Author: Kweku Darfoor

Identity Theft

You might think that identity theft occurs only in Hollywood movies, but you are totally wrong. Identity theft is a crime where a person impersonates someone else by acquiring information such as Social Security Number, date of birth, driver’s license number, bank account number, or any personal information. Some companies may require us to provide these details for verification and records keeping purposes. Companies such as banks, car companies, or real estate companies. Keeping our information safe is not just the responsibility of those companies, but also our own personal responsibility.

How fraudsters steal your identity

There are many ways your identity can be stolen. Below are some of these methods:

1. Phishing – victims are contacted by phone, text, or email. The message will appear like a legitimate message sent by a real company and will ask the victim to enter their personal information. It will also ask you to click a link which will direct you to a website that looks legit. You will then be asked to login using your password (example: you will be asked to login to a false website of your bank and you will be asked to login using your online account username and password).

2. Unsecure websites – before you hit that purchase now button or before you enter your personal details on a website, make sure that it is secure. Check the address bar and make sure the URL begins with an “https” and there’s also a lock symbol.

3. Debit or ATM Card Skimming – this usually happens at ATM machines. A false card slot is placed over the real card slot to copy the card number and a false keypad is used to capture the PIN. Before inserting your card in the card reader and before entering your PIN, check those two components and make sure they are not loose.

It is our responsibility to keep our details secure. Be restrictive as much as you can. Destroy or shred any documents containing your personal information before throwing them. If you do not trust the phone call, email, text message, or if there’s the slightest hint of suspicion, do not respond to the message. Contact the company directly (not the number or email that was provided in the message).

If you think your identity has been stolen, contact all concerned institutions immediately (your bank, insurance company, credit bureau, etc.) and ask them what needs to be done. You can also contact Darfoor Law Firm at 754-800-5657, send us an email at info@darfoorlaw.com, or visit our website www.darfoorlaw.com.

Some injuries during a natural childbirth can’t be avoided and can affect the mother, the baby, or both. But there are some injuries caused by the negligence of the medical professional(s) during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. These injuries can be temporary or can last a lifetime. Some of the common injuries to a newborn baby are fractured collarbone, swelling of the scalp (common and resolves in a few days) and brain injury. Examples of birth injuries to mothers are vaginal or perineal tears, ruptured uterus, and PTSD (Post-natal Traumatic Stress Disorder).

If you or your newborn baby experienced childbirth injuries and they’re caused by the negligence of a medical professional, you may contact the Florida personal injury attorneys of Darfoor Law at 754-800-5657 or info@darfoorlaw.com. You may also visit Darfoor Law website for more information about the firm.

Medical malpractice happens when a medical professional harms or worsens the patient’s condition by failing to follow the accepted standard of practice in the medical community. This incident can be devastating to the patient and the patient’s family.

One of the largest settlements in recent history happened in Florida. The jury awarded Allan Navarro a total of $216.7 million (compensatory damages of $116.7 million and punitive damages of $100.1 million). Navarro visited the ER after experiencing symptoms of stroke. He told the nurses about his family’s history with stroke, but the doctors said he only has sinusitis and prescribed medicines for the said illness. The following day, he had to undergo surgery and was in a coma for almost 3 months.

Examples of medical malpractice:
1) Misdiagnosis
2) Childbirth Injuries
3) Medication Errors
4) Anesthesia Errors
5) Surgery Errors

Keep in mind that not every situation in which one is unhappy with a doctor or other health care professional amounts to malpractice.

If you think you are a victim of medical malpractice or if you are unsure of the situation, you may send us your information at info@darfoorlaw.com for a review of your facts or you may contact us at 754-800-5657 to speak directly to one of your medical malpractice attorneys.

Anesthesia is a treatment preventing patients from feeling pain during a surgical procedure. The three main types of anesthesia are local, regional, and general. Local anesthesia is used for minor surgeries such as a wart or ingrown toenail removal. Regional anesthesia, spinal and epidural, is injected into the spinal fluid (spinal) or an area outside the spinal column (epidural). It is used for invasive surgeries on the lower part of the body like a C-Section. Compared to the other types of anesthesia, general anesthesia has a higher risk of complications.

An anesthesia error can happen in major or common operations. Sometimes, it can cause brain damage, paralysis, or even death. It is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist to provide the right dose of anesthetic to the patient, to monitor the patient’s condition while the procedure is ongoing, and post-operative management. Some examples of anesthesia errors are giving too much or too little anesthetic, giving the wrong anesthesia, and anesthesia awareness (patient is supposed to be asleep or unconscious during the operation but is awake or wakes up). The latter can be a traumatic experience because the patient may feel extreme pain.

If you’re a victim of an anesthesia error or would like to talk about your anesthesiologist’s negligence, you may contact us at 754-800-5657 or send us an email at info@darfoorlaw.com. For more information about the firm, visit us at Darfoor Law.

Misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor incorrectly diagnoses a patient’s illness. This can lead to delayed treatment, incorrect medication, or even death. It is also one of the most common medical malpractice types in the United States.

An example is when a doctor diagnoses a heart attack as indigestion or anxiety. Another example is when the patient is already showing signs of a stroke, but the doctor says it’s only migraine or intoxication.

The rate of misdiagnosed illnesses or percentage of misdiagnosis versus correct is difficult to determine. But experts are saying it is at 40%, which is a frightening number. This number, however, should not prevent us from seeking help from a medical professional.

