AboutPaul D. Friedman, M.A., Ph.D., J.D. Expertise I have been a practicing civil trial attorney since 1989 dealing primarily with malpractice issues. I litigate very select medical malpractice cases on behalf of patients or their families. I am a Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. I am also Certified in Injury and Wrongful Death by the Arizona State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.
In addition to my law degree, I received a Master of Arts in Bioethics and a Doctorate of Philosophy involving Medical Ethics. Because I am also an Adjunct Professor in Research and Medical Ethics at a medical school, I routinely consult with physicians and hospitals regarding medical ethics issues in an effort to improve patient care.
I can answer questions dealing with medical ethics principles. I can also respond to questions regarding potential malpractice issues.
Experience Experience in the area I have been a practicing trial attorney since 1989 and I have a masters degree in bioethics and a doctorate of philosophy regarding comparative ethics.
Organizations State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of Colorado (inactive)
District of Columbia Bar (inactive)
Federal Bar
Licensed in Arizona District Court
Licensed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
licensed in the United States Supreme Court American Bar Association National Board of Trial Advocacy American Association for Justice Arizona Trial Lawyers Association American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Kennedy Institute of Ethics National Association of Realtors
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Arts 1985
Juris Doctorate 1989
Master of Arts in Bioethics 2004 Doctorate of Philosophy 2006
Awards and Honors Phi Beta Kappa
Multiple Who's Who
Publications A list of my copyrighted publications and presentations is contained at WWW.EXPERTETHICS.COM
Question My mother recently went into the hospital with pneumonia and got a staph infection in her lung. She was put on a heavy antibiotic and sent to a nursing home rehab until the last day of her antibiotic. On the last day of the antibiotic, my mother was released and then had to be rushed back to the hospital within the week from her kidneys shutting down. She was admitted into MICU where she almost died. The doctor told my sister and I that our mother's kidneys shut down because she still had the staph infection. My mother is 70 years old and was fully functional before the end of July (when she was first admitted into the hospital#. Now, my mother has to have kidney dialysis three times a week and I have recently had to put her in a nursing home because she cannot do anything for herself #walk, dress, bathe). I feel like the hospital or nursing home rehab, or both should be held accountable because my mother should have been tested before being released to make sure the staph infection was gone. Do you think my mother has a case and should find an attorney?
Answer Vickie,
I think there are multiple answers to your question but first let me tell you I am sorry about your mother's health.
The question you asked is whether your mother should have been released. It sounds like your mother had a chronic infection when she was released and this should be easy to prove by the lab results. The more difficult problem is whether releasing your mother caused her kidneys to shut down. You are going to have to hire an infectious disease physician or a nephrologist to give an opinion regarding this issue.
Also, you may be wondering if the staph infection itself was below the standard of care and a cause for liability. Again, an infectious disease physician could answer this question but some infections are inevitable in a hospital setting while others are caused by inadequate sterilization.
I do suggest you speak to a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney in your area.
