Harvard scientists have discovered that "drinking coffee may lower the risk of developing the deadliest form of prostate cancer." In fact, "the five percent of" study participants "who drank six or more cups a day had a 60 percent lower risk of developing the advanced form of the disease than those who didn't consume any."."
A Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference" also touched on the "role that exercise...could play in the fight against prostate cancer. An analysis of activity levels among 2,686 prostate cancer patients showed that men who jogged, played tennis, or participated in other comparable exercise for an average of three or more hours per week had 35% lower mortality rates than those who exercised less frequently or not at all." As for walking, those who did so "for four or more hours per week" had "overall mortality rates [that] were 23% lower than those of men who walked for fewer than 20 minutes per week."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Showing posts with label hospitals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hospitals. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Cluster Headaches
Concerned about recent overdoses of radiation in CT perfusion scans, an FDA official urged imaging practitioners to go "back to basics" when they're performing the scans.
The advice comes after more than 250 patients in two states were exposed to excess radiation during CT perfusion brain scans.
"Until we get through whether we're dealing with errors that people are making (or) whether these are problems with the CT scanners themselves, we're saying go back to basics," said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Shuren and colleagues released a set of interim recommendations while the agency continues to investigate cases of overexposure reported in California and Alabama.
They include:
• Imaging facilities should review their radiation dosing protocols for all CT perfusion studies to ensure that dosing is correct for each study.
• They should implement quality control procedures to ensure that protocols are followed and correct radiation is used.
• For each patient, technologists should check the CT scanner displays to make sure the radiation to be delivered is appropriate.
• If more than one study is performed during one session, practitioners should adjust the radiation dose so it is appropriate for each study.
The agency also urged imaging facilities to check whether any patients who underwent CT perfusion scans have received excess radiation.
"We're reminding (practitioners) of good practices that they should be employing routinely," said Charles Finder, MD, also of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The issue arose when the FDA was told of more than 200 cases of excess radiation delivered during CT perfusion brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. (See CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident)
Since then, the agency has received reports of 14 cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, also in Los Angeles, as well as an undetermined number of cases at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to Simon Choi, PhD, also of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Choi said the the agency is investigating reports in Alabama, too, but he did not give numbers or the name of the facility involved.
The agency said scanners made by two manufacturers, GE and Toshiba, are involved in the incidents.
Affected patients had redness of the skin and some hair loss, but potential long-term consequences include an increased risk of cancer and cataracts, Finder said.
The standard radiation dose for a CT perfusion scan is between 0.5 and 1.0 Gray, but it was reported that some patients at Cedars-Sinai got as much as 3.0 or 4.0 Gray.
According to a statement from the hospital, "there was a misunderstanding about an embedded default setting applied by the machine."
The recommendations apply to all CT perfusion imaging, since the methods involved are the same as for brain perfusion scans, the FDA said.
While the agency is probing cases in the two states, Shuren said, "we would not be surprised to find there are similar occurrences in other states."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The advice comes after more than 250 patients in two states were exposed to excess radiation during CT perfusion brain scans.
"Until we get through whether we're dealing with errors that people are making (or) whether these are problems with the CT scanners themselves, we're saying go back to basics," said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Shuren and colleagues released a set of interim recommendations while the agency continues to investigate cases of overexposure reported in California and Alabama.
They include:
• Imaging facilities should review their radiation dosing protocols for all CT perfusion studies to ensure that dosing is correct for each study.
• They should implement quality control procedures to ensure that protocols are followed and correct radiation is used.
• For each patient, technologists should check the CT scanner displays to make sure the radiation to be delivered is appropriate.
• If more than one study is performed during one session, practitioners should adjust the radiation dose so it is appropriate for each study.
The agency also urged imaging facilities to check whether any patients who underwent CT perfusion scans have received excess radiation.
"We're reminding (practitioners) of good practices that they should be employing routinely," said Charles Finder, MD, also of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The issue arose when the FDA was told of more than 200 cases of excess radiation delivered during CT perfusion brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. (See CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident)
Since then, the agency has received reports of 14 cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, also in Los Angeles, as well as an undetermined number of cases at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to Simon Choi, PhD, also of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Choi said the the agency is investigating reports in Alabama, too, but he did not give numbers or the name of the facility involved.
The agency said scanners made by two manufacturers, GE and Toshiba, are involved in the incidents.
