Remember the movie War of the Roses. Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas play married characters. They hated each other. But, neither wanted to part with their opulent house. So, they stay put. No one moved. They continue to spew hate and back it up with hateful actions. Recently, a Medical Justice member said they cared … Read more
Illegal immigration is now the buzz of the political ball. Candidates are talking about building a wall, rounding up and deporting undocumented immigrants, and its economic ramifications.
What happens when undocumented workers are injured and need long term medical care? What must hospitals do? What do hospitals do?
Scenario #1: Some doctors believe, incorrectly, that if a patient has already disclosed protected health information on the Internet, his doctor can “correct” the record online. In other words, if a patient slams a doctor online, and attaches his name or picture to the review, many doctors believe the toothpaste is out of the tube, … Read more
A few of our members are psychiatrists. Most are not. On rare occasion a surgeon will get a call or email from a patient suggesting they are considering suicide. Or they have a detailed plan to take their life. Or they’ve posted this nugget of info on Facebook or a doctor review site and you get an email from the site.
The conundrum is how a non-psychiatrist, now aware of your patient’s thoughts, can determine whether your patient is an imminent danger to himself or others.
Physicians regularly renew their medical licenses. A typical question on the application reads:
Since you last renewed have you become aware of any medical condition that impairs or limits, or could possibly impair or limit, your ability to practice medicine safely? (If you are an anonymous participant in the Physician Health Program and in compliance with your contract, you do not need to list any medical conditions related to that contract).
Doesn’t happen often. But, when it does, expect a potential s*%#storm. Patient is anxious about the mole on his back. A dermatologist removes the mole and sends the specimen to the lab. Rule in or rule out melanoma. The lab says it never received the specimen. The dermatologist then does full excision. Then the doctor … Read more
I live in North Carolina. Each year I have a general physical exam. This includes the ritual known as the prostate exam. I don’t particularly look forward to it. But, it takes a few seconds and I’m reassured knowing that there are no lumps or bumps. My internist is male. And, in the exam room, … Read more
The question is not so simple anymore. According to the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, there are approximately 700,000 transgender individuals in the United States. In a recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruling (Lusardi v. McHugh, EEOC, No. 0120133395, 4/1/15), the US government ruled that a government employee who transitioned from male to female … Read more
How many of us has received the dreaded notice that medical records are not complete; or worse, that records are complete but need to be signed. The absence of a “proper” signature gums up the works for getting paid. This following is what CMS considers to be a valid signed order/record. I won’t belabor the … Read more
We’ve heard plenty of horror stories where someone tried to do the right thing – and got screwed.
Everyone knows the saying, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.”
Still, my faith in humanity was renewed on January 10th.
