Safe Patient Project

Gone Without a Case: Suspicious Elder Deaths Rarely Investigated

2011-12-22T18:31:21Z

ProPublica article on death investigation in America. ProPublica and PBS "Frontline" have identified more than three-dozen cases in which the alleged neglect, abuse or even murder of seniors eluded authorities. But for the intervention of whistleblowers, concerned relatives and others, the truth about these deaths might never have come to light.

]]> ProPublica (December 21, 2011)

Without Autopsies, Hospitals Bury Their Mistakes

2011-12-21T18:49:07Z

Second story in Marshall Allen's latest investigation for ProPublica on the state of hospital autopsies in America. It is about the implications of performing so few autopsies in hospitals. Decades ago, about half the people who died in the hospital were autopsied. Today, the average is five percent, but it's close to zero in many hospitals in the country.

]]> ProPublica (December 15, 2011)

Why Can’t Linda Carswell Get Her Husband’s Heart Back?

2011-12-21T18:43:33Z

First story in Marshall Allen's latest investigation for ProPublica on the state of hospital autopsies in America. It is a tragic tale of a woman whose husband died unexpectedly after being admitted to a hospital with kidney stones.

]]> ProPublica (December 15, 2011)

Secrecy protects doctors with long histories of problems

2011-12-21T18:04:04Z

Alan Bavley reports on the secrecy of the National Practitioner Data Bank and mentions Consumers Union's poll results that found nearly nine in 10 people said the public should have full access to the database.

]]> Kansas City Star (December 17, 2011)

Indiana medical errors hit five-year high

2011-12-21T17:41:58Z

The number of medical error reports in Indiana hit an all time high in 2010, according to data collected by the Indiana Department of Health. The most common types of errors reported were pressure ulcers followed by foreign objects left in surgery patients.

]]> Clinical Advisor (December 20, 2011)

It's about time that FDA took action against Lap-Band billboards

2011-12-15T18:01:13Z

The FDA warned marketing company and clinics that they're in violation of federal law by promoting the Lap-Band, a weight loss device that has been implanted in thousands of patients, through "false or misleading" advertising.

]]> Los Angeles Times (December 14, 2011)

Bill Would Require More Monitoring of Implants

2011-12-15T17:55:21Z

New bipartisan bill would require postmarket surveillance of medical devices approved through 510(k), the FDA's fast track approval process that requires no testing on humans and only needs to be similar to a device already on the market.

]]> NY Times (December 15, 2011)

Connecticut Adverse Event Report (2011)

2011-12-14T22:25:25Z

The CT Department of Public Health releases its first hospital specific adverse event report.

]]> Connecticut Department of Public Health (Released: December 2011)

Connecticut Adverse Event Report (2011)

2011-12-14T22:17:07Z

Connecticut Department of Public Health (Published: December 2011)

Medical devices maker Medtronic agrees to pay $23.5 million to settle kickback allegations

2011-12-13T22:26:27Z

Medtronic Inc., the world?s largest maker of medical devices, has agreed to pay $23.5 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to doctors to implant its pacemakers and defibrillators, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.

]]> Associated Press (December 12, 2011)

Ventilator errors are linked to 119 deaths

2011-12-12T17:49:53Z

An analysis of federal safety reports by the Globe shows that at least 119 people died nationwide between 2005 and May 2011 because of such alarm-related problems. And a separate review by the US Food and Drug Administration uncovered about 800 alarm-related adverse events involving ventilator patients in 2010 alone. Many were deemed ?preventable?? or due to ?human error.?? An unknown number resulted in injuries or deaths.

]]> Boston Globe (December 11, 2011)

Public Health Department Fines 14 Hospitals for Patient Safety Errors

2011-12-12T17:33:58Z

The California Department of Public Health announced it was imposing $850,000 in fines on 14 hospitals for medical errors that caused or were likely to cause serious patient injury or death.

]]> California Healthline (December 9, 2011)

Immediate Jeopardy: 14 CA Hospitals Fined $850,000

2011-12-12T17:21:18Z

Another 14 California hospitals have been ordered to pay fines totaling $850,000 in the latest round of medical errors involving immediate jeopardy to patients, state health officials said last week.

]]> HealthLeaders Media (December 12, 2011)

Analysis: Court tests liability of healthcare executives

2011-12-12T17:13:34Z

3 former medical device executives receive prison sentences for their role in an illegal test of a bone-cement product

]]> Reuters (December 6, 2011)

An MS Patient Loses Trust When She Finds Out Her Doctor Is Paid By Drug Companies

2011-12-09T21:23:47Z

As of 2013, a national physician payment database created under the Affordable Care Act will make such information available to all.

]]> Health Affairs (December 2011)