Affected patients had redness of the skin and some hair loss, but potential long-term consequences include an increased risk of cancer and cataracts, Finder said.
The standard radiation dose for a CT perfusion scan is between 0.5 and 1.0 Gray, but it was reported that some patients at Cedars-Sinai got as much as 3.0 or 4.0 Gray.
According to a statement from the hospital, "there was a misunderstanding about an embedded default setting applied by the machine."
The recommendations apply to all CT perfusion imaging, since the methods involved are the same as for brain perfusion scans, the FDA said.
While the agency is probing cases in the two states, Shuren said, "we would not be surprised to find there are similar occurrences in other states."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, April 15, 2011
DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OF OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS
The FDA sent out a nationwide announcement about "the potential side effects of osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax [alendronate]." the agency "said in their announcement...physicians need to watch for the possibility of possible risk of femur fractures. And this didn't just apply to Fosamax, this applied to all four drugs that are in this group Fosamax, Actonel [risedronate], Boniva [ibandronate], and Reclast [zoledronic acid]."
Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."
The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."
The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Medical Malpractice Is Frequent On TV
According to the American Academy of Neurology Television dramas are potentially a powerful method of educating the public so it is a concern to find that TV shows inaccurate showed seizure management which would qualify for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is rife on the television medical shows with specifically nearly half of TV doctors and nurses committing seizure management errors. Researchers screened the popular medical dramas Grey's Anatomy, House, Private Practice and ER to see if TV medical dramas were helping to educate the public about first aid and seizures. The study found inappropriate practices occurred in 25 cases, or nearly 46 per cent of the incidents.
The researchers found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors.
"People with epilepsy should lobby the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures," the study’s lead author said.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The researchers found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors.
"People with epilepsy should lobby the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures," the study’s lead author said.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
RISKY HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE USE
H.G.H. is among the drugs prescribed some doctors to athletes.
The United States, however, determined that potential harm from H.G.H. is so great that federal law puts it in an unusual category of drugs that doctors cannot prescribe for unapproved, or off-label, uses. (No such ban exists in Canada.)
Its approved uses are not conditions common among professional athletes: it can be used in children with severe growth problems, H.I.V. patients may receive it if they have muscle wasting, and it can be prescribed to offset exceptional weight loss in people who have had much of their small intestine surgically removed.
Physicians and medical researchers who have studied people with medical conditions that lead to growth hormone overproduction said that available evidence suggested that athletes who cheat by using costly" human growth hormone (HGH) as a performance-enhancing drug may "simply wind up" exposing themselves to "cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon polyps, skin growths, excessive sweating," and "serious headaches," as well as "abnormal bone growth in the face, head, hands, and feet," and possibly even cancer.
Growth hormone does not act directly. Instead it prompts the body to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, or I.G.F.-1, which then triggers growth. The overwhelming majority of I.G.F.-1 is produced by the liver and delivered through the blood stream. Evidence shows, however, that growth hormone can prompt local I.G.F.-1 production in other cells of the body
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The United States, however, determined that potential harm from H.G.H. is so great that federal law puts it in an unusual category of drugs that doctors cannot prescribe for unapproved, or off-label, uses. (No such ban exists in Canada.)
Its approved uses are not conditions common among professional athletes: it can be used in children with severe growth problems, H.I.V. patients may receive it if they have muscle wasting, and it can be prescribed to offset exceptional weight loss in people who have had much of their small intestine surgically removed.
Physicians and medical researchers who have studied people with medical conditions that lead to growth hormone overproduction said that available evidence suggested that athletes who cheat by using costly" human growth hormone (HGH) as a performance-enhancing drug may "simply wind up" exposing themselves to "cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon polyps, skin growths, excessive sweating," and "serious headaches," as well as "abnormal bone growth in the face, head, hands, and feet," and possibly even cancer.
Growth hormone does not act directly. Instead it prompts the body to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, or I.G.F.-1, which then triggers growth. The overwhelming majority of I.G.F.-1 is produced by the liver and delivered through the blood stream. Evidence shows, however, that growth hormone can prompt local I.G.F.-1 production in other cells of the body
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Zinc supplements cause problems
With at least two flus and plenty of colds, coughs and sore throats circulating this season, some Americans are turning to zinc to ward off viruses.
