Posts by Tracy Liberatore

Medical Malpractice in 2026: Key Legal Factors Malpractice Attorneys Must Prioritize As we approach 2026, the medical malpractice legal landscape continues to evolve in ways that will materially affect how attorneys evaluate, prepare, and litigate claims. From shifts in legal standards to legislative and tort reform pressures in state legislatures, medical malpractice practitioners must remain…

Serious Patient Falls Increase During Discharge: Emerging Liability Risks and Clinical Duties The relationship between hospital discharge practices and patient safety has long been discussed in clinical literature, but recent findings from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority bring the issue into sharper focus for both healthcare providers and the lawyers who represent patients and institutions.…

Introduction Medical malpractice litigation in the long-term care context often hinges as much on procedural maneuvering as on the underlying claims of negligence. The recent decision in O’Shea v. Loyalsock Rehabilitation Center, LLC, Aristacare Health Services, Embassy Loyalsock, LLC, and Embassy Healthcare offers a detailed roadmap for litigators navigating preliminary objections, arbitration clauses, and the…

In 2024, the Joint Commission released its Sentinel Event Data Annual Review, revealing a troubling statistic: traumatic patient falls reached the highest number ever recorded, representing 49% of all sentinel events. For the fifth consecutive year, patient falls topped the list of the most frequently reported sentinel events in healthcare. The trajectory is unmistakable—falls in…

Preventable Medical Errors Spike in 2024: Legal and Safety Implications for Healthcare Providers In 2024, the rate of sentinel events—serious patient safety incidents resulting in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm—saw a troubling increase. These events, often preventable with proper safeguards, remain a central focus for both healthcare risk management and medical malpractice litigation.…