Doctor Aims to Expose Improprieties

REDONDO BEACH, CA, March 26, 2008 – Gregory A. Smith, MD, the Medical Director of Comprehensive Pain Relief Group (CPRG) is crusading for change. As a physician who deals with chronic pain relief issues, he has seen more than his share of patients who are addicted to prescription painkillers. Over recent years it has become [...]

Hospitals must publicly report infection rates, experts say

LISA PRIEST
February 5, 2008

The federal government’s move to target the superbug MRSA is a great start but hospitals should take it a step further by publicly reporting their infection rates, patient advocates and experts say.

“I’m still stuck on the idea that their plan has to include public reporting,” said Michael Gardam, director of infection prevention [...]

Hospital death-rate report triggers calls for action

Robert Cribb
Staff Reporters
Calling the public release of Ontario hospital death rates “revolutionary,” Health Minister George Smitherman said the province is contacting hospitals with poor scores to see what can be done to better protect patients.
“Those hospitals that have not been seen to perform well will feel under the most intense pressure to take remedial action,” [...]

Surgery Complication Feels Like ‘Living Death’

What if you accidentally woke up in the middle of your surgery?
It’s called anesthesia awareness — a rare, but serious surgical phenomenon of being paralyzed by drugs, yet mentally alert, under general anesthesia.
‘Living Death’
“You’re screaming inside your body,” said Carol Weihrer, a victim of anesthesia awareness. “You’re trying to crawl off the gurney, you’re trying [...]

Desire to Debunk

November 23, 2007

What is it about those who pathologically debunk just for the hell of it? . . .
We were watching Monster Quest: Birdzilla! last night, when my husband “George” said to me, “Why do some people have this obsessive need to debunk, just for the hell of debunking?”
In particular, George was referring to the [...]

Doctor pleads guilty to obstruction

BOSTON — A prominent dermatologist accused of submitting fake diagnoses for patients to get Medicare payments pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Monday, and federal prosecutors agreed not to pursue health-care fraud charges against him.
Abdul Razzaque Ahmed, 59, of Brookline, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of a criminal investigation and also agreed to [...]

Fake dermatologists practice in Cebu

PEOPLE are urged to be aware of the presence of fake dermatologists practicing in Cebu as legal dermatology practitioners.
Dermatologist Dr. Marilou Ong, in an interview with Sun.Star, said there are quite a number of pseudo dermatologists, or those doctors who are not recognized as legal dermatologists, practicing their craft in Cebu.
These pseudo dermatologists are also [...]

Province investigates physicians

PATRICK WHITE
November 20, 2007

Ontario’s medical watchdog is investigating 16 physicians who perform cosmetic surgery after the death of a 32-year-old Toronto liposuction patient two months ago prompted the group to accelerate a crackdown on the field.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario sent out questionnaires last month to physicians in the province who conduct [...]

Study Shows Alcohol Can Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

By Rose Hoban
02 October 2007
Medical researchers have been puzzling for years over the effect alcohol consumption has on health. Many studies have indicated that drinking some alcohol (in particular, red wine) may provide benefits to the heart and circulatory system.However, other studies have pointed to alcohol as a factor in the development of some cancers. [...]

Breakthrough Drug for Children With Cancer

The drug RH1 was able to kill tumour cells from neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, all of which can be resistant to current treatment.
In a pre-clinical study, University of Manchester scientists found the drug could boost cancer cell death by 50%.
They now want to hold a clinical trial involving children with cancer.
RH1 effectively encourages [...]