Colleges, potential employers, and law enforcement agencies have been using social media like Facebook and Twitter to screen for undesirables since the services became widespread. Now we can add insurance companies to the list of entities that monitor or “stalk” us via our online presence. In this case “Big Brother” is looking for evidence…
The quest to make hospitals a safer place for their patients isn’t going as well as hoped, a new study analyzing harm from medical care reports. The 2002-2007 study took place in 10 North Carolina hospitals and found that injury to patients was commonplace and instances did not decline over time. The problems reported…
As our bodies go through the natural wear and tear of time, some people will encounter the need for a hip replacement as the deterioration of the natural joint leads to debilitating pain and loss of mobility. Two of the most prominent hip replacements on the market are manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary,…
Some years ago, Allstate Insurance, in its never ending quest to maximize profits, came up with a software program called “Colossus”. The program took the details of a personal injury case (such as bills, injuries, treatment, etc.) and used algorithms to determine how much money, if any, was to be paid out in settlement….
Life insurance companies are duping millions of Americans by holding onto death benefits that should be dispersed to families. An investigation by Bloomberg Markets magazine found that MetLife and Prudential have led the way in secretly making enormous amounts of profits on money owed to the relatives of people who have passed away. Chief…
In an environment like a hospital or clinic you’d hope that a doctor or caregiver haphazardly prescribing medications, drinking on the job, or acting totally incompetent would be reported by their peers. A recent Journal of American Medical Association survey of almost 2,000 doctors may surprise you, though. Figures show that more than a…
Imagine yourself in this scenario: You’re going about your business as usual, running a quick errand on a relatively quiet day when, suddenly, an oncoming truck crosses into your lane and collides with your car. You are left comatose and seriously injured, with broken bones and collapsed lungs. You will require at least a…
-Higher rates for younger drivers Drivers under the age of 25 are more at risk when it comes to having trouble acquiring affordable insurance. In New York, for example, drivers under the age of 19 pay a rate that is over 100% higher than drivers in the age range of 60 to 74. However,…
For the last four years the majority of physicians and surgeons practicing in Oregon have seen a decline in medical professional liability insurance rates and this year is no different. With malpractice cases in the state declining steadily, Oregon’s two top medical liability insurers are reporting encouraging news for the local medical community.
Three years ago, at Los Angeles’ Cedar-Sinai Medical Center actor Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins fought for their lives for two days after receiving an accidental overdose of the blood-thinning drug heparin. Though Quaid’s children have since recovered and are reportedly healthy, the actor has taken to shining a spotlight on the issues of patient…