When Ebola became big news at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, the names of infected patients also become news. Many have scratched their heads wondering how these disclosures failed to trigger HIPAA concerns.
Jeffrey Segal, MD, JD
Helpful Hint to Plaintiff’s Attorneys
Our organization, Medical Justice, advocates for doctors. We don’t apologize for that. It’s difficult to be a physician and there are thousands of threats that make just taking care of patients hard. We are especially opposed to lawyers filing non-meritorious lawsuits against doctors. Not all lawsuits against physicians lack merit. Some are well founded. Judgments … Read more
Forcing a Patient to Take One for the Team. Ethics Takes a Dive.
We have all heard of some doctors refusing to care for the sickest patients because embracing such a risk could impact their outcome statistics. Colloquially known as cherry-picking. Risk adjustment should address that concern. Yet, it still happens. Here’s a new one. Keeping a patient alive much longer than the family would accept to keep … Read more
Do Health Insurance Carriers Have to Pay for Injuries Caused by DUIs?
In the news. Patrick Conway, the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina was arrested and faces charges of driving while impaired and reckless driving after an alleged alcohol-related automobile accident in summer, 2019. In additional, because two minor children were in the car with him, he also faces charges of misdemeanor child … Read more
“Doctor, I Need You to See This Patient”
When I was a resident, one attending asserted he’d rather have a resident at bedside making the evaluation than Harvey Cushing (the father of neurosurgery) at home. Technology has improved and, today, diagnoses can often be made remotely. Still, when a nurse beckons, and says she’s worried, you should listen. A recent paper supports that … Read more
Cyber-stalker Criminally Indicted for Defaming Physician
. In Texas, there’s a law – Section 33.07(a)(2) which makes it a felony to use the name or persona of another person to create a web page or post on a social networking site if the action is taken to harm, threaten, defraud or intimidate the other person. A patient in Austin posted the … Read more
A Doctor Attempts to Murder an Attorney
Everyone knows we have an opioid crisis. Now we have an opioid treating doctor with his own crisis. Dr. Daniel Schwartz is a pain management physician in Ohio. He was charged with conspiracy, attempt to possess, and attempt to distribute a controlled substance. The conspiracy charge is not a typical physician … Read more
A Doctor’s Greatest Nightmare. Indictment. Prison. Then the Road to Redemption.
Dr. Roy Shelburne was, by all accounts, living the dream. He was leading a successful dental practice. He was providing high-quality care to patients who otherwise would’ve gone without. And he was serving a community of friends and family. In 2003, the FBI kicked down his door. Over the next few years, his every word … Read more
What Do You Hope to Get from This Visit?
“What do you hope to get from this visit?” This was the introductory question a physician asked me when I first met him. I prioritized my goals and started a brief narrative. And away we went to the races. The more I thought about this simple question, the more brilliant I thought it. First, it … Read more
6 Red Flags It’s Time to End the Doctor Patient Relationship
Physician-patient relationships end for numerous reasons. The reality is often a mundane affair. Objectives change. The patient’s care develops. Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary. Still – physicians are human, and humans are bound by limitations. We have a limited amount of time. We have limited resources. Limited patience. Some relationships can be salvaged. … Read more
