Woman's death was 'gross failure'

"Gross failures and neglect contributed to the death of a grandmother-of-five after a routine procedure went wrong at a Birmingham hospital, a coroner ruled."

Hospital gave fatal dose to woman, 64

Coroner says neglect contributed
to death of woman given medical product
10 times too strong during routine procedure

“Cover-up” by doctors!?

Probe into boy's death moves step closer
Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 08:47

A PUBLIC inquiry into the death of a 10-year-old boy from a treatable condition moved a step closer today.


"a long-demanded public inquiry into the 1990 death
of 10-year-old Robbie Powell
from a treatable condition may now go ahead."




Robbie Powell
NHS
BEHIND THE HEADLINES


Action against Medical Accidents
(AvMA)


A CHARITY yesterday won its bid to challenge
the General Medical Council’s decision
not to investigate the death of a 10-year-old boy.

The General Medical Council (GMC)
faces a judicial review over claims it failed
to investigate a boy's death nearly 19 years ago.



Alleged forging of medical records




GMC faces legal challenge over “liar’s charter”
23rd, February 2009

GMC SLAMS DOOR ON JUSTICE
IN CASE OF ROBBIE POWELL
AND ALLEGED COVER UP BY DOCTORS
24th November 2009

Record must be made every time a patient is harmed or dies while receiving treatment

The Observer, Sunday 6 December 2009

"Hospitals, GPs' surgeries and all other healthcare providers
will in future have to log every time a patient is
harmed or dies while receiving treatment."

But, is this a loophole
that needs to be looked after?

A European Court of Human Rights decision.
"Whilst it was arguable that doctors had a duty not to falsify medical records under the common law (Sir Donaldson MR’s “duty of candour”), before Powell v Boladz there was no binding decision of the courts as to the existence of such a duty. As the law stands now, however, doctors have no duty to give the parents of a child who died as a result of their negligence a truthful account of the circumstances of the death, nor even to refrain from deliberately falsifying records."
The decision can be accessed from this page searching for "decision" and "application no. 45305/99" to see -

Protecting its Own

Updated Sat. Nov. 29 2008

In March, 2008, W-FIVE aired "Right to Know" -- an investigation into medical secrecy and the case of Toronto gynecologist, Dr. Richard Austin.

After Harm


Good physicians know the bad ones in their midst. Why don't they point fingers?


"The college has no jurisdiction
over Dr. Austin.
He is no longer a member,"
Thu Dec 03 2009

Deadly hospital gave itself top marks

An example of the reliability of SELF REGULATION‽


Eleven more NHS hospitals at centre of safety scandal
Sunday 29 November 2009

Daughter saves mother, 80, left by doctors to starve

Alive nine months after medics ruled she had only days to live, withdrew her antibiotics and denied her artificial feeding. The former school matron had been placed on a controversial care plan intended to ease the last days of dying patients.

The daughter of an 80-year-old woman from East Sussex
has criticised doctors for using treatment guidelines
which she says left her mother to die.

The NHS introduces euthanasia by stealth

Surviving Hospitals‽

Wouldn't a Patient Advocate committed to pro-actively guiding patients and their family members through the medical maze be a blessing, here in Ontario?

Bill C-384 to be Debated in House of Commons
A bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Canada
Advocacy Alert

Sample Letter
to express opposition to Bill C-384.
to a Member of Parliament
Click Here

Health Colleges Are Self-Regulated‽

The best quality care for the people of Ontario
by the doctors of Ontario

An example of the current ethical self-regulation?

Local Health Integration Network seeks input

If you care about how health care is provided,

a provincial agency wants to hear from you.

The South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), which manages health care in the region, is seeking public input on its latest approach.

Reaching for Excellence,

the South East's draft IHSP

is now available for comment

After hundreds of conversations with area residents and health service providers, the South East LHIN has released its Draft Integrated Health Services Plan (2010/11 - 2012/13). The LHIN is seeking public feedback on the draft priorities until Sept. 23.

Surviving Hospitals‽

Hospitals routinely decide who dies

A 'comedy of errors'

"....the family's concerns were properly addressed by the patient relations office."

