Nevada: Board to Post Doctors’ Malpractice History

Nevada regulators have decided to post more information about doctors’ medical malpractice history on the state Board of Medical Examiners Web site. The unanimous decision Friday comes after a hepatitis C outbreak in southern Nevada drew focus on the Board of Medical Examiners’ operations. The outbreak spurred criticism of the way the board distributes information about the doctors it licenses and censures. The current Web site lists the names of doctors who’ve been disciplined and the nature of the infraction. Members of the public must contact the board for additional information. The board plans to add to that a searchable database of all doctors named in malpractice cases that ended in a settlement, award or judgment. The board discussed including only cases that involved $5,000 or more, but did not come to a clear decision. It also did not state a firm launch date for the new site.

Please click on the link below to read the Reno Gazette-Journal article:

http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080615/NEWS/806150359/1321/NEWS

For more information on defending medical malpractice and nursing home matters in Florida contact Howard Citron at The Citron Law Firm, P.A. – www.citronlegal.com.

Hawaii: Doctor Practice Incentives Face Rejection by Lawmakers

Gov. Linda Lingle told state lawmakers yesterday she may veto a bill that would develop a program of loan repayments and other incentives for doctors and dentists to practice on the Neighbor Islands and in underserved urban areas. The Hawai’i Health Corps idea was the only proposal that survived last session to address the shortage of doctors in portions of the state. The program could provide loan repayments over five years for up to 100 doctors, with a priority on graduates of the University of Hawai’i-Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. Lawmakers passed the bill after rejecting medical malpractice liability reform, which the Hawaii Medical Association, the Lingle administration and many Republicans argue would have encouraged more doctors to practice in rural and underserved areas. The Lingle administration said yesterday that loan repayments and other incentives raise fiscal concerns about whether the state could sustain the Hawai’i Health Corps now or in the future.

Please click on the link below to read the Honolulu Advertiser article:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS01/806240351/1001/LOCALNEWSFRONT

For more information on defending medical malpractice and nursing home matters in Florida contact Howard Citron at The Citron Law Firm, P.A. – www.citronlegal.com.