Lawsuit Caps Don’t Save Lives- a Doctor Speaks.
October 29, 2009
Evidently, the entire medical community hasn’t bought the company line and drunk the Kool Aid- a doctor published on Salon Magazine had this to say about Malpractice lawsuit Caps:
“Tort reformers neglect the fact that malpractice reform won’t save one extra life. To make that difference, insurers, doctors and their lobbyists like the AMA need to find ways to improve patient safety. So for those who push tort reform as a panacea for a sick healthcare system, working to prevent injuries is a much more noble pursuit than writing up baseless arguments for the back pages of a newspaper. ”
Dr. Parikh is a columnist and more importantly, practicing M.D., hits the nail on the head- the notion of a flood of frivolous lawsuits is mythical. Doctors usually require research to be convinced of a point, but when the insurance companies and Chamberpot of Commerce screams ” too many lawsuits,” they are quick to pound the drum as well. Kudos to brave doctors like Parikh who actually look to facts, instead of practicing voodoo.
Veteran’s Day - Give Thanks to Those Who Gave All
November 11, 2008
I often complain that my clients and future clients are denied access to the courts and justice. Insurance companies, Chambers of Commerce and others work tirelessly to eliminate access to justice by putting up barriers to the court house, attacking judges and the jury system, and misinforming the population about what REALLY happens to injury victims.
It would be ungrateful to forget those who sacrificed to make our court system, and all of our constitutional rights real. I mean the men and women of the US Armed forces, and their families. For decades, these soldiers have given their time, their health and often their lives to protect the freedoms and “rights” we enjoy. Whatever you may think of the current war, no one can debate the fact that great Americans put their lives on the line every day to honor their commitments and serve their nation.
I wish our government was honoring its commitments to these warriors and their families, but sadly, we are falling short. Soldiers are left without medical care when they return home. Mental health is being neglected or ignored, resulting in record numbers of suicides by soldiers. In the greatest country on earth, our treatment of our soldiers is nothing less than shameful.
Organizations like Veterans for America, are stepping up to fill the void, helping soldiers get the benefits they deserve and the help they need. Still, soldiers are fulfilling their promises, and their country should do the same!
This Veteran’s Day, remember that freedom isn’t free. That others sacrifice greatly to make our America possible. We owe many thanks to our current soldiers and veterans.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
October 6, 2008
MRIs, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a diagnostic test to view the soft tissues of the body. Gadolinium, or gadodiamide, is a contrast agent which allows an MRI to define normal tissue from abnormal tissue in the brain and body. Gadolinium has been in use as an MRI contrast dye since the late 1980s.
In June 2006, the FDA first notified health care professionals and the general public about the risks of a potentially fatal diseases known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) and Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD) associated with the use of gadolinium. Both are a rare and serious syndromes that include swelling and tightening of the skin; difficulty extending the joints of arms, hands, legs, and feet; weakness, reddened or darkened areas on the skin; burning or itching of the skin; and deep bone pain in the hips and ribs. In addition, patients may develop widespread fibrosis in other organs. A skin biopsy is necessary to make a definitive diagnosis. Many patients who suffer from these symptoms have not been diagnosed formally with NSF or NSD. There are no consistently effective treatments of this condition. The disease is progressive and may be fatal.
More recently, on May 23, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked manufacturers to include a new boxed warning on the product labeling of all gadolinium-based contrast agents which are used to enhance the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The requested warning states that patients with severe kidney insufficiency who receive gadolinium-based agents are at risk for developing a debilitating, and a potentially fatal disease known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). In addition, it states that patients just before or just after liver transplantation, or those with chronic liver disease, are also at risk for developing NSF if they are experiencing kidney insufficiency of any severity.
If you have had an MRI with contrast dye and suffer from these symptoms, Contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm for a free consultation.