"At a plea hearing Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Kosik-Whitaker said the doctor filed claims with Medicare between January 2003 and June 2008 and was paid for services he never provided. In court paperwork, Dr. Rittenhouse is accused of claiming to have performed nail avulsions, a procedure in which a toenail is removed, but actually just provided 'routine foot care.'"
Source: Erin L. Nissley, The Times-Tribune [2/18/09]
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
External Frame/Fixator Surgery
Footlaw.com has learned that malpractice cases relating to foot or leg surgery using external frames or external fixators is becoming an emerging trend in foot malpractice cases. Since this is an emerging issue, we have added this as Number 11 on our "Top Ten" list to the right.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Melanomas
Footlaw.com attended a medical meeting this week and learned that 50% of amelanotic melanomas are misdiagnosed. This adversely affects the survival rates
Monday, February 9, 2009
Cosmetic Foot Surgery
Footlaw.com has been contacted by a national magazine regarding a developing story concerning issues surrounding cosmetic foot surgery
Thursday, February 5, 2009
ProAssurance Receives Regulatory Approvals for Transactions with the PICA Group and Georgia Lawyers Insurance Company
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA) announced today that all required regulatory approvals have been granted in connection with its proposed sponsored demutualization of the PICA Group (PICA), the nation's leading provider of professional liability to doctors of podiatric medicine. The proposed demutualization is being submitted to PICA shareholders for their approval at a special meeting to be held on March 31, 2009. If approved, the transaction is expected to close early in the second quarter.
[Source: Streetinsider.com, 1/29/09]
[Source: Streetinsider.com, 1/29/09]
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Doctor Liable For Not Providing Sign Language Interpreter
Doctor Liable For Not Providing Sign Language Interpreter
A punitive damages verdict is enough to catch anyone's attention. But a verdict for punitive damages in a disability discrimination case can be a double whammy for physicians. Since such claims are not covered under traditional medical liability insurance, any judgments would come out of doctors' own pockets.
That is exactly what befell New Jersey rheumatologist Robert A. Fogari, MD, when a Hudson County jury in October 2008 unanimously handed down a $400,000 award against him for allegedly refusing to pay for a sign language interpreter for a patient who is deaf. Half of the award was for punitive damages.
The verdict is believed by some legal experts to be among the largest of its kind, and has many physicians fearing it will set a dangerous precedent and prompt similar litigation.
Source: Amy Lynn Sorrel, AMNews [1/5/09]
From PM News 1-12-09
Monday, February 2, 2009
NEW FOOT MALPRACTICE BLOG
The podiatrist attorneys at the Footlaw Group announce the start of their blog dedicated to malpractice associated with the foot and ankle.
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