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A comment on Have You Had a CT Scan Lately?

Greg Cusimano — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:11:52 GMT

See this article about the Huntsville problem. More ... ,0,859454.story

“"We're definitely doing too many procedures," said Dr. Howard Forman, Professor of Radiology at Yale School of Medicine. "Every time we work in the ER or in the in-patient setting, after the fact, it becomes very obvious that certain studies either could've been avoided, delayed or not done at all."

This was a post earlier concerning a CA hospital. I can’t vouch for its’ accuracy, but reflects a real concern.
“Cedars-Sinai Hospital Under Investigation for Radiation Overdoses of 206 Patients
OCTOBER 10, 2009 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning yesterday regarding the risks of overexposure to radiation during CT scan procedures. The warning came after officials determined a CT brain scan machine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center was set to an unsafe level– exposing 206 patients to eight times the dose of radiation normally delivered in the CT scan procedure. The overdoses were delivered to patients undergoing CT brain perfusion scans – to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke. According to the FDA, instead of patients receiving 0.5 Gy (gray) to the head, the patients received 3-4 Gy.
In their alert issued on October 9, 2009, the FDA did not specifically identify Cedars-Sinai as the facility where the radiation overdoses occurred, but health officials at the Los Angeles hospital confirmed the situation to local news sources on Friday afternoon. The error at Cedars-Sinai went undetected for 18 months. Health officials became aware of the radiation overdoses in August. According to a hospital spokesman, about 40% of the 206 patients affected – roughly 80 people- lost patches of hair. Hair loss, however, is not the only concerning side effect of radiation overdoses. Very high doses of radiation can cause radiation poisoning and lead to cancer years or even decades later.“

A comment on Have You Had a CT Scan Lately?

Dave Fisher, MITA — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:07:51 GMT

Media coverage of the two recent studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, claiming increases in cancer due to use of computed tomography (CT), raises vital public policy issues that must be considered.

First, it’s important to understand that medical imaging manufacturers have made incredible strides in innovating advanced equipment that minimizes radiation dose. In fact, new medical imaging technologies and systems introduced during the past 20 years have significantly reduced radiation dose.

Even with this progress, manufactures continuously explore the next frontiers of innovative medical imaging technology that will exponentially reduce radiation exposure while exponentially increasing the capability and quality of the images it delivers -- allowing physicians to save more lives. To that end, we believe policymakers should encourage technologic development so that companies can continue to innovate and produce diagnostic equipment that reduces radiation dose and improves patient outcomes.

Next, while nobody disputes the effectiveness of CT scans, the assertion that CT scans are overused is an outdated perception. In fact, an analysis of Medicare claims data from 1998-2007 demonstrates that beginning in 2007, spending on advanced diagnostic equipment decreased by 19.2 percent while volume grew by a modest 1.9 percent. Any claims that the use of CT is rapidly growing is false.

Imaging manufacturers believe that they way to continue driving proper use of CT, as well as other diagnostic equipment, is to ensure physicians have access to, and are relying on, evidenced-based guidelines at the point of care to determine which diagnostic test should be ordered (or not ordered). That’s why MITA strongly endorses a robust build-out of appropriateness criteria in the Medicare program. and research supports this approach. This is the best way to drive proper utilization while ensuring patients have access to the diagnostic procedures they need.

Lastly, it’s important to point out that medical imaging, when used appropriately, minimizes other risks that more invasive procedures present to patients, and enables doctors and patients to more effectively tackle the very real and very deadly diseases they already have. We must preserve access to these scans while smartly fostering the development of new technologies and ensuring their proper use.

Dave Fisher
Managing Director
Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA)

A comment on Dangers of Signing An Arbitration Agreement

Vickie Pynchon — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:06:04 GMT

I echo your advice never to be afraid to: (1) change the contract; and, (2) shop around for another deal if your bargaining partner won't budge. As an attorney (and an arbitrator who does not believe consumers should be forced into arbitration) even I was surprised when my attorney husband x'ed out the arbitration clause in the form real estate contract for the purchase of our home. The elimination of that clause (and the mediation clause that accompanied it - which I would have retained) was no problem for the seller. When my insurance carrier (and my health care providers) changed recently, my new OB-GYN made me sign an arbitration provision, about which I complained when she entered the examining room ("I'm not terribly pleased that my doctor asked me to give up my Constitutional right to a jury trial," I said). She told me that HER insurance carrier required her to require me to do so. We mourned our lack of freedom to contract together and "bonded" thereby, the strongest insurance against malpractice litigation in any event -- a positive relationship between service providers and their customers.

A comment on Good News from Minnesota in the Arbitration Battle

Mike Bryant — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:06:21 GMT

This was a very big victory for all consumers. It was interesting to see how soon the opposition folded, despite the U S Chambers very odd defense of the system as it was. Hopefully, we will see more of these expansions of consumers rights , after years of defending, denials and delaying.

A comment on Most Bankruptcies Caused By Medical Bills

Greg Cusimano — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:55:01 GMT

On the money Jason!

A comment on How Can I Help My Friends or Family Find a Good Lawyer?

Greg Cusimano — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:25:26 GMT

Thanks Michael, 6 of 8 of our new clients come from other clients or other lawyers-- not the Yellow Pages!

A comment on How Can I Help My Friends or Family Find a Good Lawyer?

Michael Moebes, Esq — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:47:12 GMT

Great article, Greg...I agree completely. My best clients come as referrals from other lawyers or from other clients I've helped. Don't rely on whoever has the flashiest advertisements!

A comment on Under what circumstances may someone recover money damages for emotional distress?

Mike Bryant — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:39:51 GMT

Very good post, here in Minnesota we just got this claim do the courageous fight through the appeals system by a mother who watched her son be hit. These cases are so tragic.

A comment on Chrysler Bankruptcy Will Leave Product Defect Victims Empty-handed

Peter — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:06:10 GMT

Now if we can cancel contracts with UAW, we can get somewhere. Otherwise a fake bankruptcy. Also, I would like to declare BK and get rid off all my debts and keep my money. Where do I go?
(((((((((()))))))))
Fake bankruptcies, fake car companies, fake banks, all make me ill. REAL bankruptcies start soon, minus 100's billions of taxpayers money.---STUPID STUPID STUPID

A comment on Child Car Seats in Automobile Crashes

Greg Cusimano — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:34:51 GMT

Thanks Jason, I wasn’t aware of the video. Great link.