This Makes Me Sick

Back in Black

Greetings to all. We took a much needed break in the sun. But we didn't forget you.

To get back in the  swing, a post-Thanksgiving batch o' tales of the absurd, the fantastic, and the downright obscene. Enjoy, as always.

Ohio Payday? Only 1% of Med-Mal Lawsuits Net $1 million or more; 80% Get The Big Doughnut Read [Beacon Journal]

A $20 million verdict to a blind boy in Pennsylvania didn't catch our attention. But we caught one interesting detail where a nurse bravely took the stand and said the hospital didn't follow its own safety net rules. One online reader caught showed her some love: "As a fellow nurse, I applaud the nurse for testifying that procedures were routinely not followed. She will probably be ostracized for the rest of her days for speaking." Viva los whistleblowers!

Grandma Pops Sleeping Pills Instead of Pain Killers; Crashes Corvette; Sues Pharmacy Read [Anchorage Daily News]

Washington Special and Blowhards

Will Tort Reform Fade as New Priorities Emerge for Congress? Oh, and buh-bye hearings on gay marriage .  Read [Law.com]

Thank the Lord! Insurance commish says med-mal crisis is over. Biz is lucrative again. Read [WTRF-TV]

Seems the GOP, the party of limited govt., was telling states how to deal with med-mal lawsuits. There's a shift happening in US politics, ya' hear? Read [Stateline.org]

Dr. Jaimy Bensimon has been defending himself in one malpractice case FOR NINE YEARS! Read [Orlando Sun-Sentinel]

News of the Nation

Petition: Lower the insurance rates already! Read [Florida Today]

$20 mil Payout in Philly Suburb; Thought Only City Juries Paid Out Big Read [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Miffed Mom Pickets Outside Doc's Office Over Poor Treatment Read [The Roanoke Times]

Rx: Judge Orders Sides To Work Something Out Read [The West Virginia Record]

Corporations Trim Fat and Liability, Tell Plebes To Get Operations in India Read [Austin Chronicle]

Med-Mal Caps? Check. Insurer Profits Up? Check.  Read [Birmingham Business  Journal]

ER Wait Kills Mom; Hospital Quickens the Pace Read [Gwinett Daily Post]

A 'Thumpin''

So now that the dust has settled and it looks like the Democrats will indeed take over Congress, thought we'd chime in with some observations vis-a-vis medical liability and malpractice.

At the top of the list was the "thumpin'" — to use Pres. Bush's term — that was handed down to Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The incumbent went down by 18 points! Personally, we think he was too polarizing and his views were way out of step with the state. He talked big on med-mal caps as his state watched a flood of docs leave as insurance rates skyrocketed. We did note, however, his hypocrisy on caps when it came down to his wife cashing in.

With Dems running the Senate show, it will be interesting to see what, if anything, they do about the lawsuit craze. With Republicans in control we got next to nothing so a change can't hurt. Our bets are on special health courts and programs like SorryWorks! getting even more play sometime next year. The AMA hedged bets this year and gave more cash than ever to Dems. They'll expect something for their support. We'll keep an eye on Capital Hill.

The other big news was on the state level. Dems took control of a majority of the Governors mansions and made big gains in state legislatures nationwide. What that all means where we are concerned, at least on this blog, is unclear. Somehow, with the Dems wanting to stay in power, they'll get to work. And remember, if you want change, it's imperative you call your rep.

Any thoughts? Predictions? Chime in.

Webcast Alert

We've told you before about Common Good, the crew behind special Health Courts. This is truly one of the most innovative solutions to dealing with America's Medical Liability circus. They're having a cool webcast on Wednesday, November 9 that you might might to check out. Details below:

Common Good and the Harvard School of Public Health will be webcasting
their upcoming event, Health Courts and Administrative Compensation:
Opportunities for Safety Enhancement.

Speakers at the event include: Harvard School of Public Health
Professors David Studdert and Michelle Mello, Dr. Dennis O'Leary,
President of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO), and Massachusetts State Senator Robert O'Leary.

These speakers and others will discuss how an administrative approach to
injury compensation could enhance safety and quality, as well as legal
and policy issues likely to be raised by proposed demonstration
projects.

The webcast will begin at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 8th.  Access
the webcast and more information on the forum, here.

P.S. - For anyone in the DC area, there is still space available to
attend the event in person.

News: "election" + "malpractice"

Google fun continues on this election day in America.

Search: "election" + "malpractice"

Results: James L. McAfee of Belleville, Illinois didn't like his doc telling him to vote for GOP judges. Read [Belleville News-Democrat]
State Senate hopeful in Michigan says his opponent wants docs to get immunity from certain  malpractice 'suits. Oh, and he's also charging that the guy is trying to suppress voter turnout. Hmmm ... Read [Valley Vanguard]
The late Sonny "I Got You Babe" Bono's wife talks being a Republican in Congress. Interest groups pummel her for protecting victims of medical malpractice. Read [The Desert Sun]

There's plenty more, but we've got to go vote.

PS It seems "election malpractice" is a problem in Ghana, Nigeria.

Searching For Blues

Ah, the land o' Google

Search: Hospital horror stories

Results: Four Chicago filmmakers helping patients avoid their own horrors; 
An ER patient in a Bronx hospital details her stay in a house of horrors;
And the Top 10 secrets your hospital won't tell you.

We've written about some nightmarish stays, here.

Last lil note for the day: Can we tell you how many people find ThisMakesMeSick by searching "ear stapling?" We wrote about it, here. All hail the new weight loss solution.