Although the Law Stacks the Deck Against You, Leaving a Foreign Body in a Patient Doesn’t Always Mean Negligence or Discipline
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Leaving a foreign object (sometimes referred to as a “retained foreign body” or “RFB”) in a patient, such as a sponge, clamp, forceps, surgical needle, guide wire, part of a surgical instrument or other paraphernalia commonly used in […]
National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Update
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This legislation made many reforms to the American health care system and with it came many changes that will affect both health care providers and consumers alike. One such change brought about by this legislation was the […]
At Last, a Ray of Hope for Florida Health Professionals Who Have Paid Their Debt to Society After Criminal Conviction
The Florida Legislature unanimously passed HB 653 which relaxes some of the draconian exclusions enacted under SB 1986, which went into effect on July 1, 2009. SB 1986, which added provisions to Chapter 456, Florida Statutes, among others, prevented numerous healthcare providers from obtaining or renewing licenses based on prior criminal convictions, which could have […]
Adverse Consequences of Discipline Against Your Nursing License
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law If the Florida Department of Health (DOH) takes discipline against your Florida nursing license, this will have many significant consequences. Investigation and Discipline of Other State Licenses. The discipline will be reported to every other state in which […]