PA Bar Association Claims Medical Malpractice Crisis of 2002 Resolved

The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s reforms for the resolution of the “medical malpractice crisis” of 2002 have proven successful, reports local newspapers this morning (The Patriot) The report was conducted by Duke University.

Compensation for claims of medical malpractice dropped almost $50 million alone in 2004. Most seem elated at the smaller number of claims of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania state court – most of the doctors that is. The staggering statistics in the report, such as how there were a thousand less medmal claims filed in state court in 2005 than in 2000, only portray fewer cases and not an increase in the quality of medical care provided. And as mentioned before, less rewards for claimants were granted by state courts yearly. So, obviously, the crisis is over.

These results should probably be explained more clearly, because my confusion is yet to be resolved. By making sure doctors get sued less for their inability to apply the appropriate standard of care for the patient, it surely appears the crisis is resolved. Well done, PA.

Furthermore, once the tragedy of a doctor’s inability to apply the appropriate standard of care for the patient has transpired, we may only collect limited financial compensation, because compensatory rewards were also part of the crisis. Thanks PA.

For further infirmation: Medical Malpractice

Heart Risk Falls When Patients Stop Taking Vioxx

There’s good news for Vioxx patients. It seems that cardiovascular risks decline when patients stop taking the drug.

Merck continued its 3 year Vioxx study for a 4th year.

Those fourth-year results, as analyzed by Merck and released yesterday, showed that former Vioxx and placebo users reported a nearly similar rate of cardiovascular events. Among 2,178 patients, 28 formerly on Vioxx and 16 formerly on placebo suffered confirmed thrombotic cardiovascular events. An undisclosed number died.

Peter S. Kim, head of West Point-based Merck Research Laboratories, said the 28-to-16 difference is not statistically significant and might be due as much to chance as to the drug itself.

Merck recalled the drug on 9/30/2004 after study data suggested that Vioxx increased risk of heart attack and stroke in people taking it longer than 18 months.

Merck faces at least 11,500 personal injury lawsuits and 190 class action lawsuits. The company is now 50/50, having won 3 and lost 3 trials.

Source: Philly.com (Subscription required)

Related Information: Medical Malpractice

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