Medical Liability Minute

EP 26: Patient Blinded and Doctor Blind-sided by Referral Gone Bad. Who's to Blame?

An ophthalmologist determined his patient required the attention of a niche specialist. Fortunately, such a qualified specialist practiced next door (literally). Flash forward: The patient was rendered partially blind. And the cherry on top? The specialist next door did not take the patient's insurance. A suit resulted.

Questions abound: How much research is the doctor obligated to perform prior to referring a patient? How can doctors reduce risk to themselves (and their patients) when making a referral? And what are the chances this could happen to you?

This episode of the Medical Liability Minute is sponsored by Physician Wealth Services.  Physician Wealth Services is a fee-only financial planning firm devoted to the financial well-being of physicians.  

Ryan Inman, founder of PWS and creator and host of the Financial Residency Podcast, developed a sense of responsibility to help physicians with their financial goals after witnessing how vulnerable his wife was to poor financial advice during her residency.  

He was shocked at how many advisors tried to take advantage of her and her peers. 

Ryan started PWS as a fee-only practice so he could work exclusively with physicians who could benefit from unbiased, quality financial advice.  

Working with Ryan is simple and transparent. There are no assets under management fees, no products being sold, or commissions being paid out. Everything is included for a flat monthly fee. The way it should be. 

To work with Ryan so that you can feel more in control of your money, contact him and his team at www.doctorpodcastnetwork.com/physicianwealth

EP 25: Surgeon Slammed by NFL Star. When Celebrity Patients Sue Doctors.

An orthopedic surgeon was on board to operate on an NFL star athlete. When the athlete experienced a bad outcome, he blamed the surgeon for prematurely ending his career. When a patient's lost earning potential can be measured in the tens of millions, how can doctors protect themselves from catastrophic settlements?

Most doctors would jump at the chance to operate on someone famous. But star-power can cut.

Here’s what doctors must keep in mind when caring for celebrity patients…

EP 24: A Storm is Brewing in the Med-Mal World

A storm is brewing in the med mal world – and one of the best professionals to educate us on the gathering clouds is Teddy Gillen. Who is he? Teddy is a principal at EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. He’s been in the med-mal space his entire career. He has a gift for turning medical malpractice insurance, a subject most perceive as dry and dreary, into a whirlwind narrative that is fascinating and informative. Doctors frequently call us after a crisis has hit. If you spend even a modest amount of time with us today, you’ll walk away with wisdom that will help guard you against the worst med-mal outcomes.

The malpractice landscape is changing. Here’s what doctors must know...

EP 23: America's Leading Voice on COVID Speaks from the Frontline.

Dr. Roger Seheult is arguably America’s leading voice on COVID-19.  He is a pulmonary and critical care doctor treating COVID-19 patients on a daily basis. His website, MedCram, has released over 100 videos on COVID-19. His YouTube channel has over 800,000 subscribers. MedCram’s content has been cited regularly as one of the most credible and accurate sources of COVID information available.

We spoke with Dr. Seheult about his experiences caring for patients on the frontline. And we discuss it all – victories, setbacks, emerging vaccine candidates, and potential treatment options. His insights are invaluable.

EP 22: E.R. Doc Sued After Dousing Patient's Laceration with Pesticide. Who's to Blame?

A patient was rushed to the E.R. after a lawnmower lacerated his forearm. Sitting on the counter was a product called CaviCide. What's CaviCide? An industrial strength pesticide. Absolutely not for human use. Which, of course, is precisely why the attending physician and his nurse sprayed it repeatedly into the patient’s gaping wound.

How did this happen? Why was an industrial strength pesticide present in the treatment room? And why did the jury deliver a defense verdict? It's a complicated case. Let's dive in...

EP 21: Missiles in the OR. Patient's Eyeball Pierced by Flying Needle. Who's to Blame?

A 30-gauge needle pierced a patient's eyeball during an elective procedure. The doctor advised the patient all was well and sent her home. She returned a short time later with rapidly deteriorating vision. She was ultimately rendered blind in that eye. Was the surgeon at fault? Or was his scrub tech to blame? It's a complex case.

EP 20: Every State Determines Brain Death Differently. Really.

What does it mean to be dead? You’d think the answer to that question is binary. You are, or you are not dead. But the fact is every state in the US determines death differently. And when it comes to brain death specifically, the subtle differences can have major consequences for doctors, patients, and their families. This was a challenge before COVID-19. The pandemic has underscored the already urgent need to reconcile these differences as soon as possible. 

On this episode of the Medical Liability Minute, Jeff Segal, MD, JD, discusses brain death with Thaddeus Pope, JD, PhD. Professor Pope is one of the world’s leading experts on medical law and clinical ethics. Brain death and brain death legislation are among his specialties. If you’ve spent even a modest amount of time researching the subject, you have likely read his work. We are privileged to have Professor Pope as our guest on this episode of the Medical Liability Minute. 

EP 19: Asset Protection and Wealth Creation for Doctors – Protect Your Nest Egg from COVID-19 with Medical Justice and the OJM Group

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world on its head – both in terms of our health and our finances. On this episode of the Medical Liability Minute podcast, Medical Justice Founder and CEO, Jeff Segal, MD, JD, discusses asset protection strategies for doctors with David Mandell, JD, MBA, partner at the OJM Group. The objective? Help doctors protect their nest eggs during these turbulent times.

To get their books Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician - Residency to Retirement and Wealth Management Made Simple for free (along with many others), text the code mjpod to 555-888 or visit the OJM Group's online bookstore and use the code mjpod at checkout.

David Mandell is a partner at the OJM Group, a multi-disciplinary wealth management firm. What distinguishes them? Their focus on physicians. The OJM Group has worked with over 1500 physician clients in 48 states. David Mandell is an author and renowned authority in the fields of asset protection and general wealth management. We are privileged to have him as our guest on this episode of our podcast.

EP 18: Protecting Your Nest Egg Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic (Preview)

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world on its head - both in terms of our health and our finances. On this (preview) episode of the Medical Liability Minute podcast, Medical Justice Founder and CEO, Jeff Segal, MD, JD, discusses asset protection strategies for doctors with David Mandell, JD, MBA. The objective? Help doctors protect their nest eggs during these turbulent times. 

David Mandell is a partner at the OJM Group, a multi-disciplinary wealth management firm. What distinguishes them? Their focus on physicians. The OJM Group has worked with over 1500 physician clients in 48 states. David Mandell is an author and renowned authority in the fields of asset protection and general wealth management. We are privileged to have him as our guest on this episode of our podcast. Full podcast to be published 4/10/2020 at 5PM, EDT.

EP 17: Family Practitioner Treats Patient for Depression While Sleeping With His Wife on the Side

It is not uncommon for patients to develop romantic feelings for their caregivers. Managing these emotions is critical. When these emotions are mismanaged, bad outcomes often result.

A family practice doctor was treating a husband and his wife for an assortment of challenges. To make a long story short - the patient's wife (who was also the doctor's patient) fell in love with him.

Did this development resolve healthfully? If it did, we wouldn't be discussing it. What can we learn? Visit our website to read this episode's transcript.