Things haven't changed much?


"One wrong (medication) could kill her. I know that she's complicated but on top of her dying, I shouldn't be afraid of them doing something to her."

Paranoid?


Nurses Association director
'saddened'
by story
August 6, 2009

Wikipedia

Ontario jumps into health row

Province fights court challenge
from woman used in U.S. ad
assailing Canada's public system


Appropriate communication
with potential patients
can also limit health care expenses‽


Not All
Socialist(?)
Countries are Alike

Thousands of Alberta health records copied

Online Accessibility Of Health Records.
What! Me Worry‽

Canada's swine flu shame

The Canadian government's failure
to protect indigenous communities
is a sign of deep-rooted discrimination


"Discrimination", I don't think so!
This old phrase is apt,
"see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"?

Actually this condition is too prevalent worldwide!

Help all of us towards a death with dignity

In reality, is this what we should expect to be too common a practice?

Elderly patients were left in "drug-induced comas"
after being overprescribed painkillers and sedatives,
a disciplinary panel heard today.

Ontario is prepared for Swine Flu Threat ! ?

The World Health Organisation has confirmed
that swine flu continues to spread
at a pace of 1000 new infections per day.
Friday, May 22, 2009



I wonder if these perceived threats are helpful?

If an individual misinterprets information, and this will have serious life threatening implications on that individual's health and life, wouldn't an ethical health provider at least make an attempt to ensure that the cause for the misinterpretation was effectively explained?

Is it ethical to repeatedly aggravate, instead of minimizing, the concern?

Is it reasonable to assume that, without an attempt to clear up the cause for the "misinterpretation", there effectively is not any misinterpretation?

The following letters may provide some clarification.

November 9, 2001, letter, Attention: Hospital Chief Executive Office

and

April 14, 2003, letter Attention: The Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health (Ontario)



Epidemic and Pandemic Alert
and Response (EPR)

Call for ‘Robbie’s Law’ for medical mistakes

"Make it a legal requirement to inform patients, or their next of kin, if there has been an error or incident in a patient’s healthcare which has, or may, cause harm."

THE CASE FOR A

‘LEGAL DUTY OF CANDOUR' IN HEALTHCARE:

"ROBBIE'S LAW"



Support Robbie's Law

Self regulation in the "HEALTH PROFESSIONS?"

.
.
A nurse who secretly filmed to reveal the neglect of elderly patients at a hospital has been found guilty of misconduct at a disciplinary hearing.


I tried to put things right and get standards improved. I prepared a report, but no one took on board what I was saying.

Anger as nurse who exposed ill-treatment of elderly is struck off

Nursing council must review this case
The Guardian, Saturday 18 April 2009

You don't blow the whistle on colleagues
and they don't on you.

Harold Shipman travesty, an example!?

Dr Reynolds, who was a partner in the Brooke practice opposite to Shipman's Market Street surgery, risked her career by triggering the first police investigation into the Hyde doctor in March 1998.


Is this another example of the value of "self regulation"?
GMC DEFEATED IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT JUDICIAL REVIEW


Wouldn't this be nice?
Maybe the tooth fairy really exists!

Doctors 'must root out bad care'

"We need to create a culture where doctors are obliged to challenge each other.
It is not happening everywhere at the moment.
There is a silence among professionals.


Time to make a noise in support of the whistleblowers
Friday 24 April 2009


Here's an interesting book on thr topic.

Medical self-regulation
Crisis and Change


Royal College of Nursing
launches whistleblower hotline
after poll reveals victimisation fears
Sunday 10 May 2009

Fair Notice

"An important change in how organ and tissue donation decisions are registered in Ontario.

Now, when you register or renew your health card at a ServiceOntario Office, you will be advised that only a “YES” to organ and tissue donation is being collected and stored in the OHIP database."

Is this a leap towards
"Presumed Consent",

or maybe the (a)
Reverse-onus provision?


Have you registered a decision of “No” or
“Undecided” regarding organ and tissue donation?


Organ donor 'reassurance' urged
24 February 2009

Are the perceived ethics of the "harvesters"
a small part of the problem?


