States May Warn Doctors to Follow Smoker Treatment Guidelines or be Sued for Medical

[stephanie]

wtf??????

State health commissioners may soon begin warning about medical malpractice law suits which could be brought by smokers against physicians who fail to follow federal and other guidelines in treating them, putting pressure on the medical profession similar to that put on the tobacco industry by earlier smoker law suits.

Public interest law professor John Banzhaf, whom the media has dubbed a "driving force behind the lawsuits that have cost tobacco companies billions of dollars," and the "law professor who masterminded litigation against the tobacco industry," has written to the health commissioners of the fifty states suggesting that they warn their state's doctors about such law suits based upon a recent article in a leading medical journal and an even more recent study about saving smoker lives.

The letter notes a recent study which shows that physicians are killing more than 40,000 American smokers each year by failing to follow federal guidelines which mandate that the doctor warn the smoking patient about the many dangers of smoking and provide effective medical treatment for the majority who wish to quit.

SNIP:
Banzhaf's letter to the health commissioners suggested that: "Since many in the antismoking community (including hundreds of organizations, many with their own attorneys), as well as lawyers associated with antismoking groups and other lawyers in private practice, are now considering how to proceed with the article’s litigation suggestion, the need to remind doctors of their responsibilities and of their potential legal liability is paramount – especially since their continued refusal to even warn many patients about smoking, much less to follow the guidelines’ requirements of effective intervention, kills over 40,000 patients each year."

read the rest..
http://www.newsrx.com/print.php?prID=3858

[Monkeybone]

The letter notes a recent study which shows that physicians are killing more than 40,000 American smokers each year by failing to follow federal guidelines which mandate that the doctor warn the smoking patient about the many dangers of smoking and provide effective medical treatment for the majority who wish to quit.

because the warning on the pack and everything else isn't enough? give me a break. that is like suing a mechanic for not telling you to drive carefully on the snow.

[Trinity]

because the warning on the pack and everything else isn't enough? give me a break. that is like suing a mechanic for not telling you to drive carefully on the snow.

[Nukeman]

Any way a malpractice lawyer can make money he will!!!!


OH I almost forgot..... Than they will BITCH about the increase in the cost of healthcare....

[Mr. P]

wtf??????

State health commissioners may soon begin warning about medical malpractice law suits which could be brought by smokers against physicians who fail to follow federal and other guidelines in treating them, putting pressure on the medical profession similar to that put on the tobacco industry by earlier smoker law suits...

Just watch the wild ass shit that comes out WHEN we have National health care.

I predict spending limits for care based on age. When the limit is hit...no more care, you're free to die.

Age Max expenditure in $

80-100......$100,000*
70-80.......$ 200,000*
60-70.......$ 300,000*
50-60.......$ 400,000*
40-50,,,,,,,$ 500,000*
< 40.........$1,000,000*

Plans cover Nationally approved care inxcluding deductible as long as the covered patient is in compliance with the National health care program.
For coverage eligibility and compliance see National Health form (NHCF)#SocialistBS1984. This form is available at you local National Health Care location and must be filed before any benefits will be issued. Please note, processing time for form Socialist1984 is approximately one year at the present time. Processing time may increase due to heavy volume. For more information call our automated National Information Center at 1-800-YOUR SCREWED

* Deductibles have not yet been establish, but are expected to be 10% of the age limit maximum.

[5stringJeff]

Yay for the nanny state!!!