Doc, What Would YOU Do?

As physicians, we learn we must inform the patient of their options. Each patient has a different tolerance for risk. Some want aggressive treatment. Some want conservative management. The patient decides what should be done. I always thought it awkward to merely present a smorgasbord of options and then stare at the patient asking – … Read more

Whose Baby Was It, Anyways?

I spent some time over the weekend scanning physician responses to this ethical conundrum. An endocrinologist was caring for a man who spent years taking anabolic steroids. He developed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with a low sperm count. He was now living clean and ready to start his family. The endocrinologist replaced the patient’s testosterone and achieved … Read more

Medico-Legal Issues in Restraining Patients

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 stay out of harm’s way. While I do not necessarily … Read more

Crazy Cases Against Doctors — and Inexplicable Settlements

Jeffrey Segal, MD, JD Published in Medscape: May 14, 2015 (reprinted with permission) http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/844060 How Would You Have Handled Patients Like These? Being sued for malpractice is a traumatic experience. The odds of being sued at least once over one’s career are high.[1] Doctors typically have sufficient professional liability coverage to prevent financial loss. But not all … Read more

Liability in Telemedicine: “Can you sue me now?”

Notes from a Plaintiff’s Attorney: Liability Issues in Telemedicine By Dr. JD, a plaintiff’s attorney, practicing in the Northeast We continue our series of 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 … Read more

When a Doctor Becomes a Patient

Hundreds of articles have been published on the theme of a doctor becoming a patient.  I’d like to add one more to the literature.  But only to express my gratitude. Over the years, I’ve cataloged many of the headaches faced by professionals in health care.  This includes the countless challenges doctors face each and every … Read more

Avoiding Liability When Dealing with Brain Death Cases

We continue with our series of 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 stay out of harm’s way. While I do not necessarily agree with … Read more

Dealing with Medical Marijuana

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 stay out of harm’s way. While I do not necessarily … Read more

Billing Your Mom: Rules of Medicare

Pop Quiz…

 

Question #1: Your mother is visiting you one weekend evening. She slips in your house. She now has a giant gash in her arm which requires stitches. Neither of you are enthused about spending the evening in an ER when you are fully competent to sew it up. Further, you will document the encounter and keep a record, as required by your Board of Medicine.

 

Side distraction. Every state has different policies vis a vis treating family members. This blog post doesn’t touch on that topic. And, in this blog post, it is reasonably assumed that your judgment will not be clouded by your emotional attachment to a family member.

 

Now that Mom is all sewn up, can you send a claim to Medicare?

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