Health Treatment Concerns

Why getting sick at a hospital means you need an ambulance

2011-12-16T16:09:00.002-05:00

Unbelievable!

Yes it is unbelievable, but sadly it's true.

Ontario Health Study

2010-09-30T09:11:00.005-04:00

Ontario scientists launch

“largest health study in the world”

Ontario has expertise in many different types of endeavor.

EHealth Ontario comes to mind.

Ontario HST

sex education

on and on

Sites of possible complimentary interest

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

Self Regulation

2010-08-06T12:42:00.009-04:00

Is this the result we should expect?

http://www.arrogantworms.com/music/the-prescription-drug-song/

Preposterous, slanderous depiction of an honourable profession!

Does this article tend to vindicate the Arrogant Worms' lyrics?

Revealed: NHS fails to curb lethal painkiller errors

Exclusive: 1,300 dosage mistakes leave three dead as research finds patient safety directives not being met

Thursday 12 August 2010

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

2010-07-19T08:12:00.002-04:00

Oh, isn't it remarkable at how confident we can be with the effectiveness of the self regulation that the medical profession has achieved world wide?

Are patients safer?

Patient group aims to lift veil on medical errors

2010-05-09T08:53:00.004-04:00

Each year, medical errors kill almost 24,000 Canadians, yet many patients say they struggle getting hospital staff to admit the mistakes. That why they've formed a new group calling for that to change.

That's nearly one needless death every 20 minutes!

Patients for Patient Safety Canada

Patients for Patient Safety Canada Launches Nationally

An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002

That's nearly one needless death every 3 minutes!

DOCTORS ACCOUNTABLE‽ ! ?

2010-05-01T08:29:00.005-04:00

Something to think about

COLLEGE QUIETLY DROPS INVESTIGATION
OF EX- CHIEF CORONER JAMES YOUNG
ON AGREEMENT HE WON'T RE-APPLY

Inquiry may be held into boy's death in 1990

2010-04-16T11:57:00.002-04:00

An example of the swift response
to clear up ethical questions dealing with the
MEDICAL PROFESSIONS?

NHS blunder changed organ donors' wishes

2010-04-11T09:50:00.006-04:00

Families allowed organs to be donated,
after being given wrong information
on what consent had been given

Makes one feel real comfortable with Ontario's,

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.",

doesn't it?

Organ transplants: Relative ethics
Examining the ethics of transplants
21 April 2010

Nurse is found guilty of misconduct

2010-03-22T08:58:00.004-04:00

16 April 2009
A nurse who secretly filmed for a Panorama programme exposing neglect of elderly patients in a hospital has been struck off the register with immediate effect.

It sometimes takes a few moments for common sense to prevail?

12 October 2009
A nurse who was struck off the register for secretly filming care for the elderly at a Brighton hospital has won her battle to return to work.

22 March 2010
Nurse Margaret Haywood blew the whistle on shocking care of elderly patients in Sussex by filming undercover. She was struck off, but the high court reinstated her last month.

The sacred ethic of the health professions;
You don't blow the whistle on colleagues and they don't on you!,
RIGHT?

Panel to probe Windsor hospitals

2010-03-01T12:49:00.011-05:00

I don't find any comfort in this exercise!
I remember the expressions
Self regulation
Self serving

Are Windsor Hospitals really a perceived aberration, in that they perform less properly than other hospitals in other centers?

Grieving Windsor family seeks answers

Rebecca Walberg on Brian Sinclair's
death in the ER and a
Manitoba Health cover-up
S.O.P.
Medical Profession's
Standard Operating Procedures

Mistaken mastectomy probe

2010-02-25T12:24:00.011-05:00

Pathologist suspended while tests reviewed

I wonder if the speed at which recommended safety procedures are being implemented are a good indication of the value that the medical profession's colleges et all places on their patients' well being?

How long have the recommendations for Surgical Checklists been ignored or ridiculed?

Province probes mistaken surgeries
The Ontario government has launched an external review into a number of botched medical procedures

This should give us as much comfort as
"Bill 31, Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004".
We need patient protection.

Fears grip Windsor
in wake of medical mistakes
Is the current system, in practical terms,
self regulating or self serving?

If there is any reason for doubt,
is that the reason we now have fear?

LIVES AT RISK!

