A Good Deed Ends in Arrest
Casey Smitherman is superintendent of a small school district in the Midwest. The town, Elwood, Indiana, has 8,500 people and struggles with serious poverty. Many of its students do not have adequate resources. Ms. Smitherman had helped a specific student in the past, buying clothes for him and helping clean his … Read more
A “Serial Malpracticer”
I had never heard of the phrase “serial malpracticer.” It seems to apply to Dr. Spyros Panos, an orthopaedic surgeon who surrendered his medical license six years ago. An arbitrator awarded $140 million to resolve 255 medical malpractice lawsuits in New York. Dr. Panos refused consent to settle. His carrier, MLMIC, … Read more
A Spanking for an Internist Who Failed to Provide an Interpreter for Deaf Patient
One must have a great deal of patience to wade through the text of the American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). In addition, different courts in the various federal circuits have arrived at conflicting interpretations. And a recent ADA case affecting physicians gives pause for thought. … Read more
Press Ganey Scores and Unicorns
A unicorn is a mythical creature. It does not exist. Which brings me to Press Ganey scores. For those of you entirely immune to the numeric patient satisfaction benchmarks, Press Ganey is eponymous with HCAHPS scores mandated by CMS. HCAHPS was initially rolled out to allow comparisons between institutions … Read more
Why Facebook Advertising Can Be Dangerous for Doctors
Before we dive in, some fast advice. Social media is wrought with regulatory landmines. Doctors can use the space to their practice’s benefit, but you must be cognizant of the pitfalls. If you are navigating the online space, don’t go it alone. Schedule a consultation … Read more
Why Do Doctors Take Med-Mal Lawsuits So Personally?
Here’s a question that perplexes many plaintiff’s attorneys. I hear it all the time. Why do doctors take medical malpractice so personally? Why do doctors treat medical malpractice differently than being in an auto accident? Shouldn’t we just turn it over to our carriers and … Read more
47 Tips to Keep You Away from My ER
Recently, we published a piece by Dr. Rada Jones on the 68 Laws of the ER. She returns now for prescient and timely advice to patients on how to stay out of the ER. The best way to do her post justice is to present … Read more
Doc, How Long Do I Have to Live?
“Doc, how long do I have to live?” When a patient has a difficult diagnosis, they want answers. That’s reasonable. They want to know how to structure the time they have left. Why? Priorities change. They want to get their affairs in order. It’s also … Read more
Board of Medicine Gives Reprieve Enabling Sexual Predator to Practice for 18 Years. Justice Finally Served.
I have never understood why some women spontaneously become pen pals and virtual lovers with violent felons currently incarcerated. Some even marry the object of their desire. This behavior is not dissimilar to a recent Facebook group launched in support of Dr. Johnnie Barto, a … Read more
How Language in an Operating Report Can Lead to a Trip to the Courtroom
Sometimes, the specific language in an op-report can lead to misunderstanding and litigation. I’m not talking about using words like “suddenly” or “to my unexpected surprise” in the document. I’m talking about how you label anatomic structures. Surgeons start with a clinical diagnosis. This diagnosis … Read more
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