From the category archives:
ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS in a recent New York Times article describes outrageous behavior by the clinical director and medical director of Harlem medical center. Under the direction of these former hospital officers (they have since been fired and demoted, respectively) the cardiology department of the Medical Center permitted 4,000 echocardiograms performed on patients suffering from suspected [...]
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Doctors knowingly fail to cooperate to make medicine safe because they would then be required to practice safe medicine, and be held accountable if they fail. In the recent issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology,[1] Drs. Strunk and Queenan in their advocacy for an administrative compensation plan to replace the tort system in providing compensation for [...]
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The March 8th New York Times publishes a remarkably insightful opinion piece by Atul Gawande. Gawande reminds us of a lesson learned long ago in a completely different professional context. In 1935 the U.S. Army Air Corps held a flight competition for airplane manufacturers competing for the privilege of building the next generation long-range bomber. [...]
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Natasha Singer, in her recent New York’s Times opinion piece suggests that saying you’re sorry is difficult in the health care industry. Indeed, her article addresses the pharmaceutical industry as well. It is interesting that this issue requires any discussion. We all learned as children the importance of apology in making right a harm resulting [...]
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In 1998 the United States Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the healthcare industry adopted a Patient Bill of Rights. The same year Pennsylvania enacted a Patient Bill of Rights allegedly for the purpose of providing quality healthcare accountability and protection under Act 68 of 1998. It is interesting that the legislature of [...]
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Kevin Pho, M.D in his medical blog, Kevinmd.com, invites a discussion concerning whether elderly patients should choose premature death at home rather than being subjected to the complications that are associated with geriatric admissions. He concludes that elderly patients admitted to emergency departments should be given the opportunity to choose going home rather than being [...]
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Communication is essential between health care providers but sometimes communication fails because of the arrogance or carelessness of the persons involved in the needed medical communication. Several years ago, a female client about to enjoy an important anniversary was admitted to a University affiliated hospital for the purpose of having a colostomy wound debrided (cleaned [...]
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