2010-02-16T07:28:00.006-05:00

NHS hospitals ignore patient safety orders
Watchdog says failure by trusts to comply with alerts is 'unacceptable'

Common sense WHO guidelines are disregarded worldwide?!‽ millspeninsula ex

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

A man waited 34 hours in the emergency room, but died without getting treatment

2010-02-10T12:01:00.005-05:00

Judge recommends more legal funding
for family of Brian Sinclair in inquest

First Nations demand health-care inquiry

Donate to the "Chalice" Haiti Relief Fund Now

2010-01-18T22:30:00.000-05:00

If you would like to make a contribution to assist in the recovery efforts please click here to make a donation to our Disaster Relief Fund or call 1-800-267-2923. On January 14, 2010, the Government of Canada announced that it will match all individual donations to registered Canadian charitable organizations to support humanitarian and early recovery assistance to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti, up to a total of $50 million. Chalice is eligible to participate in this charitable programme and will endeavour to match all individual donations to our Haiti Disaster Relief Fund.

Further information will be posted as we continue to assess the situation on the ground.

Donate to the Haiti Relief Fund Now

Woman's death was 'gross failure'

2009-12-22T12:16:00.003-05:00

"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!?

2009-12-09T11:06:00.003-05:00

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

2009-12-06T10:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-12-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

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?

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

Deadly hospital gave itself top marks

2009-11-28T07:09:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-13T16:25:00.007-04:00

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‽

2009-09-29T21:11:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-04T07:09:00.005-04:00

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'

2009-08-01T09:46:00.002-04:00

"....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

2009-07-29T13:15:00.003-04:00

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

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?"

2009-04-16T07:32:00.020-04:00

.
.
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

2009-03-27T19:11:00.001-04:00

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'

2009-03-13T07:21:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-06T09:24:00.003-05:00

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

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

2009-01-14T17:28:00.005-05:00

WHO surgical safety checklist
and implementation manual
click here

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

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

Best Medical/Health Issues Blog

2008-11-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

BOO HOO

No Award This Year

Chief medical officer condemns organ donor decision

2008-11-16T09:38:00.007-05:00

"The government's chief medical officer last night lashed out at the decision to ditch planned reforms for organ donations, warning that dying patients had been left on a 'knife-edge of despair'."

The benefits of 'opting out' are overstated

Is "TRUST" or the lack of trust in the current policy system of "self regulation" significant?

Perception

Shipman?

Powell?
and
Truth?

Alder Hey?

Legally dead?
Actually dead?
Medically dead?

The Goudge Inquiry?

Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing?

Miramichi Regional Health?

Hospital to bury unclaimed organs

Hannah's choice

2008-11-13T11:04:00.004-05:00

"Hannah Jones has refused the heart transplant that could save her life.
But is a 13-year-old too young to make that decision?

Or is she the only person who can?"

"........., a former nurse who had worked in intensive care, and Hannah's father, Andrew, an auditor, are furious that the doctors appeared to assume that not only were they not acting in their daughter's best interests, but that Hannah was incapable of making a life-or-death decision."

'We told her we loved her.
She said, "Thank you for everything"'

Hannah's Choice: Saying No to a New Heart

Transplant for heart refusal girl
29 July 2009

Emergency-room nightmares

2008-11-03T09:59:00.003-05:00

Emergency-room nightmares spur calls for action

A homeless man and double amputee,
died after sitting 34 hours in a Winnipeg emergency room

Reusing Syringes

2008-10-31T08:56:00.003-04:00

A hospital in Lloydminster, Sask., has been reusing syringes to inject medication into intravenous lines, a practice that recently raised widespread concern in Alberta.

A common practice?

Syringe reuse for IV lines not just in High Prairie: nurses union

Respect for patients?

Previous post

At one time surgery staff washed up after
all the surgeries were completed.
Why wash up before? Surgery is a messy, dirty business!

A guide to the Hippocratic Oath

2008-10-25T22:59:00.001-04:00

When I asked my medical students to name famous doctors in the history of medicine, their first answer was Harold Shipman, the GP who murdered hundreds of patients.

Man dead 'for some time' in Winnipeg ER before staff alerted

2008-09-24T01:54:00.011-04:00

Judge recommends more legal funding
for family of Brian Sinclair in inquest

Is this a clear demonstration on the effectiveness of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's (WRHA) review of its approach to patients harmed as a result of breakdowns in the provision of care provided to the population it serves?

