A Key to a Successful Mediation – Hiring the Right Mediator

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Whеthеr уоur legal dispute involves a personal injury case, wrongful death case, insurance claim, family law, divorce, child custody (click here to get lawyers helping obtain child custody), оr child support case, уоu ѕhоuld strongly consider mediation tо attempt tо resolve уоur legal dispute thrоugh settlement, but Jensen divorce requirements is an important step if you’re following legal procedures.. If уоu hаvе аn attorney representing уоu, mediation wіll probably bе discussed durіng thе pendency оf уоur case. Yоu ѕhоuld tаkе a lead role іn assisting уоur attorney durіng thе process оf selecting a qualified аnd experienced mediator іn order tо optimize уоur chance оf successfully resolving уоur legal dispute. The Yaffa Family Law Group can help couples have an amicable divorce.

Definition оf Mediation

Mediation іѕ аn effective alternative dispute resolution method bу whісh parties tо a legal dispute agree tо hire a neutral thіrd party tо serve аѕ thе mediator. Thе mediator’s role іѕ tо learn thе facts оf thе case аnd arguments оf аll parties, tо promote communication bеtwееn thе parties, аnd tо facilitate thе parties wіth respect tо formulating a potential settlement оf thе legal dispute. Thе mediator remains neutral аnd ѕhоuld nоt provide legal advice tо thе parties.

Wіth respect tо аlmоѕt еvеrу civil lawsuit filed іn State Courts іn Texas, Judges wіll order thе attorneys аnd thе parties tо mediation prior tо trial. Hоwеvеr, thе process іѕ non-binding, meaning thаt уоu mау choose tо settle уоur case, оr alternatively, уоu mау choose nоt tо settle уоur case аnd proceed wіth уоur case іn Court. Nо оnе саn force уоu tо settle уоur case durіng mediation.

Whеthеr уоur legal dispute involves a civil lawsuit, a dispute іn whісh a lawsuit hаѕ уеt tо bе filed, аnd whеthеr оr nоt уоu hаvе аn attorney оr аrе representing уоurѕеlf, mediation саn bе used tо attempt tо resolve thе dispute wіth thе opposing party.

Goals оf Mediation

Thе purpose оf mediation іѕ tо provide thе parties a safe setting іn whісh settlement negotiations саn tаkе place аnd іn whісh a neutral thіrd party mediator саn assist thе parties іn exploring аnd facilitating potential settlement. Thе mediator ѕhоuld ensure thаt thе parties mediate іn good faith, meaning thаt еасh party agrees tо engage аnd participate іn thе process.

An effective mediator ѕhоuld accomplish thе following:

1. Preparation – properly prepare fоr thе mediation bу reviewing аll information provided tо thе mediator bу thе parties concerning thе case;
2. Neutrality – remain neutral аt аll times;
3. Nо legal advice – refrain frоm providing legal advice tо thе parties;
4. Understanding – ensure thаt аll parties know аnd understand thе process аnd rules оf mediation;
5. Communication – facilitate communication аnd settlement negotiations bеtwееn thе parties; аnd
6. Settlement Agreement – draft a quality Mediated Settlement Agreement incorporating аll terms оf thе settlement іn accordance wіth thе parties’ instructions.

Advantages оf Mediation

Thе advantages оf mediation аrе numerous аnd include thе following:

1. Cost Savings – ends thе need fоr continued expensive attorney’s fees, expert expenses, аnd costs оf litigation;
2. Avoidance оf Risk – lessens thе risks fоr thе parties іn thаt thе parties choose аnd formulate thе terms оf settlement, аѕ opposed tо leaving thе decision wіth respect tо thе legal dispute tо a Judge аnd jury;
3. Tіmе Savings – саn potentially resolve thе legal dispute іn a оnе day mediation session, аѕ opposed tо continued litigation whісh саn tаkе mаnу months оr еvеn years.

