Free Essays on Effects Of Tort Reform On Malpractice

THE EFFECTS OF HEALTHCARE COSTS ON MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Anonymous. (2002). Making end-of-life decisions ahead of time. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, 20(7), 4-5. A living will records in writing what certain medical care he or she would like in order to sustain life. This document also serves as a guide to the patient’s values and preferences in medical care for the provider and the patient’s family. A living will legally spells out the patients desire to live as long as possible, or to allow death to occur. In the absence of these documents, it is up to the patient’s provider and immediate family to determine their wishes. When the two parties are unable to agree, the court must decide the matter. This source gives definitions and explanations for the living will, health care proxy, and other legally binding advanced healthcare directives. Armstrong, J. (2002). Malpractice rates leading doctors to drop coverage. Physician’s Financial News, 20(7), 10. With the cost of malpractice insurance rising, and provider compensation falling, many providers are finding themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, the providers need malpractice insurance. But, on the other hand, the reimbursements they receive are barely sufficient enough to support the extremely high premiums their insurance carriers are requiring. There are some states whose laws on malpractice insurance are lax, allowing the providers the option to greatly reduce and/or refuse their existing coverage. Choosing to refuse their coverage presents new professional challenges for the providers. In reality, other providers are picking up the tab for the loss of that physician’s premium. In attempts to avoid these additional risks, providers are getting to know their patients better, as well as educating them of their rights and options in the case of emergency or terminal illness. Flaherty, M. (20... Free Essays on Effects Of Tort Reform On Malpractice Free Essays on Effects Of Tort Reform On Malpractice THE EFFECTS OF HEALTHCARE COSTS ON MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Anonymous. (2002). Making end-of-life decisions ahead of time. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, 20(7), 4-5. A living will records in writing what certain medical care he or she would like in order to sustain life. This document also serves as a guide to the patient’s values and preferences in medical care for the provider and the patient’s family. A living will legally spells out the patients desire to live as long as possible, or to allow death to occur. In the absence of these documents, it is up to the patient’s provider and immediate family to determine their wishes. When the two parties are unable to agree, the court must decide the matter. This source gives definitions and explanations for the living will, health care proxy, and other legally binding advanced healthcare directives. Armstrong, J. (2002). Malpractice rates leading doctors to drop coverage. Physician’s Financial News, 20(7), 10. With the cost of malpractice insurance rising, and provider compensation falling, many providers are finding themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, the providers need malpractice insurance. But, on the other hand, the reimbursements they receive are barely sufficient enough to support the extremely high premiums their insurance carriers are requiring. There are some states whose laws on malpractice insurance are lax, allowing the providers the option to greatly reduce and/or refuse their existing coverage. Choosing to refuse their coverage presents new professional challenges for the providers. In reality, other providers are picking up the tab for the loss of that physician’s premium. In attempts to avoid these additional risks, providers are getting to know their patients better, as well as educating them of their rights and options in the case of emergency or terminal illness. Flaherty, M. (20...

The Role of the audit committee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Role of the audit committee - Essay Example The paper will discuss the roles, the responsibilities and the effectiveness of the audit committee in details. The independence of the audit committee and how its independence is ensured will be explored. The current issues that are being faced by the audit committee in the context of various accounting misrepresentations will also be analysed. Role of Audit Committee The Role of Audit Committee in the US and the UK and Oversight of Internal and External Auditors and Overseeing Financial Reporting The audit committee has the responsibility of judging the validity of financial statements. The internal financial controls of the company and the company’s risk management system are reviewed by the audit committee (Financial Reporting Council, 2010). The audit committee is responsible for hiring the external auditors. They have the right to fire the external auditors if their performance is not satisfactory. ... The audit committee has the authority to hire as well as terminate the independent auditors. They approve the fees of engaged auditors. They conduct discussion with the independent auditors regarding the approach that will be taken in conducting the audit. They conduct a review of the audit that is done by the independent auditor to understand the areas of concern and make suggestions. They conduct an annual review of the audit report of the independent auditor. The audit committee reviews the company’s accounting controls internally along with the risk management policies of the company. They monitor the financial reporting and financial disclosures in the company. The financial statements that are audited are discussed with the management and the auditors. The audit committee reports regularly to the board of directors regarding their inference from audit reports (Singh, 2005). The audit committee is responsible for ensuring independence of both internal and external auditor s. The audit committee has a liaison with internal and external auditors. The external auditors underwrite the validity of accounting information. The audit committee has the responsibility of ensuring the independence of the internal auditors. They provide resources to the internal auditors to ensure quality of the information. The internal auditors report to the audit committee. The compliance with standards and code of ethics of the internal auditors make things easier for the audit committee (The Institute of Internal Auditors, 2004). Importance and Effectiveness of Audit Committees The rising scandals and fraudulence activities in the corporate world have increased the

