| ‘Miracle’ Pilot on Mission Against Medical Errors | Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in 2009 coolly landed his jet safely on the Hudson River in what was dubbed as the Miracle on the Hudson. He has refashioned himself as an expert on reducing medical errors, which by some estimates kill up to 200,000 people a year — “the equivalent of 20 jetliners crashing per week,” he told POLITICO. If tens of thousands of people died in plane crashes, he says, “There would be a national ground stop. Fleets would be grounded. Airports would close. There would be a presidential commission. The NTSB would investigate. No one would fly until we had solved the problems.” But patients die needlessly every day, and it’s barely a blip on the national radar. Click on the headline to learn more.
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| Woman Awarded $466K in Suit Against Husband |  | The wife of a Washington man who caused her serious injuries when he crashed the motorcycle the couple was riding in 2008 was awarded $466,323 in damages in a suit she filed against her husband. The husband's insurance company had refused to pay his wife's medical bills, and filing suit against her husband was the only way to pay for her treatment, her attorney said. The husband testified during trial that he had stopped paying attention while driving and was forced to swerve to avoid hitting another motorcycle, throwing his wife from his bike.
Paris Achen, The Columbian 08/01/2013    | | Read Article: The Columbian |
| Contractor in Fatal Philadelphia Building Collapse had Invalid Insurance Polic | | An insurer says a contractor being sued by people injured in a Philadelphia building collapse that killed six others had an invalid insurance policy. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Berkley Assurance Co. of Iowa filed a lawsuit Monday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. The company argues contractor Griffin Campbell misrepresented his history and details of the demolition. Berkley also says Campbell’s insurance policy expired May 1 because he and his firm failed to pay a premium. The company is asking the court to confirm that the policy is either canceled or void.
Associated Press, The Washington Post 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: The Washington Post |
| Remington Asks Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Rifle | | Gun manufacturer Remington has asked a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit by Montanans who bought a type of rifle that can reportedly misfire without the trigger being pulled. Allen Bowker and Eric Huleatt filed their lawsuit in June on behalf of thousands of Montana residents who bought Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifles. They are asking U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen to grant them class-action status for all Montana residents who purchased the rifle, claiming that Remington owes them for their economic loss for buying rifles with faulty trigger assemblies that make them worthless.
Associated Press, ABC News 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: ABC News |
| Man Tasered Repeatedly at Work Files Lawsuit | | A man filed a civil lawsuit against his former employer after he said he was hurt terribly and humiliated in front of co-workers and customers for nine months. Bradley Jones, 45, worked at Fred Fincher Motors for more than four years. He said for the last nine months, his fellow employees began sneaking up on him and hitting him with a stun gun.Jones said his boss Sam Harless provided the taser and also held the camera many times. The videos were posted on YouTube, but have been taken off.
Staff, KHOU-TV 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: KHOU-TV |
| Nissan Recalls Versa Note Hatchbacks | | Nissan has issued a recall of about 13,000 Versa Note compact hatchback vehicles due to problems with bolts installed in several areas of the car. The recall covers 2014 model year vehicles; in the recalled cars, bolts were either missing from the lower body sill or incorrectly installed on the rear seat latch. Nissan said no accidents or injuries have occurred involving the vehicles.
David Undercoffler, LA Times 08/06/2013 | | Read Article: LA Times |
| The Growing Popularity of Having Surgery Overseas | | While five years ago most American patients who went abroad for cheaper care went to countries like India and Thailand and over the border to Mexico, many are now going to Europe, where care at top hospitals frequently costs a fraction of what is charged in the United States. There are private facilitators who help make the arrangements, pairing patients with doctors and hospitals and arranging travel plans. In the last few years, governments and hospitals in Europe have entered the field and are now promoting their services.
ELISABETH ROSENTHAL, The New York Times 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: The New York Times |
| Dental Board's Review Process Gets Makeover | | Ahead of the 83rd legislative session, the Texas House Public Health Committee heard pointed criticism of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, with some critics accusing the board of ineptitude and not acting swiftly to address Medicaid fraud cases. Lawmakers have responded by approving new regulations, and they are optimistic that the board will have the tools to add staffing and become more efficient in handling complaints.
Ian Floyd and KK Rebecca Lai , Texas Tribune 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: Texas Tribune |
| State to Feds: We Won't Enforce Insurance Reforms | | Though Texas will join 26 other states in defaulting to a federal marketplace for purchasing health insurance — a major component of the Affordable Care Act — it is one of only six that will not enforce new health insurance reforms prescribed by the law. It's a decision some say could lead to confusion over who's responsible for protecting Texas insurance consumers.
Shefali Luthra , Texas Tribune 08/07/2013 | | Read Article: Texas Tribune |
| Death Prompts Malpractice Suit Against UPMC | | The widower of a Pennsylvania woman has filed a medical malpractice suit against his wife's former physician and UPMC. In the suit, the man claims his wife's doctor "failed to monitor or perform testing on a known liver lesion" that eventually became a malignant tumor and was diagnosed at another facility. In 2008, the woman's doctor recommended "watchful waiting," according to the suit, but did not schedule a PET/CT that could have revealed problems with the lesion.
Gavan Gideon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 08/06/2013 | | Read Article: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
| Suit Against Pittsburgh Zoo to Go Forward | | A court in Pennsylvania has declined to dismiss any counts in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium over the death of a young boy at the zoo. The boy was mauled to death by African painted dogs. The lawsuit claims zoo officials failed to properly ensure the safety of children and parents and, when the zoo received complaints, employees did nothing to protect patrons.
Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 08/06/2013 | | Read Article: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
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