Back on January 17, I wrote about the Department of Health and Human Services important new public health initiative – the “I’m a Flu Fighter!” application on Facebook. At the time, I was critical of HHS and especially critical of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for this initiative. However, I believe everyone has the chance to prove themselves, so I wanted to revisit this topic.
As expected, Secretary Sebelius’ usual level of competence was brought to the task. Back when she launched the program on January 17, HHS has managed to secure 80 Facebook fans. As of this afternoon, that number had skyrocketed up to 158. All of the resources of HHS and they’ve managed to reach 158 people. That’s about one-third the number of people that the average middle school student reaches on a daily basis (Sebelius herself has 6,877 fans on her personal page). Even more embarrassing, Kathleen Sebelius herself isn’t even a fan of her own initiative! Makes you wonder how much her head is really in this one.
Let’s revisit her comments when she kicked off this program: "Friends, family and neighbors can make the difference in whether or not someone gets vaccinated against the flu. Social media has been an important tool to communicate with young people and all Americans about the importance of getting the H1N1 Flu vaccine throughout our vaccination program. This new Facebook application will help friends encourage each other to get the H1N1 flu vaccine." Why wouldn’t she be a fan of her own program? We will probably never know.
In one month, HHS has managed to do almost nothing. But I’ll give them high marks for consistency, because nothing is how they managed the H1N1 outbreak.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – social media is something you do AFTER you’ve mastered the basics (like a comprehensive plan for fighting communicable disease or developing a plan for vaccine administration). Secretary Sebelius’ inaction has resulted in thousands of Americans becoming unnecessarily sick and countless unnecessary deaths.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Doctor’s Don’t Make Mistakes
Contrary to all evidence, there is still an attitude out there that doctor’s are infallible and never make mistakes. Even some doctors are so self-absorbed into their world of perfection that they continue to deny all evidence that physicians make mistakes.
The New York Times recently ran an expose on medical errors associated with radiation technologies for patients with cancer. In some instances, patients are over-radiated, with sometimes lethal consequences. Sadly, the American Medical Association (AMA) and physician’s advocates rushed to claim that whatever mistakes are happening, it is not a doctor’s fault. If patients are harmed, it is the fault of technicians, nurses, hospital administrators or even the patients (yeah, blame the patient for their own medical error).
Leading the ‘doctors are perfect’ charge has been Amy Tuteur, MD – a physician, author and blogger. Tuteur is no stranger to controversy. She’s written about her role in a high profile patient death – in which she stood by and watched the patient being killed by another medical provider. Tuteur only spoke up after the fact during the eventual lawsuit. It’s a shame that she decided not to take any actions that might have saved the patient. Amy Tuteur also admits to other instances of patient harm and is quick to blame others, noting, “I’ve been involved with several maternal deaths, though never as the primary physician.” It’s always someone else’s fault…
Maybe Tuteur is telling the truth. However, her tone and attitude should strike fear into patients everywhere. In the world of these arrogant, self-important physicians, they view themselves as gods – perfect in every way. They don’t make mistakes – EVER.
How does this relate to the New York Times story on over-dosing patients with radiation? Doctors like Tuteur feel physicians are blameless in the entire continuum of care. However, physicians have a responsibility for their orders and care directives, even when those instructions are executed by nurses and technicians. Delegating the prep work for the procedure does not absolve the physician of all responsibility.
If you’re a patient, a physician’s extreme confidence can be comforting. However, it can often be fatal. Be smart, do your homework and take charge of your own care.
The New York Times recently ran an expose on medical errors associated with radiation technologies for patients with cancer. In some instances, patients are over-radiated, with sometimes lethal consequences. Sadly, the American Medical Association (AMA) and physician’s advocates rushed to claim that whatever mistakes are happening, it is not a doctor’s fault. If patients are harmed, it is the fault of technicians, nurses, hospital administrators or even the patients (yeah, blame the patient for their own medical error).
