Michael Barszcz - TheMDJD

How to Practice Roadside Safety

When a car has stopped on a busy road or highway, it’s common to see other vehicles stop to help. But while this generous impulse is entirely praiseworthy, it can lead to further accidents. High-traffic roads are as dangerous for innocent bystanders as they are for any occupant of a speeding vehicle.

A recent story from the Orlando Sentinel illustrates the potential danger. In January, a Texas man pulled over to help a driver whose car had run out of gas. As the man stood by the other vehicle, a Chevrolet SUV drifted too far to the side of the road and collided with both cars, killing the man.

Anyone who stops his or her car near a street should observe a few simple safety rules to avoid possible injury or worse:

• Never walk on the street itself. If you must stop your vehicle for any reason, pull it as far to the right side of the road as you can or pull into a parking lot or other safe area if possible.
• Avoid getting out of your vehicle while stopped near a highway. If you must get out of your vehicle in an emergency, use the passenger side. Be aware of the flow of traffic at all times.
• If you see a car accident, the best way to help is to park in a safe area and call 911. If you are involved in an accident yourself, try to move your car to the side of the road and turn on the hazard lights to reduce the likelihood of an accident.

If you have been involved in a serious road accident—whether as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian—it is in your best interest to contact a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., is a personal injury attorney in Orlando whose areas of practice range from car accidents to medical malpractice. Call (407) 329-3923 today to schedule an appointment.

Gene Hackman Struck by Motorist on Florida Highway

Anyone who has ever driven on Florida’s highways knows that these busy, multi-lane routes are not for the faint of heart. But pedestrians may be even more at risk than drivers and passengers: Florida is among the most dangerous states for pedestrian accidents in the country.

On January 16, veteran actor Gene Hackman discovered this for himself when he was hit from behind by a car while riding his bicycle. The 81-year-old screen icon, who has been in retirement from the film industry for nearly a decade, was riding along a scenic stretch of highway in the Florida Keys when the accident happened. Hackman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to his body and leg, and released later the same day.

While Hackman did not suffer serious injury, many others are not as fortunate. Florida’s highways are not designed to accommodate pedestrians, and their high speed limits mean that pedestrians and cyclists alike are vulnerable to potential injuries. Consider these telling facts:

·         Florida’s I-19 is considered the single most dangerous highway in the United States for pedestrians. According to an NBC study, approximately a hundred pedestrians were killed on or near I-19 between 1998 and 2003. 

·         The rate of bicycle accidents is also high. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 99 Florida cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2009, and 76 in 2010. However, in 2010, the total number of bicycle accidents rose to nearly 5,000.

·         The four cities with the highest hit-and-run rates in the United States are all located in Florida. In order, they are Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami. In Orlando, more than 550 pedestrians have been killed in traffic accidents over the last 10 years.

Has your life—or the life of a loved one—been shattered by a driver’s recklessness? Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., is a personal injury attorney who practices in car accidents, medical malpractice, and other types of personal injury claims. To schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case, call our offices today at (407) 329-3923. 

Learn More About Our Recent Blog Topics, Visit These Additional Resources

Are you looking for more information on laws against texting?  Would you like to learn more about the risks of using anesthesia during surgery? If you’d like to read more about these topics and our other recent articles, then check out the following resources:

• USA Today published this opinion article by founder Al Neuharth with his take on Florida’s recent ban on pediatrician inquiries regarding home firearm safety.
• Learn more about U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke’s decision to block the recent Florida law banning pediatricians from asking about home firearm safety.
• In this article from The New York Times, learn more about the devastating consequences of texting while driving.
• The Herald-Tribune discusses how Florida compares to other states when it comes to traffic safety.
• Find out more about the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) and their efforts to maximize the safe use of medications.
• The National Patient Safety Partnership, which includes the AHA, other health care organizations, and government agencies, urged providers to adopt practices that will reduce medication errors in clinical settings. See their recommendations here.
• Read the tragic story of a Florida teen who died during routine cosmetic surgery due to complications from anesthesia.
• At SunSentinel.com, read more about how Florida lacks a booster seat law.
• If you are interested in learning more about the class action suit challenging the constitutionality of red light cameras as a violation of due process and equal protection, take a look at this article from the Miami Herald.
• For a summary of Florida bicycle laws, take a look at this guide of important bicycle traffic laws from the Florida Department of Transportation.
• Read this informative article on the history of anesthesia and a detailed look at some of the most serious complications that can arise from the use of anesthetics.

