“While the new expert report rules were intended to reduce reliance on hired guns, the Westerhof decision will have the unfortunate effect of forcing plaintiff ’s counsel to become even more reliant on medical-legal experts out of fear that they will not be able to later secure compliant reports from the key treatment providers. http://3lfppdu3hio14gsba1rg48qaag.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tlw-p12.pdf
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Not slashing benefits
Re “Risky business” (Sept. 1): Alan Shanoff asks why would we reduce insurance benefits for Ontarians who need them most? As I have said, we hope for a new definition of catastrophic impairment to make sure that unnecessary costs related to catastrophic injuries are taken out so that money goes to people who really need it. There’s a huge difference in that statement than to suggest the insurance industry wants to slash benefits.
Ralph Palumbo, Vice-President, Ontario Insurance Bureau of Canada
(If the IBC wants the money to go to those who need it, then why are they pushing for a new definition of catastrophic impairment which would reduce the number of people who would qualify?) Editor http://www.torontosun.com/2013/09/06/letters-to-the-editor-sept-8
Brian Sinclair is Why We Need Medical Whistleblowers
The victims who complain to the colleges are essentially unacknowledged Whistleblowers who hope to save other vulnerable patients from often deliberate harm or incompetence. The Colleges, instead of providing oversight, put their member interests ahead of those whom they are regulated to protect, patients. Complaints are often ignored or disposed of with confidential oral, written, remedial cautions that are not part of the public record. The lack of information about these cautions is putting vulnerable and often cognitively impaired auto accident victims at risk.
http://www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/blog/2013/09/06/brian-sinclair-is-why-we-need-medical-whistleblowers/
Unattainable goal? CBA report details the ‘abysmal state of access to justice in Canada’
“I’d start with the personal injury area of law. Why are there so many personal injury lawsuits? Why do so many accident victims require a lawyer to assist with the collection of no-fault accident benefits? How can we modify the law so that insurance companies are forced to provide the benefits they are contractually required to provide without forcing accident victims to retain a lawyer?”
ICBC policies drive debate
“The rise in the cost of bodily injury claims has more to do with ICBC’s aggressive defence tactics over the last few years than payouts to claimants…..It is rather unfortunate ICBC is giving the impression that injury claims are escalating when in fact, their own aggressive policies and procedures are the culprit to the increase.”
Why We Need Medical Whistleblowers
“Beyond legal and regulatory requirements, there’s a culture in medicine whereby my health care colleagues are all too ready to comply with the directive from on high to keep things that might embarrass a hospital quiet. ”
http://www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/blog/2013/09/06/brian-sinclair-is-why-we-need-medical-whistleblowers/
Thousands of doctors practicing despite errors, misconduct – USA TODAY
A USA TODAY investigation shows that thousands of doctors who have been banned by hospitals or other medical facilities aren’t punished by the state medical boards that license doctors. “The peer review system is rife with bias, Levitt says, noting that doctors on the committees often are inclined to protect their colleagues — or go after those who cross or compete with them.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/20/doctors-licenses-medical-boards/2655513/