Hot MedFax

Are you sure you want to read this?  Previously it was thought that about 100,000 people a year died from medical mistakes. But the truth is, it's quadruple that.  A study in the current issue   of the Journal of Patient Safety that says the numbers may be much higher — "between 210,000 and 440,000 patients  each year who go to the hospital for care suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death, the study says," according to propublica.org. Here's something even more scary.  That would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in America , behind heart disease, which is the first, and cancer, which is second. Though others balk at the numbers, believing it's really closer to 100,000, the study author based his estimates "on the findings of four recent studies that identified preventable harm suffered by patients –known as “adverse events” in the medical vernacular – using a tool which guides reviewers through medical re...

Well, the naysayers were right.  As Newtown slowly sinks into the background, all our courageous senators and representatives are sliding down with it. Just heard today that the assault rifle ban has once again been lifted from the gun control plan that will go to the Senate today for approval. Should we be surprised?  I guess not.  Outraged?  Yes. Despite all the tragedy and hand-wringing over the Newtown massacre of 20 small children, and the brave agreement among sensible gun owners that something must be done, we're once again back in the embrace -- and fear -- of the NRA. Guess we can't blame it all on the Colts and Sturm Rugers, er, I mean the NRA. Thankfully, there are four states that have moved to more restrictive gun laws; New York, Hawaii, California and surprisingly, to me, Illinois.  And hopefully, Connecticut will join their ranks soon, though Gov. Malloy wants to allow those who own assault rifles to keep them, although the Democrats in th...

T he New York Times reports today on a unique program going on in Los Angeles that identifies kids who fool around with guns and shrapnel and/or have said they want to shoot up a school.  According to Erica Goode, the program hopes to find these ticking time bombs before they detonate. They even have nicknames for the kids, calling one "Jared Loughner," after the man who mowed down people in the Colorado theater last year, who was obsessed with guns and killing, staying in touch with his mother to make sure the teen was stable and not showing any signs of committing violence, Goode writes. Logically enough, many of these kids show the instability or rage or depression that Adam Lanza, the Newtown serial killer who obliterated two first grade classes; Loughner, and others before they commit a crime. The Los Angeles School Threat Assessment Response Team is one of the most intensive efforts in the country working on picking out those who are drawn to violence, and trying...