Murphy Jones Law

Bipartisan Call for Federal Investigation of State Medical Boards

Kevin Murphy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:55:28 +0000

Democrat and Republican senators are seeking a national investigation regarding state medical boards' disciplinary actions. Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Charlie Grassley (R-Iowa) have submitted a request letter to the director of the Office of the Inspector General for the Dept. of Health seeking a federal investigation into state medical boards.

The senators' letter states, "With the adoption of advanced medical technologies...and an increase in physicians holding licenses in two or more states, it is becoming increasingly important that states issue timely board actions and coordinate licensure actions to protect the public from unqualified or marginally proficient practitioners." (Walker, MedPage Today 2/21/12). The senators cite a Public Citizen, a consumer organization, report which finds that less then one-half of the 10,672 doctors listed in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) have been disciplined by their licensing state medical board.

A federal investigation could have wide ranging ramifications relating to increased disciplinary actions being filed and increased delays in state medical board administrative proceedings. The attorneys at Murphy Jones LLP are monitoring the situation and will continue to report on the investigation request as new information becomes available.

Cal. Gov. Jerry Brown to address National Nurses United

Kevin Murphy — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:45:15 +0000

Governor Jerry Brown will speak at the National Nurses United (NNU) union's convention this evening, Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom is scheduled to address the organization tomorrow morning, and filmmaker Michael Moore is slated to speak to at the conference on Friday. Over 1,000 nurses are scheduled to attend the convention in San Francisco.

NNU is also actively engaged in a "campaign for a tax on Wall Street financial speculation in order to provide revenue for Main Street reforms, including jobs at living wages, guaranteed healthcare for all, and freedom from hunger, homelessness, and retirement insecurity." (NNU, Media Advisory, 9/13/11)

California Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts Informed Consent Requirements

Kevin Murphy — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:25:39 +0000

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners has recently adopted Informed Consent requirements which compel chiropractors to obtain patients' consent after being fully informed of any potential risk of harm to the patient in relation to medical treatment. The new legislation takes effect on October 7, 2011, and will require informed consent both orally and in writing prior to the performance of chiropractic clinical care. Violation of the new law will constitute unprofessional conduct which will very likely lead to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to initiate disciplinary proceedings against practitioners who fail to adhere to the requirements. (Dynamic Chiropractic, California Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 9/12/11)

CA Nursing Unions to Hold Statewide Strikes

Kevin Murphy — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:18:38 +0000

On September 7, 2011, the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) filed a notice of intent to strike with Kaiser Permanente on September 21 - 23, 2011. NUHW issued a statement stating that it intends to have union members strike "should management continue to refuse to bargain in good faith." There are rumors that the California Nurses Association (CNA) will participate in the strike demonstrations, but no notice of intent to strike has been filed yet. The two unions represent over 21,000 Kaiser Permanente employees, with NUHW representing approx. 4,000 Kaiser employees. (">Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 9/8/11)

Advanced Practice Nurse Transitional Care Program Reduces Readmission Rates

Kevin Murphy — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:27:51 +0000

A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine determined that elderly heart failure patients who completed an Advanced Practice Nurse transitional care program while hospitalized, which entailed various pre-discharge procedures and post-discharge house calls, had a 48% lower readmission rate compared with other seniors who did not complete the program. An additional study of 257 seniors found that 12.8% of seniors who participated in the transitional care program required readmission hospitalization compared with 20% of elderly patients who did not participate in the program. Healthday News.

CA Board of Chiropractic Examiners updated Rules & Regulations

Kevin Murphy — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:11:04 +0000

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners has revised the Rules and Regulations governing chiropractors as of June 2011. The rules are located in Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 4, section 301 et. al. The updated rules can be found here.

Attorney Kathleen Jones Educational Presentation at NCSBN Conference

Kevin Murphy — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:50:23 +0000

Attorney Kathleen Jones is presenting an informative educational seminar on Alternative Discipline Programs at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Attorney/Investigator 2011 Conference in Chicago, IL. Mrs. Jones will be discussing confidentiality, administration, due process concerns, and various other issues before the NCSBN membership.

The Nat. Council of State Boards of Nursing is an organization which provides education, service, and research to state nursing regulatory boards.

L.A. Kaiser Nurses Protest Staffing Ratios

Kevin Murphy — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:22:55 +0000

1,100 Los Angeles nurses stage "walk out" to protest unsafe staffing ratios at Kaiser Permanente's L.A. Medical Center. The nurses were joined by 1,400 other Kaiser employees who oppose long wait times patients face and proposed cuts to Kaiser employees' healthcare and retirement benefits. Kaiser Permanente nurses stage one-day walkout over working conditions (Helfand, 5.18.11 Los Angeles Times.)

Murphy Jones LLP Broken Ankle Personal Injury Settlement

Kevin Murphy — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:40:01 +0000

The healthcare attorneys at Murphy Jones LLP successfully represented their client, Mrs. Marilyn W., in a personal injury accident stemming from a fractured ankle occurring at a dog park in Las Vegas, NV. Mrs. W. was walking in the enclosed area when two large dogs barreled into her knocking her to the ground breaking her ankle and hitting her head. Mrs. W. was referred to Murphy Jones LLP and they assisted her in representing her interests and securing $30,000 compensation for her broken ankle injuries.

"The attorneys at Murphy Jones LLP are outstanding. They responded to me in a timely manner and provided excellent legal services! I know that this was a small case for them, but they prosecuted it like it was the most important case in the world. I am so grateful and satisfied with the outstanding results! Thank you Kathleen and Kevin!!!" - Mrs. Marilyn W.

Medical Board of California raids medical marijuana dispensaries.

Kevin Murphy — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:38:18 +0000

On 4/20/11 the Medical Board of California, along with local Los Angeles law enforcement agencies, raided three medical marijuana dispensaries in the Venice Beach area. Investigators raided facilities connected with Medical Kush Doctor, and the Medical Board of California's spokesperson declined to discuss the basis for the raids but did disclose the locations of the targeted facilities.

"Venice pot doctors shut down after raid by state medical board and police" (Hoeffel, L.A. Times 4/20/11)