Lozenges, supplements and nasal sprays that contain the mineral claim to boost immunity, and there is some evidence that they might do so. In an effort to stay well, though, we might be making ourselves sick. Lozenges, supplements, and nasal sprays that contain" zinc "claim to boost immunity, and some doctors have prescribed supplements containing "80 milligrams of zinc" for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients to stave off blindness. However, according to a 2007 study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research, zinc "builds up in the back of the retina in people with macular degeneration and that "people who take these extra-large" zinc "supplements for years are 50% more likely to end up in the hospital with urinary tract problems."
Also excessive amounts of zinc, according to early evidence, could lead to learning and memory problems, nerve damage, urinary tract problems and other negative effects.
With supplements that provide many times the recommended daily intake, cold medicines that are loaded with zinc and an abundance of fortified foods -- on top of the zinc already in a healthy diet -- overdoing it might be easier than you think.
Where can zinc be found?
There are more than 75 milligrams of zinc in six oysters, nearly 9 milligrams in a 3-ounce serving of cooked beef shanks, more than 3 milligrams in a cup of baked beans, 15 milligrams in a cup of some fortified cereals and 15 milligrams in many multivitamins.
All that zinc adds up. Studies show that consuming at least 50 milligrams a day for a few months could lead to copper deficiency, which can cause anemia, bone loss, nerve damage and other problems. Taking in 80 or 100 milligrams or more for months or even years can cause bigger problems, some irreversible. A typical, over-the-counter zinc supplement contains 50 milligrams. There are 13 milligrams in one popular brand of zinc lozenges.
Zinc, copper and iron are all found in the plaque that builds up in brains of Alzheimer's patients. And while researchers try to figure out what that means, data suggest that removing zinc from the brain slows mental decline.
Denture cream
Zinc raised other alarms last year, when researchers began to notice weakness, balance and memory issues and other neurological trouble in some patients. Sleuthing revealed the only common link: All of the patients used large amounts of denture cream enhanced with zinc.
Patients in the study,had been using up to two tubes a week of Poligrip or Fixodent creams for many months or even years.
Zinc concentrations ranged from 17 to 34 milligrams per gram of denture cream, testing showed. That means that some people were exposed to as much as 330 milligrams of zinc a day, Packages of Super Poligrip now include inserts telling people to talk to their doctors if also taking zinc supplements and to use the products as directed.
Nasal sprays
Researchers recommend avoiding nasal sprays containing zinc, as well. An October study in the journal PLoS One found that the Zicam brand of homeopathic zinc-enriched nasal spray caused long-term damage to the sense of smell in mice and signs of nasal nerve damage in people.
When it comes to supplements, sucking on zinc lozenges as soon as you get a cold may help and probably won't hurt, experts say, as long as you don't suck on them all day every day for the entire flu season. A week should be fine.
Some promising research is also starting to suggest that a tiny bit of copper supplementation can help override the dangers of getting too much zinc. In the meantime, experts suggest staying well the old-fashioned way: Eat a healthy diet, and stop staying up so late.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Lozenges, supplements and nasal sprays that contain the mineral claim to boost immunity, and there is some evidence that they might do so. In an effort to stay well, though, we might be making ourselves sick. Lozenges, supplements, and nasal sprays that contain" zinc "claim to boost immunity, and some doctors have prescribed supplements containing "80 milligrams of zinc" for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients to stave off blindness. However, according to a 2007 study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research, zinc "builds up in the back of the retina in people with macular degeneration and that "people who take these extra-large" zinc "supplements for years are 50% more likely to end up in the hospital with urinary tract problems."
Also excessive amounts of zinc, according to early evidence, could lead to learning and memory problems, nerve damage, urinary tract problems and other negative effects.
With supplements that provide many times the recommended daily intake, cold medicines that are loaded with zinc and an abundance of fortified foods -- on top of the zinc already in a healthy diet -- overdoing it might be easier than you think.
Where can zinc be found?
There are more than 75 milligrams of zinc in six oysters, nearly 9 milligrams in a 3-ounce serving of cooked beef shanks, more than 3 milligrams in a cup of baked beans, 15 milligrams in a cup of some fortified cereals and 15 milligrams in many multivitamins.
All that zinc adds up. Studies show that consuming at least 50 milligrams a day for a few months could lead to copper deficiency, which can cause anemia, bone loss, nerve damage and other problems. Taking in 80 or 100 milligrams or more for months or even years can cause bigger problems, some irreversible. A typical, over-the-counter zinc supplement contains 50 milligrams. There are 13 milligrams in one popular brand of zinc lozenges.
