Compliance
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New National Agency Could Provide More Accountability When Medical Errors Occur
Patient advocates imagine a group like the National Transportation Safety Board, but for healthcare — an entity that provides another layer of accountability when medical errors occur.
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Not If, But When: Preparing a Proper Defense After Medication Mistakes
ED nurses should not hesitate to contact a defense attorney if a patient is harmed by a medication error. The interest of the hospital often is different from the healthcare provider. Do not assume the hospital will provide a defense for taking a shortcut. More likely, administrators will testify protocols were put into place, and place blame on the ED nurse for taking the shortcut.
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Late Actor’s Family Reaches $1 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The hospital that staffed the “cowboy” surgeon failed in its duty to protect the community from the unsavory practices of this unproctored, non-credentialed member of their medical staff. Given the fact that hospital and medical staff leadership not only were aware of his rogue behavior, but they encouraged and enabled the behavior until the inevitable occurred and a life was lost, the breach of duty and the culpability of the defendant parties is overwhelmingly apparent. -
$4.25 Million Failed Diagnosis Award Reduced to $250,000 by Statutory Cap
The issue in this case is whether MICRA’s cap on noneconomic damages applies to actions against physician assistants where a licensed physician is legally responsible for supervising the physician assistant but provides minimal or no actual supervision. -
CDC and CMS Report Alarming Decline in Patient Safety During Pandemic
An analysis by the CDC and CMS indicates important metrics in patient safety reversed during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Biden Administration Cracking Down on Nursing Home Safety
The Biden administration is promising an effort to improve safety and quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes. The fact sheet foreshadows substantially stiffer oversight and harsher enforcement. -
OSHA Updates Stance on COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
OSHA is reopening the rulemaking record to allow for new data and comments on the Emergency Temporary Standard issued June 21, 2021, intended to protect workers in healthcare settings from occupational exposure to COVID-19. -
OSHA Inspecting Hospitals for Compliance with COVID-19 Issues
OSHA’s COVID-19 Focused Inspection Initiative in Healthcare is underway, with inspectors visiting hospitals and other healthcare facilities to determine compliance with requirements related to the pandemic. -
Discovery Requests Often Are Overly Broad, Can Be Abused
Discovery requests from plaintiffs’ attorneys can be overly broad in an attempt to obtain records the defendant does not have to provide. However, the bar is high when making that claim to the court. The defense can object to what it considers an overly broad discovery request, but the objection often is unsuccessful because the scope of discovery is quite broad. -
Understand Discovery Rules and Limits to Protect Confidential Information
Discovery is one of the first steps in malpractice litigation. It is crucial for risk managers to understand what information can be demanded by opposing attorneys. A proper understanding of the process can guide both how healthcare organizations conduct investigations and the outcome of litigation.