Medical errors killing
up to 24,000
Canadians a year

That's more than 2 every hour!

Nearly a Quarter of Canadians Report
a Preventable Adverse Event
in Own Care or That of a Family Member
click here

Man's death in Winnipeg ER 'preventable'
chief medical examiner

A man waited 34 hours in the
Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre emergency room,
but died without getting treatment.

Ottawa's ER's are more compassionate?

'A disgrace'

So WE WAITED AROUND 17 HOURS to see a doctor for 7 minutes

Do no harm

2008-09-10T07:05:00.000-04:00

Discussions after Harm in the Healthcare Setting

2008-09-03T13:15:00.003-04:00

“ If you take my pen and say you are sorry
and don’t give me back my pen,
nothing has happened.”
– attributed to Bishop Desmond Tutu.

OOPS, Sorry!

How Hospitals are Killing ER Patients

2008-08-30T08:20:00.001-04:00

Quick harvest of infant hearts incites debate

2008-08-13T22:54:00.002-04:00

"Cases raise touchy ethical question: When to declare organ donors dead?"

ETHICAL?

Earlier harvesting of hearts

stirs ethics debate

ETHICAL?

Doctors facing 'five-year MOTs (relicensing)'

2008-07-24T08:10:00.001-04:00

"The government committed itself to introducing a system of relicensing the UK's 150,000 doctors last year to test their basic competence as a medic."

They have a year and a half to get it right!

"Written laws are like spider's webs;
they will catch, it is true, the weak and the poor,
but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful."
(Anacharsis--Scythian Philosopher...600 B.C.)

Ontario called on to improve nursing home conditions

2008-07-09T07:40:00.001-04:00

"Disgraceful conditions in the province's nursing homes"

Vast majority of Toronto's nursing homes cited
for failing provincial standards

Much more than mere incidents

2008-06-11T14:55:00.001-04:00

Doctor Charles Smith Seen As Part Of A
Larger Pathology And Medicare Crisis In Canada
In Globe And Mail History:
"Much More Than Mere Incidents"

Access to Information

2008-06-07T06:14:00.002-04:00

Stop The Press:
Part Two; Access to Information Request:

A very informative Blog post!

Emergency room visit strips man, 81, of dignity

2008-05-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

Patient went AWOL under nurses' noses

Is this "Standard of Care" acceptable?
Corrective action will be taken!?
Definitively!

Pathology errors spark concern over hospital laboratories

2008-05-03T09:07:00.006-04:00

Is this a crisis!?‽

Maybe the accepted "Standard of Practice" that has evolved from "Self Regulation" is a contributing factor to the crisis‽

SELF REGULATING? - SELF SERVING?

Samson and Goliath,
Who will be the winner?

Brain death diagnosis

2008-03-24T11:10:00.009-04:00

An organ harvest was begun, that was until he moved his arm.

Four months after he was declared brain dead
and doctors were about to remove his organs for transplant,
Zach Dunlap says he feels "pretty good."

Man Makes “Miraculous” Recovery from Brain Death

When brain death isn't terminal
The case of a revived 'brain-dead' accident victim raises some disturbing issues
Apr 13, 2008

Brain Death is the irreversible cessation of all brain function including that of the brain stem.
There is no possibility of recovery in this situation and once brain death has been confirmed,
the patient is legally dead.
Reassuring?

Legally dead?
Actually dead?
Medically dead?
Maybe dead?

Haleigh Poutre speaks

DECLARED BRAIN DEAD
PARENTS REFUSED TO EUTHANIZE
WOKE UP FROM COMA

the charles smith blog

2008-03-21T10:36:00.005-04:00

"An Extraordinary Development in Canada:
Three Inquiries Based on Flawed Pathology In One Country At The Same Time;
Crisis?"

Not really an extraordinary development.
Pathology standards, as well as all other medical standards,
appear to have been consistent for years.
Is this another example?

Father credited for acquittal in baby's death
April 4, 2008

Saturday, April 5, 2008

CPSI launches first-ever Canadian Disclosure Guidelines

2008-03-18T18:52:00.008-04:00

Guidelines aim to cut medical errors

Another view?

