Monday, August 1, 2016

Oregon: Jury awards$3 million to fired nurse who complained of 'rushing patients through' to save money

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/09/jury_awards_3_million_to_legac.html


By Aimee Green

A Portland jury on Friday awared a nurse more than $3 million -- agreeing that she was wrongfully terminated by Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center after she complained to management that cost cutting measures were jeopardizing patient care. Registered nurse Linda Boly said Saturday that she felt vindicated by the verdict. She hopes it sends a "big message" to Legacy
Health System that "rushing patients through" the process endangers them. . . .

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Lawsuit alleges Kaiser anesthesiologists told to skimp on anesthesia, rush patients through, save money

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/07/lawsuit_kaiser_anesthesiologis.html

A former Kaiser Permanente anesthesiologist has filed a $9 million lawsuit against the health organization, claiming he was fired after he repeatedly complained that cost-cutting measures were jeopardizing the safety of patients in the Portland area.

Among those measures was an August 2014 mandate from higher-ups that anesthesiologists reduce the amount of knock-out or anti-anxiety meds they give surgery patients so the patients would wake up sooner and be discharged as soon as possible, according to a lawsuit filed by Dr. Erik Franck last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Charles Bentz, MD: Oregon Hospice Not Safe After Assisted Suicide Legalization

Dear Editor:

I read William Clarke’s guest column with interest, as it addresses both assisted suicide and hospice care. (“Don’t deny ‘death with dignity while improving hospice care,” updated 03/02/16).  I am a doctor in Oregon where assisted suicide has been legal since 1997. Since then, I have observed a corruption of Oregon’s medical profession to devalue patients, especially regarding end-of-life care, such as hospice, which is no longer safe.

Patients, generally, are now starting to fear hospice and medical providers such as myself and my colleagues are now avoiding this particular hospice program.  In my opinion, this corruption of the role of hospice can be directly linked to the practice of physician-assisted suicide here in Oregon.  The American Medical Association, Ethics Opinion 2.211, states:
Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.
Unfortunately, here in Oregon, this is prediction is coming true. Keep medicine safe. Tell your legislators to keep assisted-suicide out of Montana.

Charles J. Bentz MD, FACP
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine,
Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Fanno Creek Clinic
2400 SW Vermont Street
Portland, OR 97219

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Media Advisory: Disability Groups Respond to Compassion and Choices’ Advocacy for Assisted Suicide Legislation in Connection With Brittany Maynard’s Tragic Illness

http://www.notdeadyet.org/2014/10/media-advisory-disability-groups-respond-to-compassion-and-choices-advocacy-for-assisted-suicide-legislation-in-connection-with-brittany-maynards-tragic-illness.html



[Editor's Note: A PDF formatted version of this Media Advisory is available on PRWeb here, along with an attached flyer developed by a coalition of groups that oppose legalization of assisted suicide.]
Response from Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Not Dead Yet and Second Thoughts:
“Once again, Compassion & Choices, formerly the Hemlock Society, is pushing legalization of assisted suicide by exploiting an individual terminal prognosis. Disability advocates are deeply sympathetic to Brittany Maynard, and all people suffering a terminal, serious or chronic illness. Legalization of assisted suicide often looks acceptable when the focus is solely on an individual.