Health Care Summertime Blues

Coach is Right ^ | 8/1/14 | Michael D. Shaw

[Oldpuppymax]

Readers of a certain age will remember the hit song referenced above from 1958, performed and co-written by the late rock legend Eddie Cochran. Like Eddie, “I’m gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler” about a two recent events in our wonderful world of health care. Johns Hopkins Ob-Gyn Scandal

Among physicians, men who specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology how long been viewed with some suspicion. This story, coming recently out of vaunted Johns Hopkins will do nothing to quell such thoughts.

As reported by multiple media outlets, Johns Hopkins Hospital has agreed to pay $190 million to settle claims from thousands of women who may have been surreptitiously recorded during pelvic exams by gynecologist Dr. Nikita A. Levy. The good doctor had some kind of sick fetish, and loved to record images of his patient’s genitals, using spy-cams, concealed in pens and key fobs. Moreover, he was accused of scheduling unnecessary pelvic exams, and occasionally performed them without a nurse or other professional in the examining room.

Hospital officials claim to have first learned of his misdeeds on February 4, 2013, even though court documents suggest that he could have been doing them for years. Indeed, plaintiffs’ attorneys estimate that more than 8,000 patients might have a claim. Hopkins did fire him on February 8, and after an extensive search of his office and home revealed...

[Kozak]

What nonsense. Nobody in medicine looked at male Ob Gynes as suspect.
This was just one sick a$$hole.

[buckalfa]

The medical profession mirrors the at large society for being substance abusers and deviates. The profession by its very nature, with easy access to drugs and unfailing trust by patients in those who wear white coats, has it share of those who stray from the straight and narrow.

[jonose]

health ‘care’ has gotten to the point where you need to have a witness with you when you see the dr, or get tests, or certainly when you are in the hospital. When I go with my wife or she goes with me the level of care is increased because a witness prevents the short shrift of attention.

I think an entire industry will crop up as health care advocates/witnesses or the elderly.

[buckalfa]

Great points. Most medical providers make every effort to provide the best quantity and quality of care, but even the best can have an off day. As to patient advocacy, it is already here, but it answers to the hospitals and not necessarily to the patients. Hospitals now face financial penalties if they fail to meet certain patient satisfaction scores or have too many preventable medical errors. Teams at hospitals now focus on these issues to prevent financial penalties,so I guess the patient benefits in a way.