Zinc, copper and iron are all found in the plaque that builds up in brains of Alzheimer's patients. And while researchers try to figure out what that means, data suggest that removing zinc from the brain slows mental decline.
Denture cream
Zinc raised other alarms last year, when researchers began to notice weakness, balance and memory issues and other neurological trouble in some patients. Sleuthing revealed the only common link: All of the patients used large amounts of denture cream enhanced with zinc.
Patients in the study,had been using up to two tubes a week of Poligrip or Fixodent creams for many months or even years.
Zinc concentrations ranged from 17 to 34 milligrams per gram of denture cream, testing showed. That means that some people were exposed to as much as 330 milligrams of zinc a day, Packages of Super Poligrip now include inserts telling people to talk to their doctors if also taking zinc supplements and to use the products as directed.
Nasal sprays
Researchers recommend avoiding nasal sprays containing zinc, as well. An October study in the journal PLoS One found that the Zicam brand of homeopathic zinc-enriched nasal spray caused long-term damage to the sense of smell in mice and signs of nasal nerve damage in people.
When it comes to supplements, sucking on zinc lozenges as soon as you get a cold may help and probably won't hurt, experts say, as long as you don't suck on them all day every day for the entire flu season. A week should be fine.
Some promising research is also starting to suggest that a tiny bit of copper supplementation can help override the dangers of getting too much zinc. In the meantime, experts suggest staying well the old-fashioned way: Eat a healthy diet, and stop staying up so late.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Small study indicates paroxetine may damage men's sperm, impair their fertility
Add anti-depressants to the list of substances that can damage men’s sperm and potentially impair their fertility.
According to a study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility, antidepressants may "damage men's sperm and potentially impair their fertility." For the study, researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College "followed 35 healthy men who took paroxetine for five weeks." The investigators then performed tests "to examine DNA fragmentation, which occurs when sperm DNA is missing pieces of the genetic code. The results showed that 50 percent of men had signs of abnormal DNA fragmentation while taking the drug, compared with less than 10 percent at the start of the trial." Following discontinuation of the drug, "the men's sperm returned to normal." The authors theorized that the "antidepressant caused men's sperm to slow down as it makes its way through the male reproductive tract," thereby "allowing it to age and become damaged."
“It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
“Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. The amount, concentration and motility of sperm were not significantly changed by the medication.
Though men may not know it, sperm can be damaged by various substances, including smoking, alcohol, heat, anabolic steroids, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and some environmental exposures.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
According to a study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility, antidepressants may "damage men's sperm and potentially impair their fertility." For the study, researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College "followed 35 healthy men who took paroxetine for five weeks." The investigators then performed tests "to examine DNA fragmentation, which occurs when sperm DNA is missing pieces of the genetic code. The results showed that 50 percent of men had signs of abnormal DNA fragmentation while taking the drug, compared with less than 10 percent at the start of the trial." Following discontinuation of the drug, "the men's sperm returned to normal." The authors theorized that the "antidepressant caused men's sperm to slow down as it makes its way through the male reproductive tract," thereby "allowing it to age and become damaged."
“It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
“Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. The amount, concentration and motility of sperm were not significantly changed by the medication.
Though men may not know it, sperm can be damaged by various substances, including smoking, alcohol, heat, anabolic steroids, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and some environmental exposures.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
CT scans may diagnose heart attacks faster than standard tests.
A rapid CT scan of the heart may provide doctors with a more efficient way to diagnose blocked arteries in people complaining of chest pain," according to research reported at the American Heart Association meeting. In "a study of 701 patients," researchers found that CT angiography "cuts in half the time it usually takes for a doctor to detect a blockage in an artery supplying the heart."
The procedure also provides a "cheaper way to diagnose a heart attack when someone goes to the" emergency department (ED) with chest pains. The study showed that CT scan patients' testing cost "$2,137 on average versus $3,458 for standard screening."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The procedure also provides a "cheaper way to diagnose a heart attack when someone goes to the" emergency department (ED) with chest pains. The study showed that CT scan patients' testing cost "$2,137 on average versus $3,458 for standard screening."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, October 15, 2010
Survey suggests more adults searching Internet for health information.