Leading the ‘doctors are perfect’ charge has been Amy Tuteur, MD – a physician, author and blogger. Tuteur is no stranger to controversy. She’s written about her role in a high profile patient death – in which she stood by and watched the patient being killed by another medical provider. Tuteur only spoke up after the fact during the eventual lawsuit. It’s a shame that she decided not to take any actions that might have saved the patient. Amy Tuteur also admits to other instances of patient harm and is quick to blame others, noting, “I’ve been involved with several maternal deaths, though never as the primary physician.” It’s always someone else’s fault…
Maybe Tuteur is telling the truth. However, her tone and attitude should strike fear into patients everywhere. In the world of these arrogant, self-important physicians, they view themselves as gods – perfect in every way. They don’t make mistakes – EVER.
How does this relate to the New York Times story on over-dosing patients with radiation? Doctors like Tuteur feel physicians are blameless in the entire continuum of care. However, physicians have a responsibility for their orders and care directives, even when those instructions are executed by nurses and technicians. Delegating the prep work for the procedure does not absolve the physician of all responsibility.
If you’re a patient, a physician’s extreme confidence can be comforting. However, it can often be fatal. Be smart, do your homework and take charge of your own care.
Monday, February 8, 2010
IMS Sale on Track
The acquisition of IMS Health by TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board passed its last final hurdle today. IMS stockholders approved the sale in a vote earlier today. Last week, IMS got the green light from European regulators for the buyout.
However, IMS may have one more unforeseen hurdle. The company is trying to float $1 billion in high-yield junk bonds to cough up enough money for its side of the transaction. However, just as IMS is trying to float the bonds, the market for junk debt is softening.
However, IMS may have one more unforeseen hurdle. The company is trying to float $1 billion in high-yield junk bonds to cough up enough money for its side of the transaction. However, just as IMS is trying to float the bonds, the market for junk debt is softening.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Obama’s Health Reform Desperation
President Barack Obama has staked a tremendous amount of his political capital on healthcare reform. And he’s stumbled badly. First Obama left healthcare reform entirely up to his Democratic colleagues in Congress and provided no leadership. Then, he took a “my way or the highway” approach to bipartisanship – refusing to allow a malpractice overhaul into healthcare reform discussions.
Now President Obama is getting desperate. He’s finally reaching out to Republicans (while also criticizing them – so tough to see why they’d even want to come to the table). On February 25, Obama will host a healthcare summit - hopefully this will be more than just a photo op for the President. So, nearly 13 months after putting healthcare on his domestic agenda, we are beginning to see the first glimmers of leadership from President Obama. Better late than never.
It remains to be seen if Obama’s overtures to Republicans are actually genuine or if this is just political theatre. However, if Obama actually wants a healthcare reform bill that Americans actually support, he needs to put all reforms on the table – including tort reform.
Now President Obama is getting desperate. He’s finally reaching out to Republicans (while also criticizing them – so tough to see why they’d even want to come to the table). On February 25, Obama will host a healthcare summit - hopefully this will be more than just a photo op for the President. So, nearly 13 months after putting healthcare on his domestic agenda, we are beginning to see the first glimmers of leadership from President Obama. Better late than never.
It remains to be seen if Obama’s overtures to Republicans are actually genuine or if this is just political theatre. However, if Obama actually wants a healthcare reform bill that Americans actually support, he needs to put all reforms on the table – including tort reform.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Great Autism Fraud
Today, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet issued a full retraction on the infamous study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and 13 other researchers, which claimed to show a link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. This is the final nail in the death coffin of sham science and one of the greatest medical frauds of the last two decades. Of course, Wakefield’s co-authors on the paper have acknowledged that there were problems and even encouraged The Lancet to pull the plug on the study. The Lancet acknowledged that many aspects of Wakefield’s study were completely falsified. Basically, Andrew Wakefield’s study was a fraud.
In 2004, the British Government launched a formal investigation into Wakefield’s actions (as Wakefield was then a researcher in the United Kingdom). That investigation found that Wakefield didn’t obtain parental consent for his autism studies and when actual children with autism weren’t available, he drew blood samples from children who attended his kid’s birthday parties. Researchers who collaborated with Wakefield reported that he altered and forged the data on the study to support his hypothesis.
