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Patients’ Right To Know Act Signed Into Law

by on August 23, 2011 in Accident, accidental death, health news, wrongful death

Patients will have access to Illinois’ doctors detailed histories once again.

On August 9, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law the Patients’ Right To Know Act, which will require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to post doctor profiles on its site.

The profiles are expected to go live in mid-October. The Governor allowed for a two-month period for doctors to review their profiles before they are made public.

The profiles will contain information about the doctors including which medical school they attended, what types of specialty board certifications they have, how many years they have practiced, where they have practiced and if they participate in Medicaid.

This will enable patients to look up if their doctors have been arrested for any crimes, have been convicted of any crimes, have been fired or have made a medical malpractice payment over the past five years. Advocates said this is long overdue and is a big step in patients’ rights.

The physicians’ profiles were available after an ammendment to a 2005 law capping settlements that could be obtained in medical malpractice lawsuits. When that law was ruled unconstitutional in 2010, the profiles became unavailable. Reports state the web site had been drawing more than 130,000 clicks a week when it was live.

If you or your loved one has been injured by a medical mistake, we may be able to help you. Contact Dwyer & McDevitt, Ltd. today for your free case review.

 

IL Press Release

Web Site Where Profiles Available (as of mid-October)

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New Crib Safety Standards Released

by on June 30, 2011 in accidental death, CPSC, health news, wrongful death

New guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission went into effect this week regarding baby cribs and represent the first major revision of crib safety standards in more than 30 years.

The CPSC has recalled more than 11 million cribs since 2007, including many drop-side cribs. According to the CPSC, at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths have been reported since 2000 associated with drop side cribs with detaching side rails. Other deaths were associated with faulty or defective crib hardware.

The new mandatory rules for cribs include:

  • Halting all manufacturing and selling of drop-side cribs
  • Strengthening mattress supports and crib slats
  • Requiring crib hardware to be more durable
  • Making safety tests more rigorous

The changes will not be mandatory for child care facilities, hotels and motels and rental companies until the December 2012.

The new safety standards make it illegal to sell cribs that do not meet the criteria, even second-hand at a garage sale or consignment store.

If you or your loved one has been injured by an unsafe product, our offices may be able to assist you. Contact the offices of Dwyer & McDevitt today for your free case evaluation.

CPSC Crib Safety Standards

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First Birds, Mosquitoes With West Nile Found In Illinois

by on June 18, 2011 in health news

Health officials announced Thursday they have found the first birds to be affected with West Nile virus this year in Illinois.

The birds were found in LaSalle and Sandwich counties on June 8 and came back positive with the disease Thursday.

State health officials also announced this week they had found the first mosquitos testing positive for the disease on Tuesday.

According to the department, in 2010, 30 of the state’s 102 counties were found to have West Nile positive birds, mosquitoes, horses or humans. A total of 61 human cases of West Nile were reported in 2010 in Illinois.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito affected with the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people infected show no signs of being infected, but approximately two out of 10 people who are bitten will get sick.

Symptoms include mild aches, fevers, headache and body aches and can be as serious as encephalitis, menigitis and in most severe cases, death.

Those who are 50 or older face the highest rate of severe reactions.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a personal injury, we may be able to assist you. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

Additional information about West Nile

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