We Told You So….
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS We have written recently about social networking group discount programs – like Groupon. We cautioned that such programs might be deemed fee-splitting; a practice prohibited by federal law, state law, and licensing bodies. We now have some additional data points … Read more
Tort Reform for Medical Malpractice System, Another Study Needed?
Michael Kirsch, M.D. – author, MD Whistleblower Medical malpractice reform is in the news again. Of course, for the medical profession, the medical malpractice system is the wound that simply will not heal. For the plaintiffs bar, in contrast, the medical liability system is the … Read more
Texas Enacts a New Patient Privacy Law that is More Stringent than HIPAA
Michael J. Sacopulos, Esq. Recently, Texas House Bill 300 was signed into law by Texas Governor Rick Perry. The new law, which will become effective on September 1, 2012, expands privacy rights of patients beyond those contained in the HIPAA privacy standards. The law was … Read more
NEJM: The Numbers Are In: Doctors Are Sued A Lot
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS Imagine telling your patient the success rate of a surgical procedure you were planning was 20%. year after year. Most patients would hit the door. Unless the only other option – doing nothing – was far worse. That’s precisely the … Read more
Affidavits of Merit, Are They Worthless?
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS Affidavits of merit, are they worthless? Probably. Ohio provides but one example of how well intended legislation can be diluted by judges. Ohio introduced tort reforms in 2005. Among the reforms, plaintiffs were now required to prove they had done … Read more
Majority of Lawsuits Against Doctors Dismissed; But Not Quickly
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS An article in the July issue of Health Affairs detailed the natural history of malpractice claims in Massachusetts. Approximately 60% of these claims were abandoned by the plaintiff. But, this news came slowly to the doctor – who waited an … Read more
Another Example of the Importance of Experts
Michael J. Sacopulos, Esq. Earlier this month a Galveston County Texas Judge dismissed a medical malpractice claim against Mainland Center Hospital. The malpractice action had been brought by Jim Howard, III. Howard alleged that the emergency room staff at Mainland Center Hospital broke his femur … Read more
Major Development at Google Places and Handling of Patient Reviews
Tom Seery, CEO, RealSelf First announced in the technology blog techcrunch, Google made a significant change this week to the way patient reviews of doctors (and all local businesses) get displayed in Google Places. This has important implications for online doctor reputations. Prior to this … Read more
Break Out The Champagne
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. On July 25th, the North Carolina House of Representatives overrode the Governor’s veto of substantive tort reform. The North Carolina Senate overrode the veto last week. The bill will now become … Read more
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Healthcare Reform HIPAA & Patient Privacy Legal Medical Malpractice News/Announcements Patient Safety Reputation Management Risk Management
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