In family law cases, divorce mediation іѕ especially beneficial tо parents wіth children whо need tо learn tо negotiate аnd resolve disputes wіth еасh оthеr fоr thе best іntеrеѕt оf thе children.

Hiring a Quality Mediator

Hiring thе correct mediator as such m&a in Singapore are fоr уоur case optimizes thе potential fоr settlement оf уоur legal dispute. In choosing аnd hiring a quality mediator іn уоur case, уоu ѕhоuld learn thе background аnd experience оf thе potential mediator аnd consider thе following:

Iѕ thе mediator a licensed attorney whо hаѕ handled cases similar tо уоur legal dispute?

Whаt type оf training does thе mediator possess?

Whаt type оf reputation does thе mediator hаvе wіth respect tо hіѕ peers?

Sоmе quality mediators аrе nоt attorneys аnd nоt аll mediations require thе mediator tо bе аn attorney tо bе successful іn settling thе case; hоwеvеr, іt іѕ оftеn helpful tо hire a mediator whо іѕ аn attorney аnd hаѕ handled legal cases similar tо thе parties case. Thе benefit оf hiring ѕuсh аn attorney аѕ уоur mediator іѕ thаt thе attorney hаѕ knowledge аnd experience concerning thе law аnd whаt mау оr mау nоt happen wіth respect tо legal rulings аnd decisions thаt mау affect уоur case.

Filed under: General Problems | 7 Comments »

one of the 10 largest U.S. wholesale drug distributors: will stop distributing controlled pharmaceuticals

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

New York drug distributor exits opioids after admitting role in crisis

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-opioids-rochester/new-york-drug-distributor-exits-opioids-after-admitting-role-in-crisis-idUSKBN1ZD28M

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New York company that was the first drug distributor to face U.S. felony charges for its role in fueling the opioid crisis said on Tuesday it will stop distributing controlled pharmaceuticals, which include opioids.

Rochester Drug Co-Operative Inc (RDC) announced the decision after agreeing last April to settle the charges by paying a $20 million fine and accepting independent monitoring, under a five-year deferred prosecution agreement.

RDC, one of the 10 largest U.S. drug distributors, said controlled pharmaceuticals represent a relatively small percentage of its sales but “significant legal and compliance expenses,” and that those costs are “simply not sustainable.”

The Rochester, New York-based company will keep distributing non-controlled, generic and private label drugs, as well as healthcare supplies. It said it serves 1,300 retail pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies and home healthcare stores.

In settling with the government, RDC admitted to having distributed oxycodone, fentanyl and other controlled substances to pharmacies despite internal “red flags” that they would be used improperly.

Opioids have contributed to more than 400,000 deaths since 1997, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of whether several drug companies intentionally allowed large quantities of opioids to be shipped, contributing to the nationwide crisis.

At least two distributors, AmerisourceBergen Corp and McKesson Corp, have said in regulatory filings that they have been in communications with prosecutors’ offices.

RDC’s former chief executive, Laurence Doud, pleaded not guilty last April to criminal charges of conspiring to both distribute illegal drugs and defraud the government.

Jeff Eller, an RDC spokesman, said it is premature to discuss implementation of the deferred prosecution agreement.

Filed under: General Problems | 2 Comments »

Virginia: another constitutional right attempting to be taken away

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Virginia is in the fight of it’s life to protect the 2nd Amendment rights guaranteed to all citizens of the Commonwealth. Watch this video and share it with everyone to help us defend our rights.

 

The only way to stop a BAD GUY WITH A GUN… is with a GOOD GUY WITH A GUN.

the action of a church member taking down a shooter… limiting the shooter to only killing TWO PEOPLE

What we know about the man who shot, killed Texas church attacker

Filed under: General Problems | 6 Comments »

Eli Lilly Introduces New Lower-Priced Versions of Humalog Insulin Products

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Eli Lilly Introduces New Lower-Priced Versions of Humalog Insulin Products

https://www.drugtopics.com/diabetes/eli-lilly-introduces-new-lower-priced-versions-humalog-insulin-products

Insulin manufacturers are continuing efforts to provide more cost-savings options to patients with diabetes.