Managing Strategically in The Public services Essay

Managing Strategically in The Public services - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the traditional model of administration was criticized earlier for its inward focus and short-term perspective. Both of these shortcomings have altered with the advent of public management, and the public sector now shows more concern with longer-term strategy than ever before. The strategic perspective considers the organization in its external environment; it aims to specify clear goals and objectives; it attempts to move away from routine management tasks to consider, in a systematic way, longer-term considerations of the very future of the organization. The strategy addresses ‘a crucial concern; positioning the organization to face an increasingly uncertain future. The traditional model missed out on the longer-term perspective and, by being preoccupied with process, often forgot there was a larger purpose, an overall goal, for any public organization. Using strategic concepts in the public sector is one way to address these shortcomings. Applications of strategy in the private sector are obvious enough, with considerable advantages resulting from looking a the long term and the external environment, rather than always considering more immediate internal problems. Normal management processes may be adequate for ordinary operations but it is also necessary, from time to time too, reassess the fundamental reason why the organizations exist, what it is trying to do and where it is going.... Strategic planning in the public sector is a phenomenon of gthe early 1980s, significantly later than its development in the private sector. Strategic management was also adopted but again followed the private sector with a gap of some years (Hughes 136) However strategic planning and strategic management are private sector concepts and it cannot be taken for granted that the ideas will work in the public sector. There are more problems and constraints compared to the private sector . Nutt and Backoff argue that strategic managers in the public sector 'should be wary of using private sector approaches that assume clear goals, profit or economic purposes, unlimited authority to act, secret development, limited responsibility for actions, and oversight through market mechanisms that signal financial results' and in public organisations 'many of these assumptions are not valid' in Hughes p136 Bozeman and Straussman argue that there are three major features of a strategic approach: defining goals and objectives, developingan action plan that meditates between the organisatin and the environment and designing effective methods of implementation'. (1990 in Hughes 137) The Bryson model (1988) is a strategic planning model derived from the private sector, but with some variations to allow for the public sector context: initiating and agreeing on a strategic planning process identifying organisations mandates clarifying organisation mission and values assessing the external environment (opportunities and threats) Assessing the internal environment (strengths and weaknesses) Identifying the strategic issues facing an organisation Formulating strategies to manage the issues; and Establishing an effective organisation visionf or the future In Hughes 138 The next

Contemporary World Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Contemporary World Cinema - Essay Example Before beginning the main part of the comparative study, it is important to generally assess the working of the two filmmakers. In regards of the Dardenne Brothers, it is widely accepted that most of their films follow a sort of realistic depiction that may eventually drift towards some political implication. In other words, their movies are prone to convey political message. The most important part of this phenomenon is that this message is not conveyed in a planned way. The cocktail of story telling and realism may lead the spectator to wider societal and political inferences. Haneke, on the other hand, is known for depicting stereotypical characters time and again. However, such tendencies do not mar his exclusive language of cinema that gives rise to robust flow of thoughts. In words of Grundmann, this is â€Å"cinema of glaciation†. Further, realism in Haneke’s cinema appears in a subtle form where the central character may be a very different kind of person, just the like we find in Benny’s Video. Such sort of realism mixed with a degree of uniqueness and horror adds special dimensions to our general perception.

