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Patel had the patient’s best interests in mind: Defense says

The manslaughter trial against the Bundaberg based surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel that has been going on for 13 weeks now, is in its final phases now. In Dr. Patel’s defense barrister, Michael Byrne QC completed his final address to the jury in the Queensland Supreme Court.

21 Jun 2010

Malpractice reformers get grants, but fear of lawsuits remains ER scourge

A New York judge's unusual technique — listening to the families of injured people, knowing something about medicine — for dealing with difficult medical malpractice cases will be among 20 explored with $3 million grants as part of the health overhaul, The Associated Press reports. The judge, Douglas McKeon, said, "I don't discuss settlement offers with families right away. … I just say, 'Tell me a little bit about your loved one.'"

21 Jun 2010

Ferring announces availability of LYSTEDA for cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding in U.S.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today the U.S. commercial availability of LYSTEDA™ (tranexamic acid) tablets, the only non-hormonal and non-surgical therapy indicated specifically for the treatment of women with cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). In clinical studies, LYSTEDA significantly reduced menstrual blood loss (MBL) over three and six cycles of use with the reduction seen as early as the first cycle of use.

21 Jun 2010

Antibacterial lab coats to help prevent spread of disease in hospitals

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99,000 people die every year from infections acquired while in hospitals. "The goal in our profession is to help cure you not introduce you to another deadly infection," said Dr. Charles Kinder, Heart Rhythm expert and Director of Heart Rhythm Program at Heart Care Centers of Illinois.

21 Jun 2010

Lawyer chronicles history, evolution of advance directives

When first developed in the 1970s, advance directives focused on providing specific legal instructions, such as a patient's wishes to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment in cases of terminal illness or incapacity. The documents helped physicians avoid legal problems associated with fulfilling the patient's wishes.

19 Jun 2010

Medicare payment cuts to doctors loom as Republicans reject slimmed-down 'extenders' package

Republicans were successful in blocking a "slimmed-down package of jobless benefits and state aid late Thursday" as Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., voted with them, The Washington Post reports.

19 Jun 2010

Witt Associates conducts US version of CERT program in Haiti

Witt Associates, the crisis management and preparedness services division of GlobalOptions Group, Inc., a leading provider of domestic and international risk management services, today announced that it has begun a US version of a Community Emergency Response Training program in Haiti.

19 Jun 2010

Patients' relationship with primary care physician improves health care quality: Study

Patients who report having a regular doctor either at a community health center or at the physician's office report receiving better quality health care, and have a better health care experience, than patients who have a regular place of care, but lack an established physician relationship. The findings are part of a study published in the May Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, and authored by Anne Beal, MD, MPH, head of the Aetna Foundation, and Susan Hernandez, MPA, formerly of The Commonwealth Fund.

19 Jun 2010

National Cheng Kung University Hospital's Outpatient Building inaugurated

The Outpatient Building of National Cheng Kung University Hospital was officially inaugurated on June 12th to provide excellent medical service and to further ensure the health of people in Southern Taiwan.

18 Jun 2010

AHRQ: Only 57% of U.S. men see doctor for routine care compared to 74% of women

Just over half of U.S. men (57 percent) see a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant for routine care, compared to nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of women, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Routine care is typically defined as a visit for assessing overall health rather than one prompted by a specific illness or complaint.

18 Jun 2010

SLE and RA negatively affect patients' emotional relationships, sex lives: Study

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients from Brazil and Rheumatoid Arthritis patients from France report that their rheumatic conditions negatively affect their emotional relationships and sex lives, according to research presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 18, 2010

The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Finance Committee reached agreement [Thursday] evening on a six-month Medicare "doc fix" that could open the way for the tax extenders bill to pass as early as Friday, a source tells The Hill. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) hope to pass the tax extenders bill by unanimous consent (The Hill's Healthwatch Blog).

18 Jun 2010

Antwerp ITM calls for change in WHO guidelines on Buruli ulcer

Buruli ulcers, one of the 'neglected tropical diseases' left aside by big pharma and governments alike, are reasonably well treatable, also in poor regions. But then more attention has to be paid to early diagnosis and correct treatment. This means the rules of the World Health Organization urgently need to be changed. So say scientists of the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), based on ten years of research in Congo.

