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A new survey of orthopedics surgeons showed roughly a third of the imaging tests they ordered, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, are meant to protect them from lawsuits rather than for the benefit of the patient.  Defensive medicine, where physicians order diagnostic tests of little benefit largely to protect themselves from lawsuits, are up as high as...

Legalization of marijuana at the state level does not supersede federal laws that prohibit its use. The relationship of the mafia with the government is discussed. There are many medical uses for this drug.

  In 2011 there was a US Supreme Court ruling that pharmaceutical companies making drugs during the life of their patent are liable for inadequate safety warnings on the label of the drug. In June of 2013 the same court ruled that generic drug producers were NOT liable for law suits related to adverse drug reactions not printed on the label so long as...

  According to a Mayo Clinic study published in Archives of Internal Medicine in October 2012, that compared the risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death for 18 months before and after legislation for smoke-free environments. There were 33% fewer heart attacks and17% fewer sudden cardiac deaths after the laws went into effect. The actual numbers...

Smoking accounts for more than 400,000 deaths every year in the US. The causes are identified and the mechanism of action discussed. Stronger controls to prevent these unnecessary deaths are needed.

The Supreme Court ruled that federal law shields vaccine makers from product liability, and lawsuits from State Courts seeking damages for a child’s death or injury from a vaccine side effect. 

  According to an article in the NY Times in January of 2013, it appears that Johnson and Johnson, the manufacturer of the DePuy metal on metal hip resurfacing prosthesis, knowingly and willingly sold this product even though they had full knowledge that it was defective and would cause widespread disability, suffering, and even deaths. More that 10,000...