Monday, March 17, 2008

Experts call for national pathology standards to protect patients

Experts call for national pathology standards to protect patients
March 17, 2008 5:15 pm
"...A looming judicial inquiry into how over 300 Newfoundland breast cancer patients received erroneous pathology results — and subsequent inappropriate medical treatment — is spawning calls for the development of national standards that would protect patients from such mistakes.
The medical errors made by Eastern Health authority were discovered in 2005 and led to the restesting of the results of thousands of patients.
Dr. Avri Ostry, a pathologist with Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, told CBC News Monday that pathologists are facing numerous challenges. These include a rapidly expanding workload along with ever-developing technology that requires constant retraining.
"I believe it is indicative of an issue that is certainly national — and that has to do with quality assurance and quality control across the spectrum in laboratory medicine," he said."
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Is this terrifying or what?

How to be a good patient

How to be a good patient
From Dr. Rob

"...This handout was posted in our exam rooms.

We want you to get the best care possible in this office and hope to care for you for many years to come. If there is anything we can do to give you better care, please let us know. Yet there are some expectations we have for our patients. We ask that you read the list below and do your best to abide by these suggestions..."

Books on Doctors as Patients and a few on the Doctor-Patient Relationship