Chicago Injury Law Blog

The New York Times recently published an article on the lack of scrutiny long-term healthcare hospitals face over their standards of care.  According to the report, Medicare has never closely examined the care provided in these facilities, which are largely run by for-profit companies and have no doctors on staff.  Many are “hospitals within hospitals”, as the company that runs them contracts space from a host hospital so the facility can be opened quickly and cheaply.

These facilities have been cited at a rate of up to four times higher than traditional hospitals for violation of Medicare rules.  They also have a higher rate of patients developing bedsores and serious infections.  Federal reports found that for-profit long-term hospitals spend less on patients and have a higher profit margin comparable to non-profit hospitals.  These reports also detail preventable patient injuries and deaths as well as understaffed facilities. 

The New York Times reported that many of these hospitals will manage how long patients stay to maximize profits, even if it goes against the doctor’s wishes for the patient.  Maximum profit is gained when patients are discharged at or just after their 25^th day. Interestingly, the average length of stay at Select Medical Corp’s hospitals, the company that runs the largest number of long-term hospitals in the U.S., is 24 days. Unfortunately, Medicare has few ways to discipline hospitals, and rarely takes action to decertify a facility.  

Contact an Experienced Attorney

Our attorneys understand how difficult it is for victims or families of victims who have suffered from medical malpractice or negligence.  We work to ensure that you receive the best representation and largest settlement possible.  If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of medical malpractice or negligence in a long-term healthcare facility or another facility, contact us immediately.  We will provide you with a free no-obligation consultation and explain your legal rights.

Tysabri Leads to Rare and Deadly Disease

Tysabri is a drug that is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system in which the body’s immune response attacks one’s central nervous system. Tysabri is also marketed to treat severely active Crohn’s disease, a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract. Thousands of users each year take Tysabri to combat these two serious illnesses. Since the drug has been on the market, the FDA has received numerous reports of users of Tysabri developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and usually fatal viral disease that has no known cure.

Tysabri and Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is characterized by progressive damage or inflammation of certain areas of the brain. Tysabri was pulled from the market due to safety concerns in 2005, a year after it was introduced. Before it was pulled from the market in 2005, it had led to three confirmed cases of PML, and two resulting deaths.

However, it was re-introduced to the market in 2006 with more stringent regulations. Despite these precautions, there have been 13 FDA-confirmed cases of deadly Tysabri-related PML in patients who were being treated for multiple sclerosis since the drug was re-introduced. The risk of developing PML increases with the number of Tysabri infusions received.

Contact the Injury Attorneys at the Pintas Firm

If you or a loved one has suffered from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as a result of using Tysabri, please contact an injury attorney at the Pintas Firm immediately. However, do not discontinue your medication unless you have checked with your physician first.

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