Who Answers the Phone at Your Medical Office Matters—A Lot
Hell hath no fury like a dental patient scorned. One recent news flash: A woman in Lincoln County accused of slashing tires on 18 vehicles outside a dentist’s office has been arrested and charged, Lincolnton Police confirmed with Queen City News on Tuesday. Officers responded … Read more
WTF is MACRA?
I’ve had it with acronyms. SGR [Sustainable Growth Rate] was replaced by MACRA [Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act] which allows physicians to choose between two Medicare payment programs: (a) MIPS [Merit-Based Incentive Payment System; and (b) APMs [Alternative Payment Models]. According to CMS [Center … Read more
Legal Issues in Physician Advertising
We continue with our series of general educational articles penned by one attorney, an MD, JD, giving you a view of the world through a malpractice plaintiff attorney’s eyes. This attorney is a seasoned veteran. The series includes a number of pearls on how to … Read more
Physicians Who Perform Surgery on Themselves
I know many surgeons who received a laceration of their torso or leg. They went into their office, pulled out some Lidocaine, and went to work. Sutures placed. Bandage on top. Back to the picnic. Now for the curious case of Leonid Rogozov. Don’t read further … Read more
Why are so many neurosurgeons in – or potentially headed to – jail?
It’s been an active year for neurosurgeons and the criminal justice system. Dr. Christopher Duntsch was sentenced to life in prison for knowingly and recklessly injuring patients. Thirty two patients were involved. Two were killed. Two were paralyzed. Duntsch’s attorneys argued he was not a criminal; just a bad … Read more
Lawyers Have Their Own “HIPAA” Issues – The Story of a Prostitute
Do not conclude I am equating an attorney to a prostitute. I’m not. Jerene Dildene started working as an escort when a divorce and cutback in work hours (teaching Spanish in area pubic school) created financial hardship. Initially she searched Craigslist for part time work. … Read more
Being a Doctor and Playing Poker – The Overlap
Dr. Kelly McMasters, a surgical oncologist, graciously allowed us to republish the commencement address he delivered to the University of Louisville School of Medicine Class of 2017. His words of wisdom resonated far beyond the typical platitudes pushed onto graduates. Further, his personal experience as a father … Read more
HIV Positive Man Charged With Murder After Mistress Dies from AIDS
Two interesting cases are working their way through the system in Ohio. Robert Murdock was charged with murder in Ohio for not telling his mistress, Kimberly Klempner, he was HIV positive. The indictment alleges that Murdock knew he was HIV +positive but failed to tell his mistress. The … Read more
Florida Takes a Step Backward
Let’s go down memory lane. As the new millennium dawned, Dade and Broward Counties were in the midst of a professional liability crisis. Insurance was not only unavailable. It was unaffordable. Neurosurgeons were being asked to pay $250k/yr in coverage. Many policies topped out at … Read more
Freckles and Lawsuits
Virtually every physician knows that patient privacy is sacred. One needs a patient’s affirmative consent to disclose what is known as protected health information. This is covered by state and federal (HIPAA) privacy laws. If a doctor posts the medical record, that is disclosure of … Read more
Physician Warns Medical Students How Easy it is to be Bribed
In 2014, an internist pled guilty to violating anti-kickback laws for illegal referrals. She accepted monthly cash payments of $5,000 to refer patients to a New Jersey lab, Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services. Apparently a total of 30 doctors have been snagged in the roundup. Biodiagnostic … Read more
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