Posted on 02/16/2005 10:24:03 AM PST by WestTexasWend
CORPUS CHRISTI (AP) — Several doctors have been called to federal court to explain some 10,000 diagnoses of silicosis after one doctor said he'd diagnosed more than one-third of that number without seeing the patients or being knowledgeable about the lung disorder.
Lawsuits claiming sand dust ruined the lungs of miners, sandblasters, roofers and other works hangs in the balance of the hearings beginning Wednesday.
(snip)
Lawyers for more than 30 mining and manufacturing companies named as defendants hope the three days of questioning will show the bulk of the lawsuits against their clients are based on shoddy, if not fraudulent, diagnoses.
(snip)
Dr. Kevin S. Cooper of Pascagoula, Miss., said N&M, Inc., the company that hired him to read X-rays taken during mass screenings of workers in motel lobbies or other places, inserted paragraphs saying the patients had silicosis. He said he signed the reports because he was a "very, very busy man."
Dr. Glyn Hilbun, also of Pascagoula, said he was paid $25,000 over five days to perform quick physicals for a Mississippi company that screened potential plaintiffs. He said language was added to reports that he hadn't given a final read.
(Excerpt) Read more at lubbockonline.com ...
There were doctors in Northeast PA back in the 60's (?) and 70's that were known to diagnose anthracosilicosis ("black lung") in people that probably didn't have it, so that they would be able to get Black Lung benefits from the government. Many of these people were smokers with emphysema, so I guess it was difficult to differentiate which diagnosis was correct. Most ended up getting the benefit.
Why "justify"--sounds like some of these docs were involved in kickback for fraud. Indict them, and lock 'em up.
TORT REFORM TRICKLE-DOWN BTTT!
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