Medical Malpractice

• Impaired Physicians

  Lauren Ellerman | January 24, 2008 5:51 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Twice this week, it has been brought to my attention that a local physician has substance abuse problems - not the same physician, but 2 different ones. One lost hospital privileges, lost his license for a few years - and then the VERTERANS ADMINISTRATION hired him to perform surgery on Veterans. That says a lot - "welcome home, we think you are a hero, so here, a physician who can't operate...

• What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You

  Dan Frith | January 17, 2008 1:56 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  We wrote an article on January 13 about questions you should ask of your surgeon before he/she operates. While getting ready for work and watching the Today Show (NBC) this morning I saw a story by the show's chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyder, entitled, "What Doctors Aren't Telling You." The story was informative and discusses many of the issues and concerns we blogged about just a couple...

• Pharmacy Errors Kill

  Dan Frith | January 16, 2008 6:23 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  This is a sad story about a mistake made by a pharmacist at a Walgreens pharmacy. Terry Smith, a 46 year old roofer, was taking methadone, a narcotic pain reliever, for back and leg pain. He filled the prescription at a nearby Walgreens, returned home, and began taking the medication. Within 36 hours, he was found dead and curled up on the shower floor.How did it happen? The prescription...

• Hospital Overdoses Pediatric Patients

  Dan Frith | January 14, 2008 9:13 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California put pediatric patients in danger of harm by giving them overdoses of the blood thinner Heparin,. The California Department of Public Health said the hospital gave three children 1,000 times the intended dosage of heparin on Nov. 18. Two of the children were actor Dennis Quaid's twins. State regulators said the "violations caused, or were...

• Question your Surgeon

  Dan Frith | January 13, 2008 12:09 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Are you getting ready to go under the knife...the surgical knife? If so, shouldn't you be informed about your surgeon? Many people would not think of buying a car or a new computer without asking questions...lots of questions. Why don't those same smart and informed people ask their surgeons the same types of questions?Dr. Thomas Russell, a surgeon and executive director of the American...

• Fentanyl Patch May Cause Fatal Respiratory Depression and Death

  Dan Frith | January 10, 2008 6:23 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  A public health advisory has been issued to educate healthcare professionals and patients regarding the appropriate use of fentanyl transdermal patches (Duragesic, Alza Corp and generics), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised healthcare professionals this week. Despite a previous public health advisory and safety labeling changes issued in July 2005, the FDA has continued to...

• Heart Attack In A Casino is Safer Than In The Hospital

  Dan Frith | January 08, 2008 6:46 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Pretty outrageous isn't it! Can the above title be true? Yes, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.If you have a heart attack in an airport, or even a casino, there is a 50% chance you survive, compared to just one third if your heart attack takes place at a US hospital, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It seems that all too often patients...

• No Need for Tort Reform in Medical Malpractice Cases

  Dan Frith | December 20, 2007 6:19 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Surely I'm kidding you right? I have enough friends and acquaintances who are quick to tell me the laws governing medical malpractice lawsuits needs to be "reformed" in order to be fairer to doctors and prevent the wide-spread defection of doctors to other states and greener pastures! A new university-based study says those calling for reform are full of baloney...or something worse!Philip...

• Detecting Breast Cancer

  Dan Frith | December 12, 2007 2:16 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  We all know how important it is to detect breast cancer early before it metastasizes into surrounding tissue. Frankly put, the earlier the diagnosis ...the earlier the treatment...the greater the likelihood of a good outcome! One tool used by doctors to make that early diagnosis is the mammogram. The scary part of the story is how frequently doctors (radiologists) misread this diagnostic...

• Heart Attacks during the Holidays

  Lauren Ellerman | December 08, 2007 10:25 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Stress. Over-eating. Alcohol... don't want to burden your family with complaints of chest pains during the Holidays? Think it may be indigestion...?According to Associated Press report, a nationwide phenomenon reflects more heart-attacks occur in December and January... And likely, some of these holidays mean fewer staff at local hospitals. I spent Christmas eve two years ago in the ER - and...