Following the last election the Republican Party took over the majority in the House of Representatives. As the majority party, they control the committees and the floor, which in turn determines what bills get a vote and the general agenda of the House.

One of the first bills introduced into the House this Congress was H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011.

It is a ‘tort reform’ bill that limits the amount of money that can be sued for in a medical malpractice lawsuit to $250,000.

Tort reform may seem as large of a part of the Republican Party as Abraham Lincoln and the elephant mascot, but it has not always been so.

Andrew Cochran, a political appointee in the Commerce Department during the Reagan Administration, recently published an article What Ronald Reagan REALLY Said About Tort Reform.

Continue reading "Republicans and Tort Reform" »

With the advent of the internet, information on almost any topic lies at the finger tips of the public. Web surfers can find movie ratings, restaurant reviews, and hotel assessments. According to an article by Brooke Adams from the Salt Lake Tribune, the same helpful information can now be found for nursing homes in Utah.

The Medicare website offers comparable ratings of almost 16,000 nursing homes nationwide, including the 93 homes located in Utah. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services compiled these reviews based on data from health inspections, quality measures, and staff appraisals. The ratings were primarily based on information gathered in 2008.

Among the top-rated nursing homes in Utah were Alpine Transitional Rehabilitation Center, American Fork Hospital Transitional Care center, and Brighton Gardens of Salt Lake. Each of these centers received the maximum five-star rating. Wasatch Valley Rehabilitation and Woodland Park Care Center ranked the lowest.

While this new website provides a valuable service to those looking into placing loved ones in nursing homes, some health care officials worry that the ratings will weigh too heavily in the overall decision. Experts in the matter stress the importance of not solely relying on website rankings. When researching nursing homes, it is important to visit many different centers before making a decision- at least a dozen, experts say. Also, don’t simply take a tour of the nursing home, but spend a good amount of time at the residence. Try to get a feel for the staff’s relationship with the patients. Investigate each potential nursing home vigorously. Most importantly, keep in close contact with your loved one in the home. Check on them frequently and at different times of the day.

Although it is only one part of the research, Medicare’s new website does offer useful information to the public and is a good starting point for those looking into nursing homes.

An increasing number of women who have taken Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills have suffered from serious, and sometimes fatal, side effects. The two birth control medications are nearly identical, and have been marketed without adequate warning to their potentially deadly side effects. Yaz, a daily contraceptive pill, is sold by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in March of 2006. Six months later, it was approved to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a serious emotional and physical ailment. It was also approved to treat acne for women who wanted birth control.

However, Bayer failed to properly warn the public and patients of the serious side effects of the drug. Yaz and Yasmin both contain drospirenone, a progestin that adds a potentially dangerous outcome for those who take the drug regularly. Drospirenone can cause severe heart problems by increasing blood potassium levels. Patients have also suffered from strokes, cardiac arrhythmias, and gallbladder disease. Some women have even died from health problems resulting from Yaz and Yasmin.

Many women across the country have filed lawsuits against Bayer, and it is becoming apparent that the drug maker misled the public about Yaz. These lawsuits are holding Bayer accountable for failing to test and research Yaz birth control before marketing the product, failing to recall the drug once it became apparent that it was dangerous, and for vehemently marketing the drug without properly warning of potential side effects.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the serious health problems associated with Yaz and Yasmin, you are entitled to receive full compensation for your medical expenses, economic losses, and other damages you have received. The Yaz/Yasmin attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm have the legal expertise and knowledge necessary to properly represent you in the court of law. We will diligently pursue justice in your case, and work to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve. For a free consultation with the best Utah injury attorney, call the Christensen Law Firm at 801.506.0800.

A recent article from the American Association of Justice brings to light an important legal issue pertaining to our nation’s finest: the men and women of the military. Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez served in the military for a decade before he lost his life, not from enemy fire, but from medical malpractice. When Mr. Rodriguez enlisted in the Marine Corps, he received a routine medical exam in which the doctor diagnosed a blotch on his body as melanoma. However, the doctor did not tell him and the military did not follow up on the diagnosis. The melanoma grew over the subsequent eight years and Mr. Rodriguez had it examined once again while he was serving in Iraq. The doctor there told him the blotch was a wart that he should have checked when he returned to the US. It was too late, however, and Mr. Rodriguez died a year and half later from skin cancer.

Continue reading "US Marines Are Banned From Recovering for A Doctor's Negligence" »

Heather May from the Salt Lake Tribune reported some alarming statistics pertaining to the conditions in which Utah’s emergency care is provided. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), which rated all 50 states, Utah earned a C+ in comparison to the C- national average.

Although Utah is above the national average, there are still many aspects that need to be improved. For example, ACEP gave Utah poor ratings for its access to emergency care and preparation for disaster. These poor marks are the result of a large uninsured population within the state. Also, Utah has one of the nation’s lowest rates of registered nurses and staffed inpatient beds, which can lead to overcrowded emergency rooms. This is also leads to problems in Utah nursing homes.

However, Utah did receive some high ratings. According to ACEP, the state has an exceptional system for tracking and avoiding medical errors. We also have lower rate of health problems such as homicides and traffic fatalities compared to other states.