Today, Eli Lilly announced new plans that include 50% lower list prices for certain insulin products that will be available by mid-April, according to a company press release. This will include lower-priced versions of insulin lispro protamine and insulin lispro injectable suspension 100 units/mL (Humalog Mix 75/25 KwikPen) and insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL (Humalog Junior KwikPen).

Lilly initially introduced its first lower-priced insulin, insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL, in May 2019 at a 50% lower list price than the branded version.

Combined, these 3 insulin products comprise of more than 90% of prescriptions written for a mealtime insulin manufactured by Lilly, according to the release. Insulin lispro injectable suspension 100 units/mL, in particular, is one of Lilly’s most prescribed insulin, with approximately 600,000 prescriptions filled in the last 12 months, Lilly said. 

The announcements comes after Novo Nordisk also recently introduced its new insulin cost-savings options for patients experiencing difficulties affording their medications. These plans include short-term free, immediate supply for patients in urgent need with a prescription and a $99 purchase program. Novo Nordisk also offers authorized generic versions of their NovoLog and Novolog Mix.

According to Lilly, the lower-priced version of Humalog Mix75/25 will be known as Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 KwikPen (100 units/mL). The lower-priced version of insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL will be known as Insulin Lispro Injection Junior KwikPen (100 units/mL). Both prices will have a list price of $265.20 for a package of 5 KwikPens.

“The cost of insulin at the pharmacy varies dramatically depending on a person’s insurance coverage,” Mike Mason, president, Lilly Diabetes, said in a statement. “These lower-priced insulins may reduce out-of-pocket costs, especially for people in the coverage of Medicare Part D, the uninsured or those with high-deductible insurance plans.”

 

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Lamotrigine Tablets USP, 100 mg, 100 Count Bottles

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Lamotrigine Tablets USP, 100 mg, 100 Count Bottles

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/taro-pharmaceuticals-usa-inc-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-lamotrigine-tablets-usp-100-mg-100

Summary

Company Announcement Date:
FDA Publish Date:
Product Type:
Drugs
Reason for Announcement:
Cross contamination with another drug substance, Enalapril Maleate
Company Name:
Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Brand Name:
Taro Pharmaceuticals
Product Description:
Lamotrigine Tablets, USP 100mg

Company Announcement

Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (“Taro” or the “Company”) is voluntarily recalling one (1) lot of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets, Lot # 331771 (expiration date June 2021) in 100 count bottles, NDC 51672-4131-1 to the consumer level. This single lot of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets Lot #331771 (expiration date June 2021) was found to have been cross-contaminated with a small amount of another drug substance (Enalapril Maleate) used to manufacture another product at the same facility.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200110005522/en/External Link Disclaimer

Risk Statement: Use of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets could potentially result in exposure to a small amount of Enalapril Maleate, if present in the product in question. Enalapril Maleate is a drug substance indicated for hypertension and congestive heart failure. There is potential with chronic exposure to Enalapril Maleate to impact users particularly if they are small children or pregnant women. Enalapril Maleate is also associated with risk of birth defects in a developing fetus. Therefore, there is risk associated with the continued, long-term use of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets, Lot # 331771 (expiration date June 2021).

Taro has not received any product complaints or adverse events related to contamination of this product with Enalapril, or any complaints or adverse events that are associated specifically with this recall. Taro will continue to actively monitor for any and all adverse event reports that may be received, in compliance with FDA regulatory requirements.

Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets are indicated for Epilepsy and Bipolar disorder. This product is packaged in white plastic bottles with screw cap closure, and each bottle contains 100 tablets. Each bottle is labeled to indicate the name of the product, Lamotrigine Tablets USP, 100 mg, the NDC #51672-4131-1 (see image of container label below), the lot number 331771 and expiration date of June 2021.

Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets, Lot # 331771 were distributed to wholesale distributors in the US market between August 23 and August 30, 2019. These wholesale customers may have further distributed Lot # 331771 to retail pharmacies for prescription dispensing to patients who were prescribed 100 mg Lamotrigine Tablets.

Taro is notifying its distributors and customers by Phone, E-mail, and Letters via US Mail and is arranging for return of any containers or quantities of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets, Lot # 331771 (exp. June 2021). Consumers that have any quantities of Lamotrigine 100 mg Tablets, Lot # 331771 being recalled should stop using this product and return it to the pharmacy that dispensed it. Retailers, pharmacies and distributors should stop distributing or dispensing this product and return it to Taro.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Taro by calling 1-866-923-4914 or by e-mail at TaroPVUS@taro.com, Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM US Central Time. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

  • Complete and submit the report Online
  • Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
1-866-923-4914
TaroPVUS@taro.com

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

Chronic pain patients concerned about proposed federal law

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/chronic-pain-patients-concerned-about-proposed-federal-law

PUNTA GORDA, FLA. — For Debra Alleig, this is the best way she can describe the chronic pain she’s lived with for 17 years.

“It’s like for me a huge toothache. Like a dull, burning, constant, gnawing, nerve-ending root pain kind of,” said Alleig, “If I want to make soup, let’s say I’ll come out, cut an onion. If it’s real bad, I will go back to bed and lay down for half an hour.”

It started with back pain and then hip pain.

One spinal fusion and a hip replacement later and the aching is still there.

Over the years she been prescribed different treatments and has found that opioids work best to give her some quality of life.

But she says recent crackdowns on opioids have left chronic pain sufferers like her dealing with random drug tests, decreasing doses and sometimes being mislabeled as addicted.

“Am I dependent on my medication? Yes. Because otherwise, I would be in bed crying,” said Alleig.

She says that’s why proposed federal laws, like the NOPAIN Act gives her pause.

Those who back the bill say if passed, it would make it easier for doctors to prescribe non-opioid pain management to patients dealing with acute pain.

“This legislation is in now way shape or form intended to impact those patients ability to get access to these needed medications. The only thing that this legislation does is that it says that we think providers and patients deserve choices like they do in many other healthcare decisions and we think that pain should be no different,” said Chris Fox, the Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices.

Still, some living with chronic pain say they’d rather keep the government out of their medical decisions.

“You go back to regular doctors treating patients. They diagnose and treat. Not our legislators. Not the government. But our doctors,” said Alleig.

Filed under: General Problems | 2 Comments »

Prescription-Drug Policing: The Right To Health Information Privacy Pre- and Post-Carpenter

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Prescription-Drug Policing: The Right To Health Information Privacy Pre- and Post-Carpenter

This Article operates at the intersection of privacy law, Fourth Amendment doctrine, and prescription-drug surveillance instigated by the U.S. drug-overdose crisis. Reputable reporting sources frequently frame that ongoing crisis as a prescription-drug-overdose “epidemic.” Current epidemiological data, however, indicate that the majority of American overdose deaths are now a result of illicit and polysubstance drug use and not prescription-opioid misuse. The prescription-opioid-centric frame has nonetheless sparked the rapid rise of surveillance of prescribers and patients in the form of state prescription-drug monitoring program (“PDMP”) databases. State PDMPs, which maintain and analyze significant data concerning every dispensed controlled substance, surreptitiously collect a stunning amount of sensitive health information.

PDMPs are predominantly law enforcement investigative tools dressed up in public-health-promoting rhetoric. Under the guise of rogue prescriber, pill mill, and doctor–shopper crackdowns,

the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) routinely self-issues subpoenas that permit the agency to conduct warrantless sweeps of the voluminous data stored in state PDMP databases.

These rampant law enforcement sweeps procure highly sensitive health information and raise serious constitutional privacy concerns. The Supreme Court’s recent Fourth Amendment decision in Carpenter v. United States , however, may limit the DEA’s otherwise unfettered access to state PDMP databases.

