As the recent Ebola scare seems to have subsided, we have a rest from the outcries of many onlookers who question the handling of such serious cases and focus on need for astute measures to prevent an outbreak such as is running rampant in west Africa. But it is unlikely that the courts will see any measures take from the effected or the worried onlookers since Texas has enacted strict measures limiting the liability of treatment facilities. Read this article in The Texas Observer, also found in The Guardian, reporting on where we stand in relation to our government and corporate health … [Read more...]
Casualties of the “Texas Miracle” Economy – the Dead and Injured
The workers who continue to build the "Texas Miracle" economy that Texas statesmen claim responsibility for suffer the consequences of stripped-down recovery plans and limited legal rights. The fallen and/or their families face a bewildering bureaucracy, unwinnable disputes, and a government that does little to protect them. The statistics offer a compelling story and the Texas Tribune shares these along with the stories of seven Texas workers and their families who, despite their ardent work ethic and dedication to their communities now face a startling new day of dismay. Read the full … [Read more...]
Hospital Safety in DFW – How does your hospital rank?
Dallas Regional Medical Center of Mesquite ranks best while Fort Worth’s John Peter Smith ranks last according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas Regional is best in the metroplex and second best in the state regarding preventable complications while John Peter Smith ranks last in the state with a 370 percent increase in likelihood of the occurrence of a preventable complication. Such complications could range in anything from bed sores to infections to hemorrhages. The Dallas Morning News analyzed nearly six million records from the past two years of data available from 320 short-term, … [Read more...]
Physicians Observations Preceed Generic Drug Recall
Cleveland Clinic’s cardiologist, Dr. Harry Lever, noticed repeat occurrences patients reporting chest pain when switched off of brand name Toprol and onto generic equivalents of this beta blocker used to treat high blood pressure. Once returned to Toprol brand version of the drug, the chest pains disappear. Dr. Lever reported this to the FDA but had no proving evidence aside from his observations. Sadly, his observations had a base as we now see two large Indian manufacturers, Wockhardt and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, announcing recalls of more than 100,000 bottles because their products were … [Read more...]
Internal Stir Between Marketing and Safety for Blood Thinning Drug
The generic blood thinning agent used for decades stands to be replaced as new drugs emerge that claim to need less focus on monitoring blood levels in users. As these competing new drugs hit the market, one known as Pradaxa, has experienced a stir amongst its internal factions, those whose interests are in marketing and those whose concerns are safety in usage. While grossing over $2 billion in sales since its approval in 2010 and having been prescribed to some 850,000 patients who have received prescriptions, Pradaxa has been linked to over 1,000 deaths. The concerns of an internal study and … [Read more...]
Patient Injury Reaches 33% in Skilled Nursing Facilities
One out of three patients suffer some form of injury according to a report released March 3, 2014 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These injuries could result from medical error, infection, or other harm related to their treatment. An article published in Pro Publica reports that doctors interviews state that nearly 60% of these injuries were preventable and more than half of the patients injured required re-admittance to the hospital. This is a testimony of the troubles caused to the patients as well as the overall cost increase due to preventable errors and oversight. … [Read more...]
Medical Board’s Cases Against Doctors on the Rise
Texas Medical Board Cases Against Doctors Rise 76% in 10 Years This report by Bill Hethcock of the Dallas Business Journal, Feb 12, 2014, reports that this is a result of the tort reform legislation of 2001. This benefits healthcare professionals due to a lack of aggressive pursuit on the part of the state agency, much to the detriment of patients who have suffered damages. The reform puts the ball in the court of state government who in turn manages poorly in place of the former method where private attorneys would defend the patient’s interests backed by an economic incentive to fuel a … [Read more...]
FDA Warnings on High Dosages of Acetaminophen
The FDA is asking doctors to stop prescribing combination medications that contain more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per pill, because of long-standing concerns about liver damage. The move, announced Tuesday, is one of a series of actions the FDA is taking to limit high-dose use of the popular painkiller. FDA already has asked drug-makers to stop producing combination prescription medications with higher doses. More than half of manufacturers have complied, according to the FDA statement. Read the full article by Kim Painter of USA Today … [Read more...]
Attorneys Refusing Medical Cases
There is problem faced by many who are harmed in a medical setting: Attorneys refuse their cases, not because the harm didn’t happen but because the potential economic damages are too low. It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of patients a year suffer some type of preventable injury or die while undergoing medical care. For many of these patients or surviving family, a lawsuit is the only hope to recover losses, learn the truth about what happened and ensure the problem is corrected. But lawyers may have to invest $50,000 or more to pursue a case, and they usually only get paid if they … [Read more...]
Does the Doctor Work for You or for the Hospital?
Over the past 15 years, the percentage of physicians employed by hospitals rather than private practice has increased over 30%. Hospitals can offer guaranteed wages and benefits; they even can guarantee employment. But are the decisions your doctor making benefiting you health or the hospital’s financial outcome? This article from The Atlantic takes a look into the dynamics of decision making that you put your trust in when dealing with your physician and your health. … [Read more...]