The number of adults who turn to the Internet for health information has nearly doubled in the past two years, from 31 percent to 60 percent," according to a study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Researchers surveyed "2,253 people by landline phone and 502 by cellphone." Ranking highest "as the source adults most often turn to for health information" was healthcare professionals at 86 percent, followed by "family and friends" at 68 percent. Notably, "about half of all online health searches are on behalf of someone else, and...59 percent of users who go to the Internet for health information have read blogs or online comments made by others." Yahoo's Web life editor, speculates that "many adults may turn to the Internet for health advice," because "unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible."
"Unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible in all of the spaces where we live and work," she says.
"People are becoming advocates for themselves as patients by researching illnesses and health care information through the vast resources of the Web."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
"Unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible in all of the spaces where we live and work," she says.
"People are becoming advocates for themselves as patients by researching illnesses and health care information through the vast resources of the Web."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
THE TWO OTHER INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES (IBD)
Most people know about the two most common idiopathic [cause not known] inflammatory bowel disorders—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There are also two other inflammatory bowel diseases that most people don’t know about.
That is collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy through a colonoscope. The treatment is a type of steroid called Budesonide.
Results of studies show that Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide. Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks.
Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again successfully with budesonide.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
That is collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy through a colonoscope. The treatment is a type of steroid called Budesonide.
Results of studies show that Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide. Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks.
Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again successfully with budesonide.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, August 27, 2010
Safe Biopsy: Validated Method for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Hep C
Study results in Hepatology indicate that safe biopsy is a rational and validated method for staging liver fibrosis in hepatitis C with a marked reduction in the need for liver biopsy. It is an attractive tool for large-scale screening of hepatitis C virus carriers.
The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.
The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.
The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.
The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.
The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Gastric distress-related ED visits may increase during the holidays.
At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a countertop for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Safe Biopsy: Validated Method for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Hep C
Study results in Hepatology indicate that safe biopsy is a rational and validated method for staging liver fibrosis in hepatitis C with a marked reduction in the need for liver biopsy. It is an attractive tool for large-scale screening of hepatitis C virus carriers.
The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.
The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.
The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.
The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.
The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, July 30, 2010
10 Tips on Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence
1.Belching is caused by swallowed air from:
Eating or drinking too fast
Poorly fitting dentures; not chewing food completely
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum or sucking on hard candies
Excessive swallowing due to nervous tension or postnasal drip
Forced belching to relieve abdominal discomfort
2.To prevent excessive belching, avoid:
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum
Hard candies
Simethicone may be helpful
3.Abdominal bloating and discomfort may be due to intestinal sensitivity or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To relieve symptoms, avoid:
Broccoli
Baked beans
Cabbage
Carbonated drinks
Cauliflower
Chewing gum
Hard candy
4.Abdominal distention resulting from weak abdominal muscles:
Is better in the morning
Gets worse as the day progresses
Is relieved by lying down
5.To prevent Abdominal distention:
Tighten abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach several times during the day
So sit-up exercises if possible
Wear an abdominal support garment if exercise is too difficult
6.Flatulence is gas created through bacterial action in the bowel and passed rectally. Keep in mind that:
10-18 passages per day are normal
Primary gases are harmless and odorless
Noticeable smells are trace gases related to food intake
7.Foods that are likely to form gas include:
Milk, dairy products, and medications that contain lactose--If your body doesn't produce the enzyme (lactase) to break it down.
Certain vegetables--baked beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
Certain starches--wheat, oats, corn, potatoes. Rice is a good substitute.
8.If flatulence is a concern, see your doctor to determine if you are lactose intolerant.
9.Identify offending foods. Reduce or eliminate these gas-forming foods from your diet.
10.Activated Charcoal may provide some benefit.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Eating or drinking too fast
Poorly fitting dentures; not chewing food completely
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum or sucking on hard candies
Excessive swallowing due to nervous tension or postnasal drip
Forced belching to relieve abdominal discomfort
2.To prevent excessive belching, avoid:
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum
Hard candies
Simethicone may be helpful
3.Abdominal bloating and discomfort may be due to intestinal sensitivity or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To relieve symptoms, avoid:
Broccoli
Baked beans
Cabbage
Carbonated drinks
Cauliflower
Chewing gum
Hard candy
4.Abdominal distention resulting from weak abdominal muscles:
Is better in the morning
Gets worse as the day progresses
Is relieved by lying down
5.To prevent Abdominal distention:
Tighten abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach several times during the day
So sit-up exercises if possible
Wear an abdominal support garment if exercise is too difficult
6.Flatulence is gas created through bacterial action in the bowel and passed rectally. Keep in mind that:
10-18 passages per day are normal
Primary gases are harmless and odorless
Noticeable smells are trace gases related to food intake
7.Foods that are likely to form gas include:
Milk, dairy products, and medications that contain lactose--If your body doesn't produce the enzyme (lactase) to break it down.