Not right to remain silent about errors, medical guidelines say

This would be an extraordinary, dramatic change from the apparent current practice of cover up with detailed all encompassing meaningless explanations. One can expect the word "appropriate" to be used liberally in a "double entendre" fashion, in an attempt to confound the gullible. Here's an example!?

MD 'secrets' will go public

2008-03-01T08:37:00.009-05:00

Malpractice judgments will be posted on College's website, thanks to Star probe

Ethics Honesty
As understood by the public!?
As understood by the
Health Professions Colleges!?
Self Regulation!!!!!!!

W-FIVE Investigates the Secretive World of Medicine and the Toronto Doctor Dozens of Women Claim Injured Them

W-FIVE: Right to Know
Streaming video of the program on this link
U pdated Fri. Feb. 29 2008 11:13 AM ET
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Patient fired by her doctor

Equal Justice For All?

2008-02-26T10:55:00.005-05:00

Premier's fan accused of death threats

And is the following an example of consistency in the application of justice?

If an organization repeatedly reiterates what they know will be interpreted as a threat, then is it not logical to assume that they have knowingly given the threat? Isn't a threat to cause harm or death a criminal offence in most of Canada?

Maybe the perceived difference is due to the fact that the second example deals with the exemplary ethical, self regulating, law respecting honest medical profession?

Probably so!

The Current Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario is clearly an investigation, of a possible aberration, of the profession's ethics?
Maybe the "Shipman Inquiry", in another jurisdiction, is another example?

Doctors 'must own up to blunders'

2008-01-20T10:10:00.000-05:00

"A new culture of honesty and openness should see such patients receive a personal apology from the doctor concerned and a detailed explanation of what went wrong"

One wonders when signs of this "NEW CULTURE" will become evident!

A new culture‽

A continuing culture‽

Sick Kids staff shocked over pathologist's work habits

2007-12-17T19:19:00.000-05:00

"A secretary who worked alongside Dr. Charles Smith for years says she found a bag of dried human tissue, a dish containing bones and a child's hospital bracelet during one of her frequent searches of the pathologist's ramshackle office."

Justice is equal for all in Canada?
Looking at this previous post would make you wonder.
Click here

Hospital 'fines' for patient harm

2007-12-17T09:05:00.002-05:00

"The taxpayer should not have to foot the bill for poor care that resulted in longer stays in hospital"

Maybe the idea is catching!
See Aug 19, 2007 post

Medicare Says It Won’t Cover Hospital Errors

The new policy raises the possibility of changes in medical practice
as doctors hew more closely to clinical guidelines.

The hospital where octuplets were born in January
has been fined for a second time
for failing to protect the family's medical privacy.
17 July 2009

Signals missed as errors piled up

2007-12-10T07:46:00.000-05:00

Lack of oversight, shortage of pathologists contributed to `miscarriages of justice'

Lack of oversight‽

Police ordered to release secret papers

2007-11-27T07:50:00.000-05:00

Kingston force feared embarrassing officers

Lawsuit dropped against police

Pathologists directed to 'think dirty'
January 17, 2008

KGH autopsy on child rife with errors: inquiry

2007-11-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

Common Standard of Practice (Care) ‽

Autopsy team mistakenly destroyed brain

And then
A previous example that met CPSO standards?

Charles Smith Inquiry
Let’s not lose sight of the real issue

Cairns comes under fire at Smith inquiry
Nov 27, 2007

Smith 'sorry' for autopsy errors

2007-11-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

"The doctor at the heart of an inquiry into pediatric forensic pathology in Ontario has apologized for the 'mistakes' he's made in his work."

Disgraced pathologist 'sorry' for multiple mistakes

Was the quality of his work consistent with the standard of care/practice expected of professionals, in this field of practice, by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)?

A previous example of a standard expected by the CPSO?

“If we do not
hear,
see,
or speak evil,
we ourselves
shall be spared all evil‽"

SYSTEMIC FAILINGS‽

Former chief coroner says he's sorry
for miscarriages of justice involving Dr. Charles Smith
Dec 3, 2007

Next mea culpa?

Bereaved 'will agree to donate'

2007-11-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

"Despite the organ retention scandals of the last decade, bereaved relatives are willing to donate tissue, a pioneering Scottish research centre has found."