Yoga Sutras Essay Example for Free

Yoga Sutras Essay My husband insists that yoga is nothing but stretching. I knew there had to be a little more to it than just stretching, but before I started this course I mostly agreed with his opinion. In fact, thats the main reason I decided to take this class. I hoped to incorporate stretching into more of a routine for me so that my flexibility would improve. In just three short weeks I have learned that there truly is much more to yoga than bending and stretching: its a lifestyle. When we first discussed the Yoga Sutras in class I wasnt entirely sure what to make of them. But reading further into them I have discovered how much yoga has to offer a person. Comparable to the Ten Commandments I was raised to follow, the Yamas teach selflessness and responsibility. Applying this to real life is much easier said than done, but definitely a goal to be set and taken seriously. I dont consider myself a bad person, and Im certainly not perfect either. I dont make a habit of lying, but it would be a lie for me to say that everything Ive ever said was one hundred percent truth. I stole a candy bar from a grocery store when I was a kid. I learned my lesson then and havent stolen since. I consider morals to be the foundation to a solid and happy life. There is so much controversy these days regarding religion and what is right and wrong. I am a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ. Each religion has its own dos and donts, but you dont have to be of a certain spiritual-mindedness to learn the art of yoga. Its refreshing to find that yoga goes beyond lessons of physical well being to teach morality and ethical conduct. My priority in this class still remains the same to refine my flexibility. But I have been reminded of my roots, of my foundation of morals. I aim to continue yoga and work towards achieving the universal morality it teaches.

The Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay -- Martin Luther King

On April 16, 1963, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. composed an extensive letter to eight clergymen who condemned the timing of the civil rights movement. Although the letter was addressed to these eight clergymen, the Letter from Birmingham Jail speaks to a national audience, especially King’s â€Å"Christian and Jewish brothers†(King, 29). His peaceful but firm letter serves as a remarkably persuasive voice to an immensely chaotic mess, and is seen as a major turning point in the civil rights movement. King believes that without direct action, the full rights for African Americans could never be achieved. He defends the impatience of people in the civil rights movement, upholding that without forceful demonstrations, equality will never be reached. King upholds that human rights must take precedence over unjust laws. His eloquent language and use of classical argumentation make his case resilient and convincing. King’s expert use of pathos invokes anger, sympathy and empathy; his impeccable use of logos made his argument rational to all; and his use of ethos, especially his use of biblical references, makes his opinions more authoritative. Through his vivid descriptions, passionate tone, and expressive examples, King’s arguments evoke an emotional response in his readers. King’s use of pathos gives him the ability to inspire fellow civil rights activists, evoke empathy in white conservatives, and create compassion in the minds of the eight clergymen and the rest of his national audience. King seeks to lessen the aggression of white citizens while revitalizing the passion for nonviolent protest in the minds of African Americans. King cautions, â€Å"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere† (K... ...ivil rights movement. Overall, I believe King’s letter his extremely influential due to his impeccable use of argument within it, incorporating logos, pathos and ethos. In my opinion, King’s use of pathos is one of the factors behind the success of his letter. Although his letter was addressed to the eight clergymen, I believe that King intended for the entire nation to read it and react to it. The variety of literary devices in his letter makes King sound intelligent and convincing. On the other hand, I believe that King incorporates too much alliteration within his letter; many times, King makes a historical or biblical reference without delving into its relevance or meaning, leaving the reader questioning his intentions. In my opinion, if King would have described these alliterations more or, rather, left them out entirely, his argument would be deeper.