Certain vegetables--baked beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
Certain starches--wheat, oats, corn, potatoes. Rice is a good substitute.
8.If flatulence is a concern, see your doctor to determine if you are lactose intolerant.
9.Identify offending foods. Reduce or eliminate these gas-forming foods from your diet.
10.Activated Charcoal may provide some benefit.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, July 9, 2010
5 Tips on Use of Medications
1.Use of medications increases with age: 80% of older Americans who live independently receive 20 or more prescriptions per year Residents of nursing homes receive an average of 8-10 drugs per day
2.It is important to take medications as prescribed. Reasons for not following directions include:
Too many drugs
Error due to visual or mental impairment
Sharing drugs
Changing doctors
Use of over-the-counter drugs
Sparing expense
Drug side effects
Symptoms not improving
3.See your doctor regularly to check on medications and their effect (bring your medications with you for an office visit or to an emergency room): Drug effect changes with aging There is decreased absorption of drugs through the intestinal tract Decreased kidney function slows drug elimination Metabolism of drugs changes with age
4.The effect medications have on your body will change with aging. For example: Drug action may last longer Drugs may produce toxicity at a lower dose in mature adults than in younger adults
5.Remember that all changes you experience are not necessarily due to aging. For example, decrease in salivary flow is: Due to disease or medication not due to aging
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
2.It is important to take medications as prescribed. Reasons for not following directions include:
Too many drugs
Error due to visual or mental impairment
Sharing drugs
Changing doctors
Use of over-the-counter drugs
Sparing expense
Drug side effects
Symptoms not improving
3.See your doctor regularly to check on medications and their effect (bring your medications with you for an office visit or to an emergency room): Drug effect changes with aging There is decreased absorption of drugs through the intestinal tract Decreased kidney function slows drug elimination Metabolism of drugs changes with age
4.The effect medications have on your body will change with aging. For example: Drug action may last longer Drugs may produce toxicity at a lower dose in mature adults than in younger adults
5.Remember that all changes you experience are not necessarily due to aging. For example, decrease in salivary flow is: Due to disease or medication not due to aging
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, May 17, 2010
Cigarettes "widely contaminated" with hundreds of bacteria
"DNA examination of four cigarette brands shows, for the first time, that cigarettes are 'widely contaminated' with hundreds of different types of bacteria. In fact, there appears to be as many bacteria in cigarettes as there are chemicals." According to the University of Maryland study in Environmental Health Perspectives, the bacteria "are linked to lung, blood, and food-borne-related infections." For example, investigators found "acinetobacter -- associated with certain blood and lung infections" -- and "bacillus -- some types are associated with anthrax and food poisoning." And, if those "organisms can survive the smoking process," the study authors said, "they could possibly go on to contribute to both infectious and chronic illnesses in both smokers and individuals who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, April 23, 2010
Illinois consumers can view hospital quality data on state-sponsored website.
Six years after Illinois passed "legislation in 2003" calling "for a Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide" to "document hospital-acquired infections and the adequacy of nursing staffs," as well as "to compare hospitals' performance on 30 leading medical procedures with wide variation in outcomes and costs," the "report card and consumer guide are" now "a reality" for "11 conditions," with "more data" to "be added in the months ahead."
For the first time, consumers can pore over abundant data -- much of it previously unpublished -- about Illinois hospitals and surgery centers on a state-sponsored website." These "data include information about what these medical providers charge, how many procedures they perform, how often they deliver recommended care, and how consumers rate their care." The Tribune adds that "some of the information comes from Medicare Compare, published by the federal government, but it is presented on the state website in a much more accessible form."
But Public report cards ranking performance may not encourage hospitals to improve.
