The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest medical society, recently recommended at its annual meeting that pain be removed as a "5th Vital Sign" in professional medical standards. AMA President, Andrew Gurman, MD, said that physicians played a key...
A proactive approach toward professionalism might involve transparency and communication with superiors. However, an investigator that approaches a medical professional with questions may warrant a different approach. Indeed, statements made to such individuals might...
I spoke with a nurse today who was fired from his job for diverting narcotics. His use of pain medication started with a legitimate back problem a few years ago. At that time, he used Percocet as prescribed. When he had recent back problems, he again began using...
The way health care services are delivered is constantly changing as technology opens up new avenues for improving access and quality. One of the changes which has occurred in recent years is telemedicine, or health care services offered at a distance. States have...
In the past year or so, I have noticed an increased scrutiny by law enforcement officials over the prescribing patterns of doctors. In Philadelphia recently, three doctors were charged in a scheme to sell commonly abused prescription drugs in exchange for cash...
