Patient Safety and Ethics

Opioid addiction crisis fuels another: Hepatitis C

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

What Are the True Addiction Risks of Pain Medicine?

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
chairs

Only an Accident: Courts Judge Fatal Colonoscopy Not Worthy of Payout

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
gavel statue

Only an Accident: Insurance Claim Denied After Fatal Colonoscopy

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

Seniors for Sale

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
Dennis Terry takes inventory at the Mandela Food Cooperative on Seventh Street in west Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday.

Day IV: Preventing disparities at forefront of health care reform

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
John Fitzpatrick awaits his appointment during his monthly asthma clinic at Children's Hospital Oakland in Oakland, Calif., on T

Day II: Health problems persist when options are limited

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