One might assume that public report cards ranking their performance would encourage hospitals to improve, but a new...study " published in the Journal of the American Medical Association "finds that isn't the case." Investigators "examined medical records from 86 hospitals in Ontario that admitted patients with heart attack or heart failure." The researchers found that "even after report cards were released, the hospitals, in general, didn't show improvement.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
For the first time, consumers can pore over abundant data -- much of it previously unpublished -- about Illinois hospitals and surgery centers on a state-sponsored website." These "data include information about what these medical providers charge, how many procedures they perform, how often they deliver recommended care, and how consumers rate their care." The Tribune adds that "some of the information comes from Medicare Compare, published by the federal government, but it is presented on the state website in a much more accessible form."
But Public report cards ranking performance may not encourage hospitals to improve.
One might assume that public report cards ranking their performance would encourage hospitals to improve, but a new...study " published in the Journal of the American Medical Association "finds that isn't the case." Investigators "examined medical records from 86 hospitals in Ontario that admitted patients with heart attack or heart failure." The researchers found that "even after report cards were released, the hospitals, in general, didn't show improvement.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
A BETTER ANSWER FOR DOCTORS WORRIED ABOUT HIGH MALPRACTICE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ?
Tom Baker, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, is the author of “The Medical Malpractice Myth. Says that our medical liability system needs reform. But anyone who thinks that limiting liability would reduce health care costs is fooling himself. Preventable medical injuries, not patient compensation, are what ring up extra costs for additional treatment. This means taxpayers, employers and everyone else who buys health insurance — all of us — have a big stake in patient safety.
Eighty percent of malpractice claims involve significant disability or death, a 2006 analysis of medical malpractice claims conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows, and the amount of compensation patients receive strongly depends on the merits of their claims. Most people injured by medical malpractice do not bring legal claims, earlier studies by the same researchers have found.
On the other hand, risk managers, for example, and spurring anesthesiologists to improve their safety standards and practices. Even medical societies’ efforts to attack the liability system have helped, by inspiring the research that has documented the surprising extent of preventable injuries in hospitals. That research helped start the patient safety movement. When it comes to rising medical costs, liability is a symptom, not the disease. Getting rid of liability might save money for hospitals and some high-risk specialists, but it would cost society more by taking away one of the few hard-wired patient safety incentives.
Besides, there’s a better answer for doctors worried about high malpractice insurance premiums.
Critics point to defensive medicine as the hidden burden that liability imposes on health care. Yet research shows that while the fear of liability changes doctors’ behavior, that isn’t necessarily a burden. Some defensive medicine is, like defensive driving, good practice. Too often, we can’t distinguish between treatments that are necessary and those that are wasteful. Better research on what works and what doesn’t — evidence-based medicine — will help. And it will address the more general challenge of avoiding costly but unnecessary care.
Just as we need evidence-based medicine, we also need evidence-based medical liability reform. The research shows, overwhelmingly, that the real problem is too much malpractice, not too many malpractice lawsuits. So medical providers should be required to disclose injuries, provide quicker compensation to deserving patients and — here’s the answer for doctors worried about their premiums — shift the responsibility for buying malpractice insurance to hospitals and other large medical institutions. Evidence-based liability reform would give these institutions the incentive they need to cut back on the most wasteful aspect of American health care: preventable medical injuries.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Eighty percent of malpractice claims involve significant disability or death, a 2006 analysis of medical malpractice claims conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows, and the amount of compensation patients receive strongly depends on the merits of their claims. Most people injured by medical malpractice do not bring legal claims, earlier studies by the same researchers have found.
On the other hand, risk managers, for example, and spurring anesthesiologists to improve their safety standards and practices. Even medical societies’ efforts to attack the liability system have helped, by inspiring the research that has documented the surprising extent of preventable injuries in hospitals. That research helped start the patient safety movement. When it comes to rising medical costs, liability is a symptom, not the disease. Getting rid of liability might save money for hospitals and some high-risk specialists, but it would cost society more by taking away one of the few hard-wired patient safety incentives.
Besides, there’s a better answer for doctors worried about high malpractice insurance premiums.
Critics point to defensive medicine as the hidden burden that liability imposes on health care. Yet research shows that while the fear of liability changes doctors’ behavior, that isn’t necessarily a burden. Some defensive medicine is, like defensive driving, good practice. Too often, we can’t distinguish between treatments that are necessary and those that are wasteful. Better research on what works and what doesn’t — evidence-based medicine — will help. And it will address the more general challenge of avoiding costly but unnecessary care.
