Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog

Joint ventures between store-based health clinics and pharmacy chains have been touted as providing convenient and affording health care, but the American Medical Association has expressed concerns over possible conflicts of interest. Retailers have been using the joint ventures as a way to increase in-store sales of prescription as well as non-health related items. The AMA has announced that it will begin calling for states to begin looking into these types of arrangements. Their concern was spurned by informal reports stating that these clnic members earn more money or get promotions based on the number of prescriptions that they write. While the AMA believes that most of the store-based health clinics will improve patients' access to health care overall, the call for state oversight aims to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest get resolved in the patients' favor.

Click here for the full article.
Click here for the AMA press release

Since 2003, the American Medical Association has been pushing for the creation of specialty courts that would hear only medical malpractice cases. These alternative courts proposed by the AMA would consist of judges with special training in medical standards. In addition, the health courts proposed by the AMA would cap non-economic damages according to a predetermined schedule, following the model of the caps on non-economic damages in California. The AMA's report states that medical liability insurance premiums have remained low in California and touts the state's recovery caps as a success. However, the report does not indicate whether patients in California are receiving a level of care equivalent to other states that do not have statutory caps.

Click here for the full article
Click here for the AMA report

Boulevard Healthcare will be hosting its annual Medical Directors meeting on May 22nd. Steven M. Levin of Levin & Perconti will be delivering the keynote address. Mr. Levin will be addressed Litigation in Long Term Care: The Emerging Storm.

For more information.

Time is running out to register for The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Education Fund’s seminar on March 31, 2007 entitled “Top Ten Things Every Lawyer Should Know.” Steven M. Levin of Levin & Perconti will be presenting on skills and strategies in deposition-taking.

To register, call 217-789-0810.
For more information, call 800-252-8501.

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Education Fund is hosting a seminar on March 31, 2007 at the Hilton Suites Chicago entitled “Top Ten Things Every Lawyer Should Know." Topics presented include jury consultants, experts, pre-trial litigation, and medical malpractice lawsuits. Steven M. Levin, of Levin & Perconti, will be presenting on skills and strategies in deposition-taking.

For more information, call 800-252-8501.
To register, call 217-789-0810.

Learn innovative ways to overcome defense arguments and develop themes for your birth injury cases at AAJ’s Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases seminar. The seminar will be at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, AZ from February 2-3, 2007.

For more information, call 800-622-1791 x. 612 or visit the website.

Register for ATLA's program on "Heart Device Litigation Update: Recent Rulings and What They Mean for Your Clients." The event includes three experienced speakers on heart device litigation and a question and answer session. The event is December 12, 2006 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm CST.

To register.

ATLA will be hosting a seminar on litigating catastrophically injured infant cases from February 2-3, 2007. The program will provide an in-depth understanding of the medical issues involved and a practical approach to proving negligence and obtaining damages in birth injury medical malpractice lawsuits.

To register for the Seminar.

An annual conference on ensuring quality in long-term care will be hosted by the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) on October 22-24. The NCCNHR is an advocate in the fight against nursing home abuse and neglect. Its conference features networking opportunities, interactive and educational sessions, and presentations by nationally recognized experts, including Erin Brockovich.

To register for the Conference.