Side Note: Illinois patients now have another way to research their physicians. Similar to a database that was taken offline last year, a new searchable online database was launched Wednesday, October 19 called, Physician Profile. Included in the database are all of Illinois’ 46,000 licensed physicians and surgeons with information about their educational background and […]

side note: This is an extreme example of a topic that I’ve done plenty of writing about. As the nation’s abuse of prescription painkillers continues to grow, it is more than likely to result in a growing number of physicians who prescribe those painkillers being sued for malpractice or arrested for law breaking. In the […]

side note: This is another case illustrating the consolidation of the medical malpractice insurance industry. Other recent acquisitions include The Doctors Company acquiring APCapital and NORCAL acquiring Medicus Insurance. The question yet to be answered is what effect these acquisitions will have on the medical professional liability insurance industry. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway’s […]

side note: Since 1975, California’s MICRA Tort Reforms, which include a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages, has been the gold standard of tort reforms for more than 35 years. It has been tested in the state’s court system regularly, and most recently, an appellate court decision that reduced a $6 million jury award to the […]

side note: This story is interesting because it illustrates the Catch-22 the Republican party faces with tort reform. The modern Republican party has aligned itself with libertarian and small-government, states’ rights proponents. They have also aligned themselves with the business and physician communities. The former think that the federal government has no right to impose […]

side note: New York is one of the states using funds designated by the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act to set-up alternative resolution models for medical malpractice cases. One of the more popular ideas — a specific court for medical malpractice cases — was launched in the state on Sept. 1. It will be […]

Side Note: Last week we talked about the uniqueness of the emergency room –specifically, how the acuteness of the patient’s situation, paired with the lack of a medical record, often produces a situation ripe with liability exposure and potential medical malpractice. Today, we face a similar situation –how pharmacists in New Hampshire are being allowed […]

side note: This is a big deal in terms of the interpretation of tort reforms. The Maine Supreme Court has essentially voided the state’s statute of limitations with a new interpretation of the “continuing negligent action doctrine.” As the defense counsel stated: This ruling will “inevitably have the effect of making medical malpractice litigation more […]

side note: This is the Illinois story that keeps on giving. Last year, the Chicago Tribune did an investigative article where it was discovered an appalling number of Illinois doctors practicing with convictions on their record for sex crimes or violent acts against patients. This led directly to the passage and implementation of House Bill […]