Did Hospital Kill Teen For His Organs?
March 16, 2009

Patient with Down's syndrome starves in hospital

"The NHS must condemn the death of a vulnerable patient who starved to death in hospital after 26 days without being properly fed"

NHS starts inquiry into deaths of
patients with learning difficulties
Monday 19 January 2009


Vulnerable deaths inquiry set up
January 19, 2009


Investigation reveals appalling neglect by NHS
of people with learning disabilities
March 24, 2009
• Report says appropriate care was not provided
• Cases include man who starved in hospital


Will 'shocking' care be addressed?
March 26, 2009


We have met with and apologised.........
March 27, 2009
Problem solved?

Target-driven Culture In Healthcare - Food For Thought

'A hospital is able to tick all the boxes,
yet still utterly fail patients'

The system for hospitals to report errors
in the care of patients should be mandatory,
a patients' group says.

Obama and e-health records: can he really?

US president Barack Obama wants to ensure every American has an electronic health record by 2014.

Intensive care errors 'frequent'

One fifth of patients in intensive care
are subjected to errors with their medication,
a study has found.

Errors in administration of parenteral drugs
in intensive care units:
multinational prospective study
Published 12 March 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b814
BMJ 2009;338:b814

Medical Records

Bows to pressure over data sharing?


Believable‽

Campaigning for common sense rights can be successful.
Occasionally, at least.
Maybe, it might turn out to be an illusion though.


Consent preferences for research uses
of information in
electronic medical records

Trust

Many hospitals 'not reporting errors'

"Reporting nothing
will not mean
you are good,"

Failings at children's hospital
put patients at risk, says watchdog

Trust

Assisted suicide becomes legal in Washington on Thursday

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) News

Medical Records

Officals say the proposed legislation on data sharing is essential to the delivery of better public services and not a threat to patient confidentiality


Confidentiality has come with the territory for medical practitioners since the inception of the trade. "All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession", the original Hippocratic oath decreed, "I will keep secret and will never reveal."

What!
Me Worry!?‽

Unwieldy plan now is to share medical and social care data‽
17 February 2009
Now is the time to worry!


MPHS is a Beta site


Will common sense prevail?
3 March 2009


Thousands of Alberta health records copied

Online Accessibility Of Health Records. What! Me Worry‽

'Death' doctor faces extradition

A doctor charged over the death of a patient faces extradition to Britain after she was arrested in the US.

Doctor guilty of patient manslaughter
Friday 6 February 2009
An NHS doctor who injected an intensive care patient with adrenaline against the advice of three colleagues was today convicted of manslaughter.

Compare to Canada's "Standard!?‽".


Epinephrine also referred to as adrenaline

NHS is 'institutionally ageist'

"Many geriatricians think ageism is rife in NHS, poll suggests
Nearly half blame institutional ageism for poor treatment of older patients"

Aren't we fortunate that Canada is such a caring Country?
So respectful of its citizens whether they be young or old
or any age in between?

Warning issued on mixing blood-pressure drugs

"aging oldtool from Canada writes: Well isn't this a wonderful piece of Friday morning news to come across as I'm downing my combo of high blood pressure drugs knowing the chances of seeing my doctor are nil at least well into next week."

Common blood pressure drugs should not be combined,
doctors urge
(CBC)

Guideline alert for blood pressure patients
as treatment combo fails
Click here

Surgical checklist

"A simple safety check during major operations could prevent millions of people around the world from suffering surgical complications and save the lives of thousands of patients, according to a new study published today."

WHO surgical safety checklist
and implementation manual
click here

Why has the Medical "Profession" apparently been so determined not to adapt a time proven procedure that has been perfected by real "professionals" in another public service, AIRCREW, in the military and airline passenger and air freight industry. Maybe, it might be that an error in one profession, normally only harms the recipient of the service, while in the other, both the recipient and the service provider are at risk when errors occur?

Look at this previous observation!


The lessons pilots can teach surgeons
Debrief sessions, like those carried out by pilots, could reduce surgery errors
24 January 2009