alleging the doctor negligently shared a patient’s health information.

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Attorney who neglected med mal case suspended for year

An Indianapolis attorney currently under an indefinite suspension for failing to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation has now been suspended for one year after neglecting an elderly client’s medical malpractice case, leading to its dismissal.

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7th Circuit rules for paramedic in patient-arrestee’s death

Case law does not clearly establish that a paramedic can violate a patient-arrestee’s Fourth Amendment rights by exercising medical judgment to administer a sedative in a medical emergency, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday.

The court ruled in the paramedic’s favor on all counts brought by the estate of a man sedated during a naked public rampage.

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COA headed to Fort Wayne to hear med-mal appeal

The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel to Fort Wayne this week to hear oral argument in a medical malpractice appeal. Judges Edward Najam, Paul Mathias and Terry Crone will hear Cindy and Ron Glon v. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Inc., 18A-CT-00049 at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Allen County Courthouse.

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Judge concerned about doctor’s contradictory affidavit

An Indiana Court of Appeals judge found it troubling that a member of a medical review panel that unanimously found defendants breached their duty of care to a patient could later issue an affidavit in which he changed his mind relating to a doctor accused of medical malpractice.

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Changes being considered for medical malpractice claims

More medical malpractice cases could be filed directly in state trial courts without first having to go through the exhaustive and mandatory medical review process under legislation pending in the Indiana Senate. A proposal in the Indiana House of Representatives aims to raise the caps on damages and insurer liability.

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DTCI: The medical review panel process

The medical review panel process plays an important role in medical malpractice litigation, including separating meritorious claims from meritless claims. The panel process and its effect on subsequent or concurrent litigation in court are the subjects of numerous debates and a large body of case law on a variety of issues. This article addresses two such issues: (1) a medical provider’s right to anonymity when a party files a motion for preliminary determination during the panel process; and (2) whether the statutory 90-day period following the issuance of the medical review panel’s opinion should be added to any time remaining under the statute of limitations before the plaintiff files a claim with the Indiana Department of Insurance.

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