Patient Safety and Ethics

Addiction usually leaves a wake of chaos, and all kinds of casualties - marriages, jobs, health. Today's opioid addiction crisis is not only claiming lives, but sparking a new epidemic of hepatitis C among new injection drug users.

Patient Safety and Ethics

Reporting on Health Contributing Editor William Heisel set off a spirited discussion this week on Twitter on the risk of addiction to opioid pain medicine. What are the implications for chronic pain management and treatment?

Patient Safety and Ethics

Duane Middleton died shortly after a routine colonoscopy. Then his life insurance provider denied his wife any benefits, a decision later held up in court. So how could three judges conclude that Middleton's death didn't qualify as an "accident"?

Healthcare Regulation and Reform, Health Insurance and Costs, Patient Safety and Ethics, Aging

Duane Middleton's colon was torn during a colonoscopy, and he died shortly after. His death was ruled an accident. But when Middleton's wife sought benefits from his insurance policy, she was told his death didn't meet the policy's definition of an accident.

Healthcare Regulation and Reform, Health Insurance and Costs, Patient Safety and Ethics, Aging

Minimally-regulated residential care for the elderly is a fast growing, less expensive alternative to nursing homes. Seattle Times investigative reporter Mike Berens explains how state agencies saved money by placing poor and vulnerable adults in these facilities, then ignored problems, like abuse.

Aging, Health Insurance and Costs, Patient Safety and Ethics

This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman, participants in the 
Other stories in this series include:

Poverty and Class, Environmental Health, Health Insurance and Costs, Healthcare Regulation and Reform, Patient Safety and Ethics

This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman, participants in the 
Other stories in this series include:

Race and Equity, Poverty and Class, Environmental Health, Health Insurance and Costs, Healthcare Regulation and Reform, Food and Nutrition, Patient Safety and Ethics