Giving a patient medications in the ER, having them pop positive on a test, and then withholding further medications because…
Morning Headlines 4/22/15
Lawsuit: Long delay in getting VA medical records could be affecting crucial benefits
Seven disabled veterans have filed a lawsuit against the VA, claiming that they have waited between 10 and 24 months for copies of their medical records, and that the wait is causing delays in the veterans’ ongoing benefits applications. The suit asks that the VA produce the records within 20 days.
Judge issues temporary restraining order in Ebola nurse Nina Pham’s lawsuit
A Texas judge has halted efforts by Texas Health Resources to file a workers’ compensation claim on behalf of Nina Pham, the nurse that contracted Ebola while treating a patient at one of THR’s hospitals. The health system, which is being sued by Pham, claimed that a workers compensation claim would resolve many of the issues outlined in Pham’s lawsuit.
Color Genomics Sells $249 Breast Cancer Gene Test to Masses
Silicon Valley startup Color Genomics announces a $259 genetic screening test that evaluates a patient’s risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer by testing for 19 pertinent genetic mutations. The company is bypassing the FDA requirements that hindered 23andMe by requiring that a doctor order the tests and that results be explained by a trained genetic councilor.
I’d just like to give ColorGenomics a shout out for remembering that physicians are still a pretty big part of healthcare. I’m no physician, but I can tell you that when Anne Wojcicki tells FastCompany that she was basically too good to become a doctor and then thinks that the medical establishment will work with her, she’s not thinking logically.