Wakefield has resorted to desperate legal strategies of suing any media outlet that has reported on his frauds, however, he usually settles out of court so he doesn’t have to actually go to trial. A trial would require a thorough evaluation of the science (or lack thereof) in Wakefield’s pseudo-research.
The British Government is continuing its investigation into Wakefield and he faces a disciplinary hearing later this year that could result in his loss of medical license. Ironically, Wakefield has fled the UK in shame. He has now taken up residence in Austin, Texas working at an alternative treatment center called Thoughtful House. According to the Texas Medical Board, Wakefield is not licensed to practice medicine in the State of Texas, despite his working at Thoughtful House.
Ironically, even the Thoughtful House has distanced itself from Andrew Wakefield’s pseudo-scientific “research.” On the Thoughtful House website, they have a Q&A and explicitly state: “Q: Have Thoughtful House researchers found any link between the MMR vaccine and autism? A: No such link has been established, but research into a possible connection is ongoing.” In other words, even Thoughtful House is dismissing Wakefield’s previous research.
Of course, the scientific facts (or lack thereof) of Wakefield’s pseudo-research and the tremendous volume of legitimate research disproving any connection between vaccines and autism will mean little to the legions of anti-immunization advocates.
In 2004, the British Government launched a formal investigation into Wakefield’s actions (as Wakefield was then a researcher in the United Kingdom). That investigation found that Wakefield didn’t obtain parental consent for his autism studies and when actual children with autism weren’t available, he drew blood samples from children who attended his kid’s birthday parties. Researchers who collaborated with Wakefield reported that he altered and forged the data on the study to support his hypothesis.
Wakefield has resorted to desperate legal strategies of suing any media outlet that has reported on his frauds, however, he usually settles out of court so he doesn’t have to actually go to trial. A trial would require a thorough evaluation of the science (or lack thereof) in Wakefield’s pseudo-research.
The British Government is continuing its investigation into Wakefield and he faces a disciplinary hearing later this year that could result in his loss of medical license. Ironically, Wakefield has fled the UK in shame. He has now taken up residence in Austin, Texas working at an alternative treatment center called Thoughtful House. According to the Texas Medical Board, Wakefield is not licensed to practice medicine in the State of Texas, despite his working at Thoughtful House.
Ironically, even the Thoughtful House has distanced itself from Andrew Wakefield’s pseudo-scientific “research.” On the Thoughtful House website, they have a Q&A and explicitly state: “Q: Have Thoughtful House researchers found any link between the MMR vaccine and autism? A: No such link has been established, but research into a possible connection is ongoing.” In other words, even Thoughtful House is dismissing Wakefield’s previous research.
Of course, the scientific facts (or lack thereof) of Wakefield’s pseudo-research and the tremendous volume of legitimate research disproving any connection between vaccines and autism will mean little to the legions of anti-immunization advocates.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Big News from Allergan
This week, it is rumored that Allergan is expected to sign a major deal with Nancy Pelosi to be the new BOTOX spokeswoman. The deal is in recognition of Pelosi's willingness to be seen in public looking like a cross between Michael Jackson and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
This is a terrible move on the part of Allergan. The least they could do is team up with somebody reputable – some A-lister like Joan Rivers. Associating BOTOX with Pelosi is likely to shore up their brand with the MoveOn crowd, but this really isn’t the image they should be going after.
Meanwhile, in other Allergan news, the company announced approval from the FDA for Juvederm XC, a dermal filler that also contains the anesthetic lidocaine so patients have less discomfort. House Speaker Pelosi is dying to get her hands on this one.
This is a terrible move on the part of Allergan. The least they could do is team up with somebody reputable – some A-lister like Joan Rivers. Associating BOTOX with Pelosi is likely to shore up their brand with the MoveOn crowd, but this really isn’t the image they should be going after.
Meanwhile, in other Allergan news, the company announced approval from the FDA for Juvederm XC, a dermal filler that also contains the anesthetic lidocaine so patients have less discomfort. House Speaker Pelosi is dying to get her hands on this one.
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