Kate Hagan reports: One of the world’s biggest drug companies has been accused of paying Australian pharmacists to promote some of its best-selling drugs, in a controversial deal that has divided the profession. Pfizer pays pharmacies a $7 ”administration fee” for each patient signed up to so-called support programs that involve the drug company providing…
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UK: Patients put off treatment due to NHS data breaches
NHS patients across the country have been withholding information from their doctors and putting off treatment due to fears over confidentiality and data breaches, new research has indicated. The NHS has one of the highest rates of breaking UK data laws, with regular data breaches reported by the Information Commissioner’s Office and millions of patients…
MT: Bozeman nurse and surrogate mother suing Billings Clinic, health insurer
Somewhat bizarre case reported by Jodi Hausen: A Bozeman nurse is suing Billings Clinic and its health insurer, claiming she was wrongfully fired and denied health insurance coverage because she was pregnant as a surrogate mother for her patient. […] In November 2009, Acosta-Yearick became pregnant for a patient at Bozeman OBGYN where she worked….
Psychologist held in contempt for refusing to speak
Via Dr. Ken Pope’s mail list, I saw this item in today’s Copenhagen Post: A retired military psychologist has been charged with contempt of court for refusing to break a client confidentiality agreement, in a case that involves the alleged torture Afghan war prisoners. Following a brief appearance in Copenhagen’s Eastern High Court yesterday, Lindholm…
Supreme Court refuses to hear case on medical records consent
Warren Richey reports: The US Supreme Court on Monday turned aside an appeal involving the scope of privacy protections for a patient’s medical records when a state agency seeks to force a doctor to disclose those records without first obtaining a patient’s consent. At issue was a Maryland law that empowers an oversight board to…
An attempt to protect privacy devolves into a scene
Maintaining patient privacy is always an issue in hospitals. In emergency rooms, it may become even more challenging. Last week, my mother was taken by ambulance to an emergency room. To protect her privacy, I won’t say why other than she definitely needed emergency medical care and was in danger of not one, but two,…