Carpenter and the Fourth Amendment doctrines central to its holding motivate this Article and animate its two core contentions. First, pertinent pre-Carpenter precedent requires the DEA to obtain a warrant in order to conduct sweeps of state PDMP databases. Second,

courts are even more likely to rule that warrantless DEA searches of highly sensitive health-care data run afoul of the Fourth Amendment in the post-Carpenter world. Simply stated, patient prescribing records stored in state PDMP databases are entitled to Fourth Amendment protection.

IF you wish to read all 79 pages, click on the link above.  Carpenter vs United states     was about the government going thru a person’s cell phone history without a properly signed warrant.

There is growing list of letters from various large healthcare corporations and/or office practices owned by a large healthcare corporation.. that state that they are going to limit or stop prescribing opiates and/or controlled substances.

They are making a PUBLIC STATEMENT that they are going to start discriminating against pts who have a valid medical necessity for controlled substances and most/all of those pts are considered a COVERED ENTITY under the Americans with Disability Act and Civil Rights Act  and it is a civil rights violation.

Most/all of these healthcare corporations have NO FEAR of pts… they fear the DEA because NO PT has sued them for civil rights discrimination.

If you are a pt being discriminated against and you have one of these “denial of care letters” or know someone who has and is being discriminated against you should be contacting law firms that deal with civil rights violation… in talking to these law firms there needs to be two things you need to make clear… you are NOT TALKING ABOUT MALPRACTICE… you are talking about civil rights violation and that there is probably HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF OTHER PTS being discriminated against.  All are being DENIED APPROPRIATE CARE because of the medication that you have a valid medical necessity to help optimize your quality of life and you are being ABUSED by this healthcare corporation and its employees.

You let them start talking about MALPRACTICE … it is a loser discussion… because the defendant will hire a “expert” that will testify that he/she was following standard of care and best practices and your legal team will hire a expert that will testify that the plaintiff was not… it comes a he said … she said… and many states have caps on awards for malpractice and many are so low that even if the law firm wins a malpractice case on ONE PT… they will probably not cover their expenses if they take the case on a contingency basis.

If any attorney doubts the detrimental effects of under/untreated pain.. the above chart should change their mind.

Imagine if the pts that successfully sues these healthcare corporation.. would agree to put part of their settlement into a non-profit whose sole purpose to hire PR, Lobby and Law firms to fight for the rights of the chronic pain community.  After all, isn’t getting pts  their medications and optimize their quality of life what it is all about ? While the legal profession is circling like vultures around major healthcare corporations – think hospitals, chain pharmacies, insurance/PBM industry… the non profit can start taking on Congress and challenging the unconstitutional laws that they have passed and hopefully prevent future laws that will harmful to the chronic pain community if allowed to get thru Congress.

 

Filed under: General Problems | 8 Comments »

Dr Ibsen and pt who doc wants to keep doing spinal procedures that could produce worse outcomes

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »

“in constant pain and nothing else could be done”. Two gunshots were then heard in the background

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

https://local12.com/news/local/delhi-township-police-investigates-deaths-of-couple-cincinnati

DELHI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) – Delhi Township Police are investigating the deaths of a man and a woman found inside a home Tuesday. The Hamilton County Coroner identified them Wednesday as Harvey and Patricia Sander.

Harvey Sander called 911 from the home on Pontius Road at about 7 a.m. He told the call-taker that his wife was “in constant pain and nothing else could be done”. Two gunshots were then heard in the background. Communication with the caller ended.

When police and a SWAT team got there, they found both dead in an upstairs bedroom.

According to the coroner, Harvey Sander killed Patricia and then killed himself.

Filed under: General Problems | 6 Comments »

CHRONIC ILLNESS & THE HOLIDAYS

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve

https://youtu.be/LMNm6kOE1to

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »