There is a growing trend called "practice drift" in the medical and surgical communities. This term refers to doctors and physicians who perform medical procedures outside of the field in which they are board certified. This drift has resulted in a number of surgical errors and has prompted lawmakers to address the issue.
Autopsies may reveal hidden medical negligence
Only 50 years ago, hospitals would routinely perform autopsies or postmortem reviews on roughly half of all the patients who passed away in the hospital. The review can prove a cause of death or answer any questions surrounding an unexpected death. However, it could also reveal a number of medical errors, undiagnosed diseases or other forms of medical malpractice. In light of this, many hospitals no longer offer to perform an autopsy.
Proposed revision to truck driver hours to be announced
After two rulings confirmed that current truck driving regulations violate federal law, a revision of the number of hours a trucker can be forced to drive in a day may be lowered from 11 to 10 hours. According to reports, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will announce the proposed revision on Dec. 22, 2011.
