I'll be away from blogging for a few days. Have a nice weekend everyone!
The New Yorker writes about Merck and Vioxx
"While that kind of weighing of risk and benefit may be medically rational, in the legal arena itÂ’s poison." (via PointofLaw.com)
Day 4 of the Susanna Martens trial brings out an expert witness for the plaintiff
This case was initially discussed here. Some highlights from today's proceedings:
An expert witness testified today that Susanna Martens and her baby would have survived if Martens were given antibiotics at her initial doctor visit on March 14, 2000.
Martens and her unborn baby died the next day.
Dr. Sebastian ...
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AstraZeneca sued over Nexium
"The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts Superior Court, alleges that AstraZeneca's deceptive marketing persuaded patients to switch from Prilosec, whose patent was about to expire, to Nexium, a new, nearly identical drug."
I'm happy to see people rising up against pharmaceutical advertising. Nexium is one of the worst offenders of deceptive advertising.
Man Declared Dead Found Alive In Morgue
"A medical examiner was studying injuries to Larry D. Green's body in a morgue when he noticed Mr. Green was breathing."
Scary stuff.
More on athletes putting pressure on the medical staff
"Sports doctors are often asked to compromise their care so athletes can return to their sport, say researchers."
"Chest pains at 3 a.m.? Call a lawyer."
The tort reform battle in South Carolina is starting to get ugly.
A 54-year-old man who routinely complained of fake chest pains to avoid paying the tab for restaurant meals has been sentenced
Terrell Owens would be defined as a non-compliant patient
The following was said by the Philadelphia Eagles' trainer:
“We understand Dr. Myerson’s point of view. It’s just that our risk-reward is different than his risk-reward,” Burkholder said. “He has great risk in clearing Terrell to play and no reward. We think there’s some risk and we think there’s great reward, so right now we’re going to ...
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Medpundit is switching to an EMR
Our practice also recently switched over to an EMR, using the A4 Healthmatics EMR. We are a 5-physician group and the transition was not without its growing pains. It is certainly true that some will be more comfortable using a computer than others. At first, the workflow was slowed - appointment times were doubled, with 15 minute appointments going to ...
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A doctor warns against overordering lab tests
"Make no mistake; patients should take charge of their own health. But a little knowledge without context or clinical judgment can cause a lot of trouble to patients and doctors alike. Unnecessary anxiety and wasted time and money-chasing wild goose lab results may not be a good thing. Be careful, doctor. Don't order lab tests that you don't really need. You're asking for ...
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The (lack of) evidence continues to mount against whole-body CT screening
"The findings indicate that whole-body CT screening exams provide only minimal gains in life expectancy (approximately six days) at an average cost of $2,513 per patient, or an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $151,000 per life-year gained (relative to survival with no screening), making the procedure more expensive in cost per life-year gained than the majority of other healthcare ...
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A family physician is being sued for negligence in this tragic case. A 39-year old female who was 36 weeks pregnant presented with fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. She was treated conservatively of the flu, given anti-nausea medications and sent home. Not feeling better that night, she went to the hospital for further evaluation. Her fever persisted at 103 degrees despite Tylenol. A few hours later, the mother went into ...
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The Lancet suggests that Vioxx may have caused up to 140,000 cardiac events
The study can be found here.
Grand Rounds takes on a surgical flavor this week
Come get your weekly best of the medical blogosphere.
A health care company fires employees for smoking - even if the smoking occurs at home or after hours - to shield the firm from high health care costs
The Bioethics Discussion Blog agrees with the Supreme Court in the Schiavo case
"The behavior of the family, after all the legal and ethical decisions were made to allow patient autonomy through the substituted judgment of a legal surrogate, the husband, appears to be solely in the family's own self-interest. And this behavior is wrong."
"A comprehensive and extremely useful roadmap for doctors."
-Eric Topol, MD, author of The Creative Destruction of Medicine
Learn More...
Past 6 Months
Dear lawmakers: This is what it’s like to be a doctor today
Matthew Moeller, MD | PhysicianA gun owner responds to Sandy Hook
Edwin Leap, MD | PhysicianIs Chris Christie too obese to run for president?
Jeffrey Parks, MD | PhysicianIf I’m wrong about guns, can you please explain why?
Claire McCarthy, MD | PhysicianPrimary care doctors may no longer be needed
Doug Olson, MD | PhysicianWalgreens moves into primary care, and it’s our own damn fault
Kevin Pho, MD | Kevin's Take