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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

It's All About the Patients: Health Care Bills Get Hearing Today

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011   

BOSTON - Reducing medical errors, empowering the patient, and increasing patient safety are the goals of four bills taking center stage at the Massachusetts State House today. The statewide advocacy group Health Care for All (HCFA) is behind legislation that aims to improve the way health care is delivered in Massachusetts.

HCFA health quality manager Deb Wachenheim says that, with national attention focused on possibly dangerous levels of radiation from CT or "CAT" scans, one bill would bring back a commission to look more closely at their safety.

"You know, we're certainly not saying that people shouldn't have CT scans; there are obviously times when they are warranted. But there isn't a lot of regulation of that piece of health care, and so, we should be looking at where there could maybe be more regulation to make sure there aren't mistakes that could cause pretty horrific consequences."

Other bills to be introduced today require hospitals to use checklists to reduce surgical errors, offer ways to reduce medication errors and over-utilization of medical care, and encourage transparency and openness following unanticipated medical outcomes.

Lisa Nash is a breast cancer survivor who will testify today in favor of a shared decision-making bill, to ensure that patients are informed about all treatment options by their doctors. When Nash had a lumpectomy, she says her surgeon left titanium clips in her chest, a procedure that helps radiologists, but left her with a severe allergic reaction.

"Nobody has the right to place something in me, because they chose to do it, without asking my permission first. How dare they?"

Nash said the allergic reaction and subsequent treatments could have been avoided if the doctor had discussed the procedure with her first, as she already knew she was allergic to titanium.

The hearing is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in Hearing Room A-1 at the Massachusetts State House. The bills are HB 613 and SB 1150, HB 1495, SB 1078, HB 597.




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