Just as we need evidence-based medicine, we also need evidence-based medical liability reform. The research shows, overwhelmingly, that the real problem is too much malpractice, not too many malpractice lawsuits. So medical providers should be required to disclose injuries, provide quicker compensation to deserving patients and — here’s the answer for doctors worried about their premiums — shift the responsibility for buying malpractice insurance to hospitals and other large medical institutions. Evidence-based liability reform would give these institutions the incentive they need to cut back on the most wasteful aspect of American health care: preventable medical injuries.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, April 9, 2010
Which Antiseptic Is Best To Reduce The Risk Of Staph Infection?
The chemical antiseptic chlorhexidine does a better job than povidone-iodine in reducing the risk of surgical site infections, even in carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, according to two new randomized studies.Researchers in the U.S. found that chlorhexidine and alcohol, used for preoperative skin cleansing, reduced infections by 41% compared with povidone-iodine.
And Dutch investigators found that screening and decolonizing patients who are nasal carriers of S. aureus, combined with washing with chlorhexidine soap, reduced the risk of infection by 58%.
The two prospective studies are reported in the New England Journal of Medicine and offer "valuable insights for controlling surgical-site infections. An accompanying editorial, wrote that the findings "offer remarkably safer strategies for all patients who require surgery."
Overall, the researchers found, the rate of infection was 9.5% in the chlorhexidine group, compared with 16.1% in the povidone-iodine group. The chlorhexidine/alcohol scrub proved more protective against superficial incisional infections and deep incisional infections.
The researchers concluded that better skin antisepsis could result in a "significant clinical benefit."
The study is a "landmark", according to the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor.If the study is eventually translated into national guidelines," the impact would be huge. That would include those undergoing cardiac surgery, patients receiving an implant, and those with a compromised immune system.
In the Netherlands, researchers enrolled 808 people who were positive for S. aureus and underwent a surgical procedure that was expected to keep them in hospital for at least four days.
They found:
In the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, 17 of 504 patients (or 3.4%) got an S. aureus infection, compared with 32 of 413 patients (or 7.7%) in the placebo group.
The benefit was greatest for deep surgical-site infections, where the relative risk was 0.21, with a 95% confidence interval from 0.07 to 0.62.
The time from admission to the onset of S. aureus infections was significantly shorter in the placebo group than in the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, at P=0.005.
The "weight of evidence" is now firmly on the side of chlorhexidine and alcohol as a preoperative skin cleansing, rather than povidone and iodine.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
And Dutch investigators found that screening and decolonizing patients who are nasal carriers of S. aureus, combined with washing with chlorhexidine soap, reduced the risk of infection by 58%.
The two prospective studies are reported in the New England Journal of Medicine and offer "valuable insights for controlling surgical-site infections. An accompanying editorial, wrote that the findings "offer remarkably safer strategies for all patients who require surgery."
Overall, the researchers found, the rate of infection was 9.5% in the chlorhexidine group, compared with 16.1% in the povidone-iodine group. The chlorhexidine/alcohol scrub proved more protective against superficial incisional infections and deep incisional infections.
The researchers concluded that better skin antisepsis could result in a "significant clinical benefit."
The study is a "landmark", according to the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor.If the study is eventually translated into national guidelines," the impact would be huge. That would include those undergoing cardiac surgery, patients receiving an implant, and those with a compromised immune system.
In the Netherlands, researchers enrolled 808 people who were positive for S. aureus and underwent a surgical procedure that was expected to keep them in hospital for at least four days.
They found:
In the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, 17 of 504 patients (or 3.4%) got an S. aureus infection, compared with 32 of 413 patients (or 7.7%) in the placebo group.
The benefit was greatest for deep surgical-site infections, where the relative risk was 0.21, with a 95% confidence interval from 0.07 to 0.62.
The time from admission to the onset of S. aureus infections was significantly shorter in the placebo group than in the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, at P=0.005.
The "weight of evidence" is now firmly on the side of chlorhexidine and alcohol as a preoperative skin cleansing, rather than povidone and iodine.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, April 5, 2010
At What Age Should Mammograms Should Begin?
The Journal of the American College of Radiology urges women to begin seeking mammograms every year beginning at age 40. The suggestion is "at odds with controversial advice by the US Preventive Services Task Force that women put off mammograms until age 50 and even then just get them every two years, in most cases." A professor of radiology at Harvard, charged that the USPTF "didn't pay enough attention to the results of studies
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
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