Healthcare Update — 04-01-2013

This case report is entirely bizarre. Patient gets awarded more than $800,000 after visit to doctor resulted in incorrect diagnosis of cancer when the patient really had pneumonia and caused patient to have amputation of her foot. A trial was held on the case four years ago with a verdict in favor of the doctor, but the judge declared a mistrial because Washington State jurors were referring to the plaintiff’s Japanese attorney as “Mr. Miyagi” and were making other racist comments against him. Then, the article notes that the doctor had been disciplined by state regulators for making “erroneous diagnoses” and for prescribing methadone to drug-addicted patients. So now Washington State physicians’ licenses can be on the line for failing to perfectly diagnose patient symptoms and for prescribing medication for one of its intended uses. I admit we don’t have all the information behind the license actions, but the article makes the Washington State Medical Board sound a little overeager to discipline physicians. Congratulations! You delivered a healthy 6 month old! 15 lb 7 oz baby delivered vaginally in UK. More than 20 doctors reportedly assisted in the delivery. Curing patients gone wild? Australian hospital emergency department guards petitioning to carry guns at work. Medical workers claim that it will make emergency departments more dangerous. Australian patient held four days in emergency department waiting for psychiatric bed to open up. Shortage of beds crea...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs