Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a holistic method for treating medical conditions, often involving natural remedies and herbal medicines. Naturopaths, bearing either the credential Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) or Naturopathic Medical Doctor (N.M.D.), have sought greater recognition among other practitioners of the medical arts. In particular, they seek status under Medicare regulations to obtain reimbursements under [...]
Patient safety is the paramount consideration in any medical treatment. The universal standard of care is that no physician or other caregiver should ever put a patient at unnecessary risk of harm. The corollary to this rule is that if a treatment carries certain necessary risks, the caregiver has a duty to disclose those to [...]
Patient Safety. What does it truly mean? Why are so many errors being made by doctors and hospitals? What is the solution and how can we be facing such an epidemic of mishaps in our medical care? After all, aren't we the greatest nation in the world with the best hospitals and doctors available? These [...]
The Florida Supreme Court in Estate of Michelle McCall v. United States overturned a 2003 law that imposed arbitrary limits on noneconomic damages in wrongful death claims. This is a tremendous victory for Florida patients and families. It also sends a message throughout the U.S about the myths of medical malpractice lawsuits. THERE IS NO [...]
What is wrong with Ohio hospital care? Why do we hear about never-ending medical errors and mistakes being made in Ohio Hospitals? Every day we hear about or experience needless and countless numbers of tragic deaths and serious and catastrophic injuries in Ohio Hospitals due to system failures and communication breakdowns. Before I venture any [...]
For patients in a hospital setting, unfettered nursing care is the key to a successful outcome. However, there are many forces present today that constrain nurses from doing their job properly. This puts patients at risk. National Nurses Week is a great opportunity to make patients aware of the importance of nursing care and the challenges that nurses [...]
Emergency medicine has become an important profit center for hospitals. Not only does emergency care itself produce income for hospitals, but dedicated emergency departments are critical magnets for patients who will be admitted for lucrative testing and treatments. As with other areas of medicine, the profit motive in emergency care can lead to dangerous decisionmaking. In this regard, care providers [...]
National Nurses United (NNU) is the largest nurses organization in the U.S. They have been front runners in promoting safe hospital practices for consumers, especially through efforts to end unsafe nursing staffing levels -- an all too common hospital practice in American hospitals. This month, NNU was certified as the union for registered nurses at Affinity Hospital in Massillon, [...]
Speak up and stay alive is all about your healthcare and the need for you to be an active participant in your healthcare. I recently met Pat Rullo, an author, speaker and trainer on health care issues and surviving hospital care. Her story is not unique. What is unique about her is that she is [...]
Malpractice is negligence. The fact that an injury to a patient is a known and recognized complication of medical treatment does not mean that the doctor is not legally responsible for the outcome. We frequently hear from juries and focus groups that a doctor can't be held accountable when a known complication occurs because that [...]
