|
Glossary of Medical
Malpractice Law Terms
A
B C
D E
F
G H I
J
K L M
N
O P
Q R S
T
U V W
X Y Z #
- P -
Legal
Glossaries Index
Percocet:
A prescription pain reliever containing oxycodone and acetaminophen. Classified
in the same category as Oxycontin, Percocet contains no more than 5mg of
oxycodone.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Peritoneal
mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneum, a sac lining the abdomen, and has no
known cure.
Prescription Error:
A form of medical malpractice that occurs when a patient does not receive the
appropriate medication, at the right dose, at the right time. A Florida
prescription error can often cause harm to a patient, and in some circumstances,
can even lead to death. A Florida prescription error is considered medical
malpractice when a medical professional's negligence or mistake led to patient
harm.
Physical Dependence:
A physiological need for a substance, the absence of which leads to withdrawal.
Physical dependence is distinguishable from addiction in that addiction also
involves mental fixation.
Physical therapy:
Therapy designed to improve mobility and keep muscles stretched.
Plaintiff:
The party who initiates a legal action; in a personal injury lawsuit, the person
who alleges that he or she has suffered monetary damages due the negligence of
another party.
Pleadings:
Written documents stating the allegations and claims of the opposing parties in
a legal dispute.
Pleural mesothelioma:
A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Occurs in
the pleura, a sac lining the lungs, and has no known cure.
PPA:
Short for Phenylpropanolamine, a drug which was used in many over-the-counter
cold medicines and weight loss drugs. The FDA issued a recall of PPA after a
study linked it to a higher risk of hemhorragic stroke.
Prempro:
A type of hormone replacement therapy that combines estrogen and progestin. A
study that sought to determine the effectiveness of long-term Prempro® use was
halted when researchers discovered that it led to an increased risk of breast
cancer, stroke, and blood clots.
Preponderance of evidence:
The relative weight, credit and value of the evidence presented by adversaries
in a trial. In a civil trial, the jury is charged with reaching a verdict based
on this standard, as opposed to the "reasonable doubt" standard in a
criminal trial.
Professional Services:
Services for which a person is licensed, trained and qualified to perform in the
capacity of a healthcare provider.
Propulsid:
A prescription heartburn medication used to relieve the symptoms of nighttime
heartburn associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Propulsid was
recalled by the FDA after a report linked it to heart rhythm abnormalities and
some deaths.
|