If you require the services of a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney, call Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., at (407) 329-3923 to schedule a consultation today.

Staying Safe When It Comes to Your Prescriptions

Every year, as many as 98,000 deaths are attributed to medical errors that happen in hospitals - according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention. This means that more people die as a result of medical mistakes than from car crashes, AIDS, or breast cancer. A significant number of these deaths are attributable to medication errors, which cause more deaths annually than workplace injuries.

Despite the seriousness and scope of the problem, however, medication errors have never received the degree of attention of many other grave public health issues. According to the American Medical Association, the most common types of medication errors are:

• Insufficient or incomplete patient information, such as misinformation concerning other medicines that patients are taking, allergies, or previous diagnoses and lab results.
  
  
• Out-of-date drug information, such as lack of up-to-date warnings.
  
  
• Miscommunication of prescriptions. This may involve poor handwriting, confusion between drugs with similar names, misuse of zeroes and decimal points, confusion of metric and other dosing units, and inappropriate abbreviations.
  
  
• Lack of appropriate labeling.
  
  
• Distracting environmental factors such as lighting, heat, noise, or interruptions.

Some of the most common errors —a pharmacist misreads a hastily written prescription; a patient fails to inform doctors about a crucial allergy; a harried physician prescribes an inappropriate medication—can lead to the untimely death of a loved one. In the interest of reducing the likelihood of such errors, organizations such as the National Patient Safety Partnership have created guidelines for the use of prescriptions for the benefit of both patients and providers.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury or even death due to medical malpractice, please contact Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., a medical malpractice lawyer, for a legal evaluation. Call (407) 329-3923 today to schedule a consultation or visit our website for more information about the legal services provided.

Knowing the Risks and Complications Involved with Anesthesia

Florida boasts some of the best doctors and hospitals in the nation. The combination of training and advanced technology allows these doctors, nurses, and health care professionals to provide excellent care for their patients. Yet, even with today’s state-of-the-art medical technology, there are still risks associated with health care. This includes the field of anesthesiology, which is employed locally, regionally, or generally in many procedures. Anesthesia is used in many procedures, from pulling wisdom teeth to open heart surgery. Learn the risks involved with anesthesia, and if you suspect wrongful death, or medical malpractice, as a result of complications involving anesthesia, then you should speak with a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case.

Local Anesthesia
Anesthesia applied locally is safe when administered properly. Systemic toxicity, caused by your body absorbing too much of the anesthetic into the blood stream, is the greatest risk posed by local anesthesia. This can affect core body functions, such as temperature regulation, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Doctors are required to have emergency care immediately available even when applying local anesthetics because of these risks.

Regional Anesthesia
Regional anesthetics carry the same risk of systemic toxicity as local anesthetics, but it can also pose additional dangers. Regional anesthetics are commonly applied to nerve bundles or to the cerebrospinal fluid within the spinal cord. Aside from the risk of swelling and infection as a result of the injection, these procedures can result in nerve damage, causing persistent or permanent weakness, numbness, or pain.

General Anesthesia
General anesthetics must be described as the most dangerous, though complications are uncommon. Because general anesthesia affects the entire body, throat reflexes that prevent fluids from entering the lungs, known as aspiration, are suppressed. Endotracheal tubes (ET) are inserted into the respiratory tract of the patient to prevent stomach contents from entering the lungs. Aside from complications related to ET tubes, such as a sore throat or damage to the teeth and lips, there are serious risks from general anesthesia that include irregularities in heartbeat and blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. Serious illness and death are rare during general anesthesia, though death occurs in about 1 in every 200,000 healthy patients who undergo surgery where general anesthesia is used; such was the case recently with a Florida teen who underwent cosmetic surgery in 2008.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury or even death due to medical malpractice, please contact Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., a medical malpractice lawyer, for a legal evaluation. Mr. Barszcz’s medical background is an important asset in these types of cases, and he will be able to give you unique guidance and representation. Call (407) 329-3923 to schedule a consultation today.