I need your help - abuses in medical practice and insurance.

[mmglobal]

2 years ago, I was asked to represent the patient community at the Third International Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering. (website) I have been invited to return and again, represent the patient community in a panel discussion on "Marketing, Payment and Regulation of Biomedical Devices" at the Fourth Internation Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering. (website)

I'll be making a presentation and then participating in the panel discussion on marketing, reimbursement and regulation. I'd like my presentation to cover:

• A balanced view of positive and negative impact of new technologies on the spine patient community.
• Case examples of abuses by the system as related to introduction of new devices. (read more below)

Abuses by the system may include, but are not limited to:

• reimbursement issues
• reimbursement issues
• informed consent
• reimbursement issues
• Workmen's comp abuse
• reimbursement issues
• Clinical trial, oversight of unsuccessful patients
• Complication reporting - outcome database - can't we weed out the bad surgeons?
• Oh yes... did I say reimbursement issues.

I spoke to Dr. Subrata Saha this morning. This year well over a dozen countries will be represented and the conference is growing nicely. I really enjoyed the conference in 2005 and look forward to this one. Late April in New York should be nice... perhaps we can have a spiney gathering there... Sunday afternoon 4/22?