Knowing Your Medical Records

Many people do not know about the Medical Information Bureau [“MIB”]. The MIB is the world’s largest insurance reporting agency representing at least 750 insurance companies. It collects and provides data on consumers  to MIB members for underwriting purposes. While the MIB collects much data on people, its main function is to accumulate people’s medical information. It is crucial that a consumer knows what is in his or her record and if there are errors, they potentially can be fixed. We strongly recommend that every consumer order a copy of one’s MIB file once a year, which is allowed. Call 866-692-6901 or visit the website, http://www.mib.com/html/request_your_record.html. If an error is found, a consumer can fix it by asking for a REQUEST FOR REINVESTIGATION FORM and specifying the disagreeable record. The MIB may require certified records from doctors. If not satisfied with the outcome, one can submit a statement of dispute that becomes a permanent part of the MIB file.

The Cost of Driving Drunk

The  annual cost of drunk driving to the American people over the years has been staggering. A recent report by the Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation says that it costs $132 billion each year. That amounts to more than $400 for each person in the US, though the costs are paid by the local, state, and federal government. The employer costs are estimated to be over $10 billion- from crashes involving work trips and crashes outside of work involving employees and benefit-eligible dependents. We must stamp out drunk driving.

Hospitals can be demoralizing and dangerous, without the right precautions.  Take a look at this Hospital Safety Checklist to better prepare for your visit:

http://www.aarp.org/health/doctors-hospitals/info-03-2012/patient-checklist-for-hospital-stay.html

Transvaginal Mesh Litigation

The FDA has issued an updated safety communication warning doctors, health care professionals and patients that the placement of it can create greater risk for the patient. There is a 5 fold increase in deaths and serious injuries as a result of the product. Complications involve erosion of the mesh into vaginal tissue, organ perforation, pain, infection, urinary and fecal incontinence. Often, women need surgery to remove the mesh and sometimes all of it cannot be removed. We are reviewing cases involving American Medical Systems, Bard, Boston Scientific, Caldera, and Johnson & Johnson.

Long Term Consequences of All Metal Hip Implants

Since the recall of DePuy ASR, much discussion has surrounded the high failure rates of all metal hip implants.  Approximately 500,000  individuals have these products with 40,000 surgeries occurring between 2005 and 2006. Unfortunately, a large number of all metal prosthetics are failing due to accelerated wear of the articular surface, i.e. the all metal ball and socket. The wear causes debris to release into the soft tissue around the hip joint. Other consequences can include pseudo tumors, an inflammatory reaction to metal debris.  Symptoms of complications include groin and hip pain, swelling and walking with a limp.  Anyone who has had a hip replacement should contact their doctor and verify whether they have a DePuy or a Pinnacle metal on metal implant.

Generic vs. Brand Name: Know What You're Buying

There is a big issue when someone takes generic versus brand name drugs. Of course, the biggest difference is usually the price which sometimes can prohibit someone from taking a brand name medicine when it can be obtained at a fraction of the cost as a generic. However, due to a  United States Supreme Court decision last year, as a rule generic pharmaceutical companies are given what I would call “immunity”  when it comes to their labels. In other words, generic companies are essentially not liable for what the labels say, unlike brand name companies. So, if someone is taking a generic drug and then has major problems with it, often times the generic company may not be responsible. This is a bad situation, in my view, and it does not appear that there is a legislative solution anytime soon as the election will take precedence over such matters. Consequently, I encourage people to strongly study the labels, make sure that there are no side effects that you are concerned about, make sure that whatever you are taking does not conflict with other medicines you are on, make sure you talk to your pharmacist about the medicine, and if you notice anything not right about the drug, call your doctor urgently.  

There are many bogus or unsubstantiated claims pertaining to what various juices claim on their labels. Unfortunately, the FDA really cannot track or monitor the scams that are out there so the public is not fully protected. According to the FDA, claims that include words such as “support” or “enhance” or “maintain” need no hard evidence. Many juice labels often times state that they have “essential antioxidants” or nutrients that help “support” the immune system. Or that there is adequate fiber even though there are no skins or seeds in the juice. And to further complicate labeling, the FDA states that a serving size for juice or fruit is only 4 oz. So, an 8 oz. glass of any 100 percent juice is actually 2 servings. Of course, most people know or should know that most manufacturers add vitamins to their product. Further, most people should recognize that clever companies will state that something, like a serving, only has 150 calories, but if one truly reads the label and finds out there are 2 servings, then the person is getting  300 calories. Companies like Odwalla, Welch’s, Tropicana Twister, Arizona, and POM Wonderful use this method of labeling. Only a few brands, such as Nantucket Nectar and Ocean Spray, give nutrition facts for the entire bottle. In the end, people must really read the labels, study the facts, do research and not depend on the supposed facts set forth on the bottle or the FDA to protect them. No one can take better care of us than we can ourselves.