Healthcare

Bill to Reverse Opioid Overdose Epidemic Moves Forward in California Assembly

June 14, 2016  ·  Carmen Balber

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-20867" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/images_cures.jpg" style="width: 160px; height: 106px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="160" height="106" />Sacramento, CA – A California Assembly committee approved a bill today to begin reversing the opioid overdose epidemic and save lives. More people are lost in California to drug overdoses than any other state, and many of those family members testified to their loss today.</p>

EDITORIAL: How To Help Stop Opioid Abusers From ‘Doctor Shopping’ For Prescription Drugs

June 14, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Like 48 other states, California has an online database that records all the prescriptions issued for potentially habit-forming or abuseable drugs, such as OxyContin and Ritalin. The hope is that the system will deter patients from “doctor shopping” to obtain excess quantities of a drug, and help authorities crack down on healthcare professionals who negligently — or cynically — prescribe pills on demand.</p>

A young musician went into open heart surgery to put in place a valve, but after being placed incorrectly he died from complications.

June 12, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-3025" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/image1.jpg" style="width: 230px; height: 165px; float: right;" width="878" height="631" /></span></p> <p>Anthony Fossett was a young aspiring musician who was a beloved member of his community.  An alumnus of Youth Radio's Core and Bridge program, Anthony wanted to be a music producer and hoped to eventually start his own studio.  And he was making great strides to achieve his dreams, performing at the Oakland Museum and helping to produce local rap artists until medical malpractice derailed these dreams.</p>

Will Prince’s Death Finally Spur Opioid Prescribing Reform?

June 2, 2016  ·  Carmen Balber

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2931" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/prince.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 120px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="120" height="120" /></p>

Can Drugmaking Goliath’s $100 Million War Chest Stop David’s Rx Relief Ballot Measure?

May 17, 2016  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2929" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/images_drugspills.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 120px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="120" height="120" />Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik recently <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-drug-money-20160513-snap-story.html">took on</a> the "drug money" against a November ballot measure to require the state to pay the lowest price available for prescription drugs, which is the Veterans Administration prices. <br />  <br />

California’s Medical Board Declares Neutrality On Proposed Doctor Disclosure Law

May 9, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="article-body"> <p>The 15-member board that monitors physicians in California Friday declared its neutrality on pending state legislation that would require doctors to notify their patients if they are put on probation for serious violations, including gross negligence, sexual misconduct and felony convictions related to the care they provide.</p> <p>The decision by the Medical Board of California to steer clear of the fray comes despite fierce opposition to the legislation by physicians and other licensed medical professionals.</p>

The Doc Will See You All Now – At Once; Sharing time lets caregivers ‘get off the treadmill’ – and patients bond

May 8, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>LOS ANGELES, CA -- The women sat in a circle and bemoaned their sleepless nights. It seemed unfair: Their babies weren't born yet.</p> <p><br /> Mayra Del Real's daughter turned somersaults in her belly every few hours. Alexandria Smith lay awake with heartburn. When she wasn't propped up with every pillow in the house, she was making bleary-eyed trips to the bathroom.</p> <p><br /> Sofia Mejia, pregnant with her third baby, laughed knowingly.</p>

A man is hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism. And after three doctors failure to treat him, a cardiologists gives his heart a stress test, killing him.

May 2, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-3020" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/resources_schaaksteven.jpeg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;" width="150" height="150" />Stephen Schaak, an otherwise healthy 51-year-old merchant marine, husband and father of three sons, went to the emergency room exhibiting clear signs of pulmonary embolism - a blockage of the oulmonary artery or one of its branches to the lung.  The emergency room doctor suspected as much and ordered a CT scan to confirm.</p>

An old Chaplain is misdiagnosed with a urinary tract infection, but when test results reveal a much more serious infection the hospital fails to let him or his family know.

May 1, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="300" width="500"><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMSZb1pnSa0" /><embed height="300" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMSZb1pnSa0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500"></embed></object>He was the one who consoled countless victims of crime and disaster, a fire and police chaplain

Woman goes in for surgery for knee replacements. After the surgery, she complains of intense abdominal pain. After doctors ignore her pleas for help, she dies of a twisted intestine.

May 1, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="300" width="500"><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR3s3tNA_Ww" /><embed height="300" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR3s3tNA_Ww" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500"></embed></object>In 2007 Diane Stewart received two knee replacements because of injuries she suffered in a car

After a long wait in the emergency room lobby, a little girl’s condition continues to deteriorate. Because of the long delay for care, the girl’s legs were amputated.

May 1, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-3009" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/resources_malyiajeffers.jpeg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;" width="150" height="150" />Two-year-old Malyia Jeffers had a fever that kept rising, and unexpected bruises appeared on her cheek. Her parents rushed her to a Sacramento emergency room, where they waited for hours even though her condition continued to worsen.    Her parents repeatedly begged to get her medical attention were ignored until her father forced his way into the medical department and demanded help.

Elderly man admitted to a hospital for back pain and immediately given a cocktail of anti-psychotic drugs leading to dementia and death

May 1, 2016  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-3007" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/resources_keithblair.jpeg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; float: right;" width="150" height="150" />Dr. Keith P. Blaire became an intentional victim of medical malpractice when he was admitted to the hospital at the age of 86 to find the source of his back pain.  At the time, he had some short-term memory problems, but he was able to follow the news, sports, and his favorite tv shows, as well as take care of all of his physical needs.</p>