JD Journal » medical law

Lawyers Found New Houston Firm

Erik Even — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:42:02 +0000

Houston lawyer Greg Myers has announced the launch of The Myers Law Firm.

Myers defends physicians, dentists, and hospitals against malpractice claims. He is himself a licensed dentist, in addition to being a lawyer.

He has successfully defended physicians before the Texas Medical Board and the State Board of Dental Examiners.

Health law expert Melanie Rubinsky, and attorneys Becca Passman and Kristalee Leija, have joined the firm.

IP Attorney Group Joins Merchant & Gould

Erik Even — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:45:52 +0000

Four attorneys specializing in intellectual property have left Michael Best & Friedrich in Madison, Wisconsin to join Minneapolis’ Merchant & Gould.

Attorneys Jeffrey S. Ward, Wendy M. Ward, Thomas P. Heneghan and Edward J. Pardon, who also is a physician, will open a Madison office of Merchant & Gould, and will focus on the generic pharmaceutical industry.

The office is expected to open in April or early May.

Merchant & Gold laid off 33 people, including two partners, last month. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Denver, Omaha, Seattle, Washington DC, and Knoxville.

Man Fights Forced Electroshock; Would Rather Have Full Bottle In Front of Him

Erik Even — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:11:11 +0000

From Minnesota Public Radio:

A Minnesota man undergoing electro-convulsive therapy goes before a judge in St. Paul on Tuesday to try to stop the court-ordered procedure. Ray Sandford says he’s losing his memory after having more than 30 treatments so far. His doctors have argued that the procedure is necessary to treat Sandford’s psychotic episodes.

The courts have determined that Ray isn’t competent to make decisions regarding his own welfare….

[His] condition [is] described in court records as schizo-affective disorder with bipolar tendencies.

There are no good numbers on how many people receive forced ECT in the U.S. It’s up to states to track these cases and most, like Minnesota, do not.

The MPR story includes the opinions of multiple lawyers and advocates, on the topic of forced medical treatment.

“Sometimes people say you should use the perspective of a reasonable person,” said [Dean of William Mitchell College of Law Eric] Janus. “And it’s assumed that a reasonable person wants to protect him or herself against a relapse of a terrible mental illness.”

Still the “reasonable person” test doesn’t make sense to everyone, including even himself, Janus says.

Janus says even greater weight should be given to what the patient wants — even if it appears their illness might be clouding their judgment. Competent or not, not everyone wants to be treated when they’re sick, he says.

“That’s really what the court should be asking,” said Janus. “What are this person’s values? What does he want? What kind of life does he want to live? And it should be trying to make the decision in his behalf.”

Link to Minnesota Public Radio.