It’s another science-versus-commerce face-off. Last Friday, the Institute of Medicine released a report commissioned by the FDA that proposes a vastly different and more rigorous approval process for medical devices. In the wake of several recent, well-publicized recalls of devices causing grievous injury, such as hip implants, the report has generated attention well beyond the….
Continue ReadingArchives for July 2011
At What Price Does a Hospital Get to Compromise Patient Privacy?
Kimberly White had a hysterectomy with a variety of attendant issues she thought were private matters between her and her health-care providers. She says Tufts Medical Center is responsible for proving her wrong. As reported in The Boston Globe, she sued the hospital and a primary care doctor for allegedly faxing sensitive medical history documents….
Continue ReadingNew Law Requires Urgent Care Clinics to Post Prices
It’s impossible to be a conscientious consumer of medical services if you don’t know how much a procedure, an office visit or a lab test will cost. If you live in Florida, however, and are in need of urgent care, the mystery about costs is about to lift. As reported on the St. Petersburg Times’….
Continue ReadingThe Effects of False Positives and False Diagnoses
There’s no shortage of stories about the dire effects of a missed diagnosis. But what about the repercussions of a false diagnosis? Two doctors writing on MedPage Today say that the medical industrial complex should be equally concerned about the number of patients diagnosed with a specific disease who do not, in fact, suffer from….
Continue ReadingBeware Drug Companies that Pretend to Be Your Social Media Friend
Technology is a wonderful thing. Most of us rely on it to do our jobs, remain informed, communicate and plan and participate in recreational activities. But like a wonder drug that can render a dread disease a manageable irritant, technology has side effects and some of them are dark, indeed. Writing on his health news….
Continue ReadingAnother Study Shows Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Problems
Aching back, stiff fingers, cranky knees… We like to self-prescribe common painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and celecoxib (Celebrex) for all manner of discomfort. But a new study from the University of Florida casts renewed doubt on the long-term use of these drugs known as NSAIDS–nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It found that people with….
Continue ReadingGuidelines to Prevent Infections in the Doctor’s Office
Hospitals are subject to clear standards and procedures for infection control, but germs don’t care whether they live in an operating room or a medical office exam room. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do. It recently issued “Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care” for all manner….
Continue ReadingA Poster that Makes the Point about Unnecessary Angioplasty
Okay, it might be a touch sarcastic. But this poster is backed by good science. How did it come about? Read the back story on this cardiology website.
Continue ReadingMalpractice Insurance Companies Fight Over Every Dollar
Never underestimate the doggedness of an insurance company in guarding its own treasury from malpractice claimants. Even when the patient wins, you can often count on a multi-year battle in the appeals courts to collect what you are owed. For our firm’s client Sharon Burke, an eleven-year odyssey has finally ended in her favor, after….
Continue ReadingMalpractice in the Operating Room: Who Is Responsible?
It was supposed to be a routine hernia operation. But then the surgeon ordered the anesthesiologist to give the patient a blood-thinning drug. The anesthesiologist, who wasn’t familiar with the drug, injected the drug directly into the patient’s i.v. line, as soon as the surgeon ordered it. That was a double mistake, and it started….
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