If you think you are a victim of medical misdiagnosis or if you want to have your case reviewed by medical malpractice attorneys, you can contact us at 754-800-5657 or you can also send us an email at info@darfoorlaw.com. For further information about us, visit us at Darfoor Law.

Surgery, branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of injuries, infections, and other disorders that uses operative manual and instrumental means. It is classified into two: major and minor. According to Merriam-Webster, a minor surgery is a “surgery involving little risk to the life of the patient. Specifically, an operation on the superficial structures of the body or a manipulative procedure that does not involve a serious risk.” while a major surgery is a “surgery involving a risk to the life of the patient, specifically : an operation upon an organ within the cranium, chest, abdomen, or pelvic cavity”. Minor surgery examples are stitching up cuts and removal of skin tags using electrocautery. Heart transplant, mastectomy, and coronary artery bypass are a few examples of a major surgery.

Surgery errors are also called “never events”, mistakes that should never happen. Mistakes like leaving a gauze inside the patient’s body, operating on the wrong body part, and doing a wrong procedure. Surgeries, both minor and major, involve risk. Before starting the surgery, medical providers require patients to sign a consent form indicating the risks of the surgery. Some of the causes of surgery errors are miscommunication, inexperienced surgeon, and contaminated equipment.

Darfoor Law personal injury attorneys will be ready to assist you if you’re a victim of this kind of medical malpractice. You may visit us at Darfoor Law . You can also contact us at 754-800-5657 or email us at info@darfoorlaw.com.

A medicine or medication is used to treat illnesses or diseases and has many types. Some of these are medications for analgesics for pain, antacids, antibiotics for infections, and spermicides for contraception. Medicines can be classified into two: generic and branded. According to fda.gov, “A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use.”.

A medication error is any avoidable event that can cause incorrect medication use or while the medicine is in the control of the health care professional or patient. This error can be caused by miscommunication between a patient and the doctor or between medical professionals, medicines that sound alike, or misreading the doctor’s handwriting. Taking an incorrect medicine might cause allergies, create a new illness or condition, or death. It is very important to ask your doctor, nurse, or any medical professional if you are unsure what medicine to take or if you think the pharmacist gave you the wrong medicine.

We here at Darfoor Law have personal injury attorneys ready to help you if you’re a victim of medication error or any medical malpractice. You may contact us at 754-800-5657 or send us an email to info@darfoorlaw.com. You may also visit Darfoor Law website.

Under statute 13 Article X of Florida’s constitution, the State of Florida has waived its sovereign immunity in tort cases to the extent that an employee of an agency or subdivision of the state (“Agency”) has negligently or wrongfully harmed an individual. The only cases that can be brought up against the state are ones that can be brought up against private citizens. The state will also be liable for any damages to the same extent a private citizen would. However, there is a cap of $200,000 per claim or judgment and $300,000 per incident, if you have multiple claims coming from the same incident. Before you can file a suit against the state, you must file a claim to both the Agency and the Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) and the DFS and either deny the claim in writing.

As we grow older, we face more illness and injury that require surgical intervention. Even without the grace of age, we can face circumstances that require surgical intervention at any point of our lives. While the thought of surgery can be stressful and frightening, most surgical procedures are completed without complications, as medical professionals are highly trained and capable of complying with the standard of care to get patients on their way to recovery. However, there are instances in which surgeries do not go as planned and complications can take place. When a complication occurs during or after a surgery that is the result of negligence or poor quality of care, victims may be entitled to compensation from a surgical negligence claim.

Some examples of negligent surgery claims are;

• Failed/incorrect procedures
• Unnecessary surgeries
• Delay in surgery
• Wrong-site surgery
• Failure to remove foreign objects
• Perforated organs
• Infections
• Poor post-operative care; and much more.

Victims of surgical negligence may suffer emotional and financial losses, allowing them to make a claim for compensation to pay for pain and suffering, continuous treatment, in-home equipment needed post procedure, loss of income, psychological damage and other special damages.To make a surgical negligence claim, it must be proven that an injury was sustained and would have been avoided, if not for poor care. Handling these claims alone can be tough, which is why it is important to retain legal services from an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Contact Darfoor Law Firm at 1-833-DARFOOR for a free consultation on your surgical negligence claim.

Having a negative surgical experience can be traumatizing, particularly if additional injuries are sustained that could have been avoided. If you have experienced surgical negligence and would like to share your story, please leave a comment on our Twitter page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Dealing with an illness can be difficult on its own. Once you leave the doctors office or hospital, your focus is on obtaining the prescribed medications, going home and resting. Unfortunately, medication errors sometimes occur at pharmacies, which can prolong your sickness or even cause more harm. Pharmacy negligence claims can result from pharmacists giving a patient an unintended medication due to poor communication, carelessness, understaffing, system error and ineffective precautionary measures. As a result, pharmacists may provide the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, wrong directions or fail to inform patients of potential allergies and drug/food interactions. Medication errors can be serious, as not only are patients deprived of necessary medication but they are at risk of alternative reactions to unintended drugs or incorrect dosing.

When a patient suffers injuries as a result of a medication error, they may have the right to file a malpractice claim, though not all complications warrant legal action. It must be proven that the pharmacy’s negligence is directly responsible for an injury for the claim to be valid. The plaintiff must also prove that the pharmacy has a duty of care, breached that duty of care, directly caused the injury and that the injury has caused financial or emotional damages. Damages for malpractice claims based on negligence can include medical and disability expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and punitive damages.

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to pharmacy negligence, contact Darfoor Law Firm at 1-833-DARFOOR. Our Florida malpractice attorney can help to recover the compensation you deserve.