Contrast to Ontario

Doctor Scorecard

2007-11-03T09:20:00.000-04:00

"DoctorScorecard encourages doctors
to introduce their service to potential patients.
Making a basic profile takes only about 10 minutes and it's free."

Patient support safety service (Ontario)

2007-10-25T15:44:00.002-04:00

With this service all Ontarians can sleep soundly!?‽

Man on mission to overhaul healthcare system

2007-10-25T15:28:00.000-04:00

After the sudden death of his wife in March 2003, Edward Mendoza has made it his life’s work to heal what he describes as the shoddy Canadian medical system and those at its mercy.

Bug hospital chief pay withheld

2007-10-14T10:48:00.000-04:00

Kent police have launched an investigation into whether the trust should be prosecuted for the deaths.

Encouraging?

The dirty truth on the wards

An Observer investigation has revealed how elderly patients
are often left in squalor by overworked staff, reports Jo Revill.

Acquittals in blood scandal

2007-10-01T21:38:00.000-04:00

"the ruling an 'absolute vindication' and a 'complete exoneration"

Confirmation that the high value Canadians place,
and expect,
on our Justice System is justified

Yes, Virginia, there is noSanta Claus!

A Canadian judge has acquitted
four doctors and a US drug company
of criminal negligence
in a long-running tainted-blood scandal.

Nuisance charges dropped in tainted blood case

Surgical watchdog dithered

2007-09-27T07:53:00.000-04:00

"College took no action as family doctors did procedures without oversight or training"

Hospital `kicks out' senior

2007-09-06T12:42:00.000-04:00

"Elderly patient's family claims Peel Memorial security pushed, handcuffed and assaulted him"

Hospital guard fired after senior handcuffed

Medicare Says It Won’t Cover Hospital Errors

2007-08-19T10:28:00.002-04:00

The new policy raises the possibility of changes in medical practice as doctors hew more closely to clinical guidelines.

Very interesting.
Maybe this idea could be used here, in Canada,
to remove a de facto monetary reward for errors
and replace it with an effective monetary penalty.

In practice would the actual result be a more pronounced,
see no evil, hear no evil?
Duh I saw nothin' !

Botched organ harvesting

Hospital 'fines' for patient harm
"The taxpayer should not have to foot the bill for poor care that resulted in longer stays in hospital"

Monday, December 13, 2007

Health Care Neglect

2007-08-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

"Madeleine Mendoza
She Wasn’t Supposed To Die
Since his wife passed away in a hospital in March 2003,
Ed Mendoza has been on a crusade to prevent
Madeleine’s tragedy from happening to others. "

Health care mistakes worry Canadians: report

One in 10 patients receives wrong medication

An Orleans senior who's dedicated his life to raising awareness about what he says is a broken medical system, continues his crusade at a health care conference in Ottawa next week.

Halifax 7

New law sheds light on practices of health care providers

2007-06-06T07:51:00.000-04:00

"As many as 23,750 people die each year from in-hospital medical errors – also known as adverse events – according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information."

New law will make health care safer!?‽

I wonder why I don't feel any safer.
Is there a similarity between English common law
and Ontario/Canadian common law
relating to truthfulness?

I'm not even aware of any serious attempt
to lower the needless death rate from
in-hospital medical errors
to 2 deaths per hour.

At one time surgery staff washed up after
all the surgeries were completed.
Why wash up before? Surgery is a messy, dirty business!

Is this the current rationale for hand washing?
??????

Does self-regulation work for the medical profession?

WHO-Hand Hygiene Survey

2007-05-23T09:59:00.000-04:00

"Hospital-acquired infections are one of the leading causes of death globally. Becoming knowledgeable about Hand Hygiene is the most important thing you and your healthcare worker can do to prevent an infection and the harm or death which can follow."

Click here for the source link for the survey.

...

Year-long wait for skull surgery

2007-05-22T08:14:00.000-04:00

Anywhere else but Ontario, the provincial ombudsman's office could have investigated

Patients win right to know

2007-05-05T07:49:00.000-04:00

"Ontario moves to end medical secrecy"

Why don't I feel relieved?

I'm not a pessimist, I can see that the glass is half full.
Others might regard it as, half empty.
My concern is; What's really in the glass?

