On behalf of Hastings Law Firm posted in Doctor Errors on Wednesday, December 24, 2014.

Although not much has been discussed concerning Melissa Rivers’ plan to file a medical malpractice claim on behalf of her late mother, Joan Rivers, changes are already underway at the clinic that she was treated at shortly before her death. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently received an action plan from the clinic that outlines how it intends to avoid doctor errors and other negligent acts in the future. So far, the center has acknowledged that it is an acceptable plan.

Our Texas readers may recall the last time we discussed Joan Rivers’ death and the alleged mistakes that might have led to her death on Oct. 30, 2014 (“Suspecting medical malpractice, Melissa Rivers to file lawsuit”). Since then, CMMS has uncovered multiple errors that could have possibly contributed to Joan River’s death. For instance, it noted that one of the attending physicians photographed Joan Rivers with his cell phone while she was under anesthesia. Another implication involved paltry medical record keeping.

One of the changes to be implemented involves receiving explicit consent from patients for all of the procedures that are performed. Its policy concerning patients who blue code are also being updated, which should address the proper care and action that should be taken should a patient’s life be on the line. These changes must be reviewed by all employees every three months.

While it can be encouraging to see an institution commit to making changes after a patient’s death, it’s easy to wonder why certain safety protocols weren’t there in the first place. Understandably, Texas families who have lost a loved one because of doctor errors may take little comfort from changes following a death before it occurred in the first place. One option that families of fatal victims might consider is a medical malpractice claim. While a victim’s estate can be rightfully compensated following the successful litigation of such a claim, a family may finally be able to find a sense of closure.

Source: my9nj.com, Colleen Long, Dec. 16, 2014