DC Medical Malpractice & Patient Safety Blog
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/
Published by Patrick Malone & Associates, P.C.en-us2015-09-06T18:51:52-05:00Medical Studies — Separating the Good from the Crummy
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/09/medical_studies_separating_the.html
Our friends at HealthNewsReview.org are devoted to helping consumers understand what is real and what is puffery in claims about health-care interventions. The HNR website is a wonderful resource for learning how to evaluate the often breathless claims the popular...Research StudiesPatrick A. Malone2015-09-06T18:51:52-05:00Even an Orthodontist Wouldn’t Apply His Own Braces
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/09/even_an_orthodontist_wouldnt_a.html
Orthodontic work is expensive and often not covered by medical insurance, so it’s understandable that some people might entertain the idea of do-it-yourself braces using tiny rubber bands. Don’t even think about it. A report that recently aired on WTHI...Dental CarePatrick A. Malone2015-09-03T17:20:00-05:00Cellphones in the OR Can Distract from Vital Tasks
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/09/cellphones_in_the_or_can_distr.html
If any work places should be distraction-free, a short list would include the command post for launching nuclear arms, the control tower of a busy airport and the operating room. We have no information about the first two, but a...Patrick A. Malone2015-09-02T17:17:00-05:00Cancer and Fertility — What Aren’t They Telling You?
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/09/cancer_and_fertility_what_aren.html
When you're diagnosed with cancer, fear of death can overwhelm any other issues. Which is too bad, because cancer treatment can -- but doesn't have to -- take away your ability to have children. There are ways to preserve fertility,...Patrick A. Malone2015-09-01T17:15:00-05:00Stanching the Flow of a Dangerous Drug for Kids
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/stanching_the_flow_of_a_danger.html
For years it’s been known that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, poses risks of overdose, particularly in children. Finally, the FDA has endorsed using a safety device to restrict the drug’s flow from bottles of the children’s medicine to...MedicationsPatrick A. Malone2015-08-31T17:03:00-05:00The Soundtrack for Surgical Healing
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/the_soundtrack_for_surgical_he.html
Research into the healing properties of music isn’t new, but the field of study recently was launched a bit farther with substantial evidence that listening to music before, during or after a surgical procedure helps patients by reducing pain, anxiety...HospitalsPatrick A. Malone2015-08-30T14:51:28-05:00Q&A on the Female Libido Drug
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/qa_on_the_female_libido_drug.html
Last week, the FDA approved the first prescription drug aimed at boosting women’s libido. The process of approval was controversial, as we wrote recently in our blog, “An ‘Astroturf’ Grassroots Campaign for a Female Viagra.” The reference to the fake...MedicationsPatrick A. Malone2015-08-28T10:58:57-05:00Unhygienic Scopes Continue to Spread Infection
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/unhygienic_scopes_continue_to.html
In the same week in which the FDA issued warnings to companies whose invasive medical scopes are difficult to disinfect and that have spread deadly infections, another hospital’s infectious outbreak is being investigated for the same type of problem. As...InfectionsPatrick A. Malone2015-08-27T16:09:26-05:00The Connection Between Medical Malpractice Caps and Medical Harm
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/the_connection_between_medical.html
We write often about the misguided, unfair movement to cap the amount of money plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases are allowed to receive. We’ve often detailed how these efforts, backed by the medical and insurance industries and conservative lawmakers who...Medical MalpracticePatrick A. Malone2015-08-26T15:53:54-05:00A "black box" for operating room mishaps?
http://www.protectpatientsblog.com/2015/08/a_black_box_for_operating_room.html
Patients who suspect malpractice after they've had an unforeseen injury from a surgical procedure quickly learn that the operating room works on a basic "honor system" for reporting errors. If something goes wrong, the surgeon is required to describe the...Medical MalpracticePatrick A. Malone2015-08-26T15:19:21-05:00