You really don't want to know do you?
Power to probe hospitals urged

Patients for Patient Safety Champion, Canada

2007-04-19T10:28:00.000-04:00

Patients for Patient Safety News

CHAMPION ACTIVITIES

Ed Mendoza, Patients for Patient Safety Champion, Canada

See also

Open Medicine

2007-04-19T08:43:00.000-04:00

"Why Open Medicine?"

Hospital secrecy to end

2007-04-12T08:12:00.000-04:00

Smoke and Mirrors?

Will there be an effective requirement to tell the truth?

Isn't there a similarity between English common law
and Ontario/Canadian common law
relating to truthfulness?

A move to combat the problem of medical secrecy?

Patients urge access to data on doctors' errors
Apr 19, 2007

Patients demand complaints against MDs be public
April 19, 2007

Stop shielding doctors, patients demand
Apr 20, 2007

Organ-donor rules wait till after Ontario election

2007-04-06T10:49:00.002-04:00

Reverse-onus provisions that say that your organs can be harvested whether you like it or not equate us to produce from an agricultural enterprise that provides life sustaining food for us.

Is this morally or ethically acceptable reasoning to equate organ donation to organ harvesting in this manner?

Can the harvesters be trusted?

Ontario eyes reimbursing organ donors
April 11, 2007

Fair Notice?

WHO DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING AND LEARNING SYSTEMS

2007-03-27T08:31:00.000-04:00

Imagine a jet aircraft which contains an orange coloured wire essential for its safe functioning. An airline engineer in one part of the world doing a pre-flight inspection spots that the wire is frayed in a way that suggests a critical fault rather than routine wear and tear. What would happen next? I think we know the answer. It is likely that – probably within days – most similar jet engines in the world would be inspected and the orange wire, if faulty, would be renewed.

When will health-care pass the orange-wire test?

Does this article indicate that it will be soon?

Many staff would not want to be
patients in own hospitals

Ont. family cites lax hospital hygiene in death

2007-03-23T12:22:00.000-04:00

CTV.ca | Ont. family cites lax hospital hygiene in death:

"'I think there needs to be a culture change within our health care facilities that says if you're not washing your hands, if you are not using gowns and gloves appropriately, that needs to be addressed,'"

One would hope that that the above was only an isolated incident(s).

Obviously this is a wishful, naive, belief
that respect for human life is paramount in this unnamed profession.

Is this following example further evidence that improvement is required?

Alberta hospital closed after super bug, sterilization problems

Is it my imagination, but it appears that whenever it seems that there have been two or three steps forward in improving the system there are three or four steps in reverse that effectively wipe out any improvement and especially any hope for improvement?

The unkindest cut

2007-03-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

What does "Standard of Care" mean?

Coming clean on errors
Does that mean washing hands
before and after
each patient examination or visit?

Wrongfully accused can sue

2007-03-14T18:29:00.000-04:00

Pathologist must pay woman wrongly jailed
May 17, 2007

"Wrongfully accused mom can sue pathologist: Appeal Court
Decision opens door for others falsely charged"

The actual decision is of interest

COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO

The system may temporarily give the illusion that you have won,
then the system will show it's the winner.
R.I.P.

How do you diagnose death?

2007-03-01T11:15:00.001-05:00

The doctors said they had never heard of anyone coming round
after 30 minutes of apparent lifelessness,
let alone a young baby.

Misdiagnosing death apparently is not very uncommon.
It's disgusting when a procedure,
euphemistically called an autopsy,
is used to verify the death diagnosis.

Some interesting comments

...which is the reason I want to be cremated.
I remember watching a programme when I was younger
which had a man waking up to find he was in his own coffin,
6 feet under.
At least if they make a mistake and I'm alive,
it won't take long to prove them right and me wrong.

Blimey.
If I'm going to wake up in my own coffin,
I REALLY don't want either to find I've been buried 6 ft under and can't get out,
or to be burned alive.
Think I might request a very long lying-in-state.

30 minutes remarkable!?
Baby declared dead revives after hours in cold storage

Aug 18, 2008

Parents find preemie breathing in morgue freezer five hours after she was pronounced dead

Premature baby 'comes back to life'

Medical profession in regulation shake-up

2007-02-24T07:41:00.000-05:00

Britain -- Doctors' regulatory power 'to go'

Canada Next!?!

Doctors face independent scrutiny
in GMC shake-up

Will this be an honest attempt to bring justice to the system?
A smoke and mirrors ploy?