State Disclosure Reports
- Maryland Hospital-Acquired Infection Information
Consumers Union Documents
- Testimony of Consumers Union on Public Reporting of Medical Harm in MD
Testimony of Consumers Union regarding a bill requiring public reporting of medical harm March 3, 2011.
- Health and Human Services Grants for hospital infection prevention at surgical centers
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius designates ARRA money to stand-alone or same-day surgical centers to fight hospital infections in 12 states.
- State Hospital Infection Public Reporting Laws
Summary of state laws hospital infection reporting laws.
Consumers Union News Releases
- Maryland Bill Aims to Reduce Deadly Medical Errors
Maryland hospitals would be required to publicly disclose medical errors that occur while patients are being treated under a bill being considered.
Blog Posts
- Patient Safety Activists Represent Consumers at Presidential Health Care Forum
Four patient safety activists – all who have been personally affected by medical harm – were among the 164 participants in ABC’s televised health care forum held with President Obama. Understandably, they came armed with questions but didn’t get to ask them. So we wanted to give them a chance to get their questions in front of the public and lawmakers here on this blog.
- “The Medicated Child” sparks controversy
As a camp counselor for children with disabilities a couple years ago, I never stopped to consider that one of my bipolar campers may have been on eight different kinds of medication.
News Articles
- Maryland hospitals aren’t reporting all errors and complications, experts say
Source: Baltimore Sun (Saturday July 26, 2014)
What information patients can find on medical errors at [Maryland] hospitals “is sorely lacking, unvalidated and without much meaning to the general public,” said Michael Bennett, who became a patient safety advocate after his 88-year-old father’s death.
- Allegations against Allegany doctor highlight dearth of complaint info
Source: The Baltimore Sun (Saturday June 7, 2014)
In Maryland a doctor was licensed despite a rape conviction. Years later he sexually assaulted a patient. Why doesn’t the Maryland Medical Board keep this information from the public?
- Malpractice claim in teen’s wisdom teeth death settled out of court
Source: Baltimore Sun (Wednesday April 3, 2013)
Teen dies after wisdom teeth removal procedures, her parents sued for malpractice and the sides settled under confidential terms.
- GCN radio interview with Michael Bennett, patient safety advocate
Source: GCN Live (Monday February 25, 2013)
GCN live interviews Michael Bennett, patient safety advocate in Maryland, about issues relating to MRSA and other hospital infections.
- St. Joseph Medical Center not certified by Medicare system
Source: Baltimore Sun (Tuesday February 12, 2013)
The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center failed a critical federal inspection and has been unable to collect what is likely millions of dollars in Medicare reimbursements from the federal government since Dec. 1.
- NIH superbug claims 7th victim
Source: Washington Post (Friday September 14, 2012)
Another patient dies from a deadly antibiotic-resistant strain of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae at the NIH hospital in Maryland.
- Letter to the Editor: As superbug spread, NIH failed in its duty to protect
Source: Washington Post (Friday August 24, 2012)
Letter to the Editor by Public Citizen’s Michael A. Carome and Sidney M. Wolfe: “By not alerting the public sooner, the NIH denied patients considering inpatient care at its hospital the opportunity to weigh the risk of exposure to this superbug against the benefits of being hospitalized there and to consider seeking care elsewhere.”
- Washington Post Editorial: Tracking a superbug at the NIH
Source: Washington Post (Thursday August 23, 2012)
Washington Post editorial on the deadly outbreak at the NIH hospital that left 17 patients dead.
- NIH should have notified it of superbug outbreak, Montgomery County official says
Source: Washington Post (Thursday August 23, 2012)
Public wasn’t notified about deadly hospital infection outbreak at NIH hospital. CU’s Safe Patient Project Director, Lisa McGiffert, quoted.
- Salisbury stent doctor sentenced to federal prison
Source: Baltimore Sun (Thursday November 10, 2011)
Physician sentenced to federal prison for implanting unnecessary coronary stents in dozens of patients, then fraudulently billing insurers thousands for the work.
Research and Reports
- Maryland Hospital GuideThis Guide includes measures that compare hospital performance on processes of care quality measures that are designed to prevent infections for patients undergoing surgery and on outcome measures of care.
- Maryland Judiciary Case SearchSite allows for searches of medical malpractice cases filed in Maryland.
- Maryland: All-Payer Approach to NonpaymentLearn about Maryland’s efforts to alter its payment system for preventable hospital acquired conditions and events that harm patients.
- Testimony in support of MRSA reporting bill (PDF)Testimony on MRSA bill to the Senate Finance Committee considered by the 2009 Maryland General Assembly.