Health Treatment Concerns

Thousands of Alberta health records copied

2009-07-09T09:17:00.001-04:00

Online Accessibility Of Health Records.
What! Me Worry‽

Canada's swine flu shame

2009-06-30T08:17:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-09T07:52:00.002-04:00

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 ! ?

2009-04-27T09:20:00.010-04:00

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

2009-04-17T11:59:00.005-04:00

"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?"

2009-04-16T07:32:00.019-04:00

.
.
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

2009-03-27T19:11:00.000-04:00

"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

2009-03-27T11:22:00.001-04:00

"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

2009-03-19T22:03:00.004-04:00

'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?

2009-03-18T08:32:00.003-04:00

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

Intensive care errors 'frequent'

2009-03-13T07:21:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-09T07:04:00.007-04:00

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

2009-03-06T09:24:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-05T17:03:00.001-05:00

Assisted suicide becomes legal in Washington on Thursday

“Cover-up” by doctors!?

2009-02-25T11:06:00.013-05:00

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

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) News

2009-02-24T12:52:00.001-05:00

Medical Records

2009-02-16T09:08:00.009-05:00

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‽

2009-02-16T07:20:00.011-05:00

'Death' doctor faces extradition

2009-02-08T10:45:00.005-05:00

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

Doctor guilty of patient ma nslaughter
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'

2009-01-28T11:37:00.001-05:00

"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

2009-01-16T14:53:00.003-05:00

"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

2009-01-14T17:28:00.004-05:00

"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

Avoidable Harm?

2008-12-14T07:45:00.005-05:00

CIHI releases HSMR trends for Canadian hospitals

Hospital standardized mortality ratio allows hospitals to track quality of care improvements over time

Another Canadian view!?

We are improving though?

First developed in the United Kingdom and used in several countries throughout the world,
the HSMR was adapted for use in Canada by CIHI.

Here's some UK news.

NHS warned to cut errors in hospitals and surgeries

Mistakes are made, but NHS is getting better

Protecting its Own

2008-11-30T12:37:00.002-05:00

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?

Brain Death Diagnosis

2008-11-26T11:30:00.005-05:00

"Haleigh Poutre speaks

Her case revealed massive,
dangerous bureaucratic incompetence
and the fallibility of the medical establishment."?

The miracle of Haleigh Poutre

Editorial:
Haleigh Poutre, ‘Persistent Vegetative States’ and Compassion

Stepfather to serve 12 to 15 years in Haleigh Poutre case
December 18, 2008

December 30, 2008