18 Jun 2010

Research examines relationship between body-image distortion and weight-loss behaviors

Normal weight and underweight teenage girls who falsely believe they are overweight are at significantly greater risk of succumbing to unnecessary and unsafe weight-loss behaviors than girls who can accurately assess their weight status, according to new research by a University of Illinois expert in eating disorders and body-image perception.

18 Jun 2010

WSJ: Study on eye medicine reveals possible savings for Medicare

The Wall Street Journal reports that Medicare could save $500 million a year by switching from one type of eye medicine to another, both made by Genentech, "according to a draft study by federal officials and a University of Miami eye doctor.

18 Jun 2010

NPR's Morning Edition examines Global Health Initiative

NPR's Morning Edition examines the Obama administration's Global Health Initiative (GHI) and efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. The $63 billion dollar "initiative preserves the Bush AIDS relief plan," known as PEPFAR, and aims "to allow patients to get care at one location rather than having to seek care at different places. For example, family planning at one facility and HIV care at another," NPR notes.

18 Jun 2010

State round up: Colo. to delay Medicaid pay to doctors; La. Legislature passes law requiring ultrasounds before an abortion

"Colorado has declared a fiscal emergency and delayed payments to doctors and clinics taking care of the state's neediest patients. Under state law, the Medicaid department can delay reimbursements to doctors, hospitals and clinics during a fiscal emergency. Physicians treating patients with the health-insurance plan for the poor will not receive normally scheduled payments on June 25 or July 2, a hardship for safety-net clinics in particular that rely on public funds. State officials said they would begin catching up on payments July 9 after a new fiscal year begins" (Brown, 6/17).

18 Jun 2010

Gary Coleman's death highlights importance of end-of-life decisions

Actor Gary Coleman's death is highlighting the importance of who makes your end-of-life decisions and is drawing attention to the fact that having a "living will" does not always guarantee that your wishes will be carried out, CNN reports.

18 Jun 2010

Drug makers face tightened regulations by FDA and less clout at medical meetings

The Washington Post: "The Food and Drug Administration this week began posting online the results of safety evaluations of recently approved drugs and vaccines. The action follows a law enacted in 2007 that requires the agency to provide more safety information to consumers and health professionals. The evaluations must be conducted 18 months after a new drug comes on the market.

18 Jun 2010

Loss of Manhattan hospital crowds other ERs; Utah discourages Medicaid patients from unnecessary ER visits

"Emergency rooms in downtown Manhattan have become more crowded since St. Vincent's Hospital closed in April, but ambulances are getting patients into the remaining ERs faster than they did when the 161-year-old Greenwich Village hospital was open." Bellevue Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Downtown Hospital and New York University Langone Medical Center are the "four downtown ERs left to pick up the slack" and have experienced increases in patient visits in May compared with 2008 levels.

18 Jun 2010

Doctor News and Research

Patel had the patient’s best interests in mind: Defense says

Malpractice reformers get grants, but fear of lawsuits remains ER scourge

Ferring announces availability of LYSTEDA for cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding in U.S.

Antibacterial lab coats to help prevent spread of disease in hospitals

Lawyer chronicles history, evolution of advance directives

Medicare payment cuts to doctors loom as Republicans reject slimmed-down 'extenders' package

Witt Associates conducts US version of CERT program in Haiti

Patients' relationship with primary care physician improves health care quality: Study

National Cheng Kung University Hospital's Outpatient Building inaugurated

AHRQ: Only 57% of U.S. men see doctor for routine care compared to 74% of women

SLE and RA negatively affect patients' emotional relationships, sex lives: Study

First Edition: June 18, 2010

Antwerp ITM calls for change in WHO guidelines on Buruli ulcer

Research examines relationship between body-image distortion and weight-loss behaviors

WSJ: Study on eye medicine reveals possible savings for Medicare

NPR's Morning Edition examines Global Health Initiative

State round up: Colo. to delay Medicaid pay to doctors; La. Legislature passes law requiring ultrasounds before an abortion

Gary Coleman's death highlights importance of end-of-life decisions

Drug makers face tightened regulations by FDA and less clout at medical meetings

Loss of Manhattan hospital crowds other ERs; Utah discourages Medicaid patients from unnecessary ER visits

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