Relevance of Earlier Warfare to Modern Warfare Essay

The art of War has been the subject of great scholarly activity as the attributes that make a person a skilled Commander in times of War have arose great curiosity amongst statesmen, generals and philosophers alike. More surprisingly, the advent of modern warfare has cast a shadow of fallacy on the minds of many individuals and has made them to believe that the current military professional has nothing to learn from the great commanders of the past as he is too â€Å"well equipped† to dwell on such detail. The truth is that history is the best teacher and as this paper progresses, I will be utilizing historic references to explain my point of contention that there is still a lot to learn from the likes of Fredrick the Great, Napoleon and Ulysses Grant. Argument The first and foremost evidence to support my thesis is that there is similarity between the goals of the current military professional and his counterpart from centuries ago. This similarity is more profound if you find yourself fighting for the same ideals, the same land and the same enemy. It is this similarity between the two that allows the current military professional to reassess himself in light of what is happening today. For example, according to Adam Hart – Davis (2007), the prime reason for the fall of Napoleon was that he invaded Russia, in the year 1812 (P. 179). The Russian Generals tactfully withdrew from territory destroying their own towns, farms, cultivation and infrastructure along the way. A month after defeating the Russians outside Moscow, Napoleon decided to retreat back to Paris out of concern of loss of control. However, his decision to do so in the winter proved fatal as the lack of shelter and infrastructure killed his troops physically and mentally. The Russians kept pursuit of the retreating forces and managed to kill scores of them. By the time Napoleon managed to get back home, all that was left of his army was a demoralized handful of men against an efficiently trained numerous force that had left Paris with him on the way to Russia earlier that year, contributing to his eventual fall in 1815. According to Gilbert (2004), a 130 years on, Hitler made the same mistake when he invaded Russia in 1941 just when the harsh winter started (P. 249). The Russians employed the same strategy and after defeating the Germans at the siege of Moscow and Stalingrad, they chased the retreating German forces back into Germany proper and were instrumental in the fall of Berlin and the end of the Nazi regime itself. Thus, had Hitler paid attention to the fault at which his predecessor had been, there was a great probability that he would not have met the end that he did in 1945. The second point of argument is that although how we conduct warfare these days has changed, the strategy or tactfulness has not. No matter what resources in weaponry and personnel that a general may have at his disposal, there is no denying that as far as tact is concerned, there is always a lot to learn. Consider Fredrick the Great who, in 1756, fearing a joint attack by major European powers including Russia, Sweden, and Hapsburg Austria etc launched a pre-emptive strike on its neighbors. According to The strategy was of immense benefit as he was able to destroy part of the hostile forces that allowed moral and tangible support when confronted by a full scale invasion. According to Adam Hart Davis (2007), the same strategy was followed by Israel in 1967 when on rumors of a joint Arab attack on her lands compelled her to make a pre emptive strike on Egypt, Syria and Jordan (P. 353). The result was that Israel doubled its land area in just six days by capturing the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank and the Golan heights. Again, what mattered was not the advanced weaponry that Israel had but the line of thought that was mutual between Fredrick the Great in 1756 and the Israeli leadership of 1967. Another example is the use of landscape and climate by the Russian Tsar Alexander in 1812 against Napoleon and by the Russian leader Joseph Stalin in 1941 against Nazi Germany. This use of the climate is yet to be seen again but, according to Adam Hart – Davis (2007), the use of the terrain and the landscape by the Viet-Cong against American forces in Vietnam and the Afghan Guerrillas against Soviet troops in Afghanistan enforces my point that tact is something which can be learned from the great Generals of the past (P. 355, 373-4). The last reason to support my thesis is that the rules of engagement have not changed as weaponry or tools have improved and not changed completely. This calls for a more proactive approach as to how we address the issue at hand, namely, whether the current military professional stand to benefit from the study of the Great generals of the past. Consider an example. The Trojan War, as depicted by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey, could be the first example in warfare history of deception. Whereby the Trojan horse was meant to be a gift, it turned out to be a mechanism as to how the Athenian forces enter the city. Contrast this with reports that in the run up to the 2003 Second Gulf War. According to Sifry and Cerf (2007), American intelligence agencies planted false evidence to make Saddam Hussein believe that the coalition attack would come from Turkey and not from the Southern neighboring countries of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (P. 114). This forced Saddam to place more battalions to defend the Northern front than would have been necessary. Thus, it can be argued that weaponry or tools, to a large extent have remained the same in nature but have changed in form. Guns have replaced swords but their use remains the same. Cannon guns have been replaced but their use remains the same. The Trojan horse has been replaced by false intelligence and thus the use remains the same. In the end, the point of contention is that if the tools at hand for the general have only changed in form and not in substance, there is every reason to believe that the current military professional stands to benefit a lot by studying his counterparts from centuries ago. Conclusion Thus, as can be seen, there is still a lot for the current military professional to learn from his predecessors. The reasons are that situations repeat themselves, tactfulness is an attribute that can be readily applied and does not wither with age and the use of the tools at the military disposal remains the same. It can be argued, thus, that the greatest armies of our time will not be those that have the most advanced weaponry but those with the best Generals who happen to know the history of those before them yet alike them. Adam Hart – Davis (2007). History: The Definitive Visual Guide from the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day. London: Dorling Kindersley. Gilbert, M. (2004). The Second World War: A complete History. London: Henry Holt and Co. Sifry, M. & Cerf. C. (2007). Iraq War Reader: History, Documents, Opinions. . New york: Simon & Schuster