Scrutiny of opioid prescriptions bad news for patients in pain, doctor warns

Dr. Ellen Thompson says a rising number of misconduct investigations by the College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario into doctors who may be over-prescribing opioid medications such as morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl will discourage doctors from prescribing the painkillers even in cases where they are beneficial.

Source/more:

http://ottawacitizen.com/storyline/scrutiny-of-opioid-prescriptions-bad-news-for-patients-in-pain-doctor-warns

Judge sees his recommendations cherry-picked re auto insurance

Justice Cunningham is himself now wary of his February 2014 recommendation that the province appoint a “public sector administrative tribunal” for SABS disputes and get rid of the court option for MVA victims.
He now acknowledges that few of the LAT adjudicators actually have experience resolving AB disputes, saying “Clearly many of my recommendations were not adopted.” “There was a lot of cherry picking that went on here.” WHY IS HE SURPRISED? As an accident victim I certainly am not. And herein lies the problem.

Source/more: http://deniedbenefitclaims.com/blog.html

Court challenge to Ontario auto dispute resolution system ‘scheduled to proceed’

A constitutional challenge to Ontario’s auto accident benefits dispute resolution system is scheduled for a three-day hearing next February, but the retired judge who recommended that AB disputes go before a public sector administrative tribunal suggested Wednesday that it would have “seriously undermined” the proposals to reform the system if AB disputes could be brought to court.

Source/more:
http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/court-challenge-ontario-auto-dispute-resolution-system-scheduled-proceed-hearing-feb-13-1004103046/

How safe are the vigorous neck manipulations done by chiropractors?

The chiropractor had just worked on Lynne Beliveau’s neck when she became dizzy, unable to see or move. Rushed to the hospital, Beliveau had a shunt inserted to relieve pressure caused by swelling in her brain. The Ashburn woman suffered a series of strokes and today, eight years later, the 41-year-old mother of three suffers from constant vertigo.

Source/more:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-safe-are-the-vigorous-neck-manipulations-done-by-chiropractors/2014/01/06/26870726-5cf7-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html

Backlog of applications for veterans benefits still greater than 11,500

Veterans Affairs is struggling to tame an enormous stockpile of disability benefits claims — approximately 11,544 — from ex-soldiers who are just entering the system, CBC News has learned.

Source/more:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/veterans-benefits-backlog-1.3781470

Accident Benefit Coalition Victim Survey

Take the Victim Survey:

http://ow.ly/UaTq3042ADh

Petition to the Government of Canada

We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to implement a National Disability Assistance Program for Canadians with chronic disabilities to fund life-sustaining medical equipment and to provide access to the necessary services to allow them to optimize their functionality over the course of their lifetime.

Source/more:
https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-41

Injured worker 'broken down' by 10-year battle with WSIB

An injured salt mine worker in Ontario says he has contemplated suicide after a decade-long fight for compensation, a fight that he now may have to wait at least another year before it is resolved.

Source/more:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wsib-appeal-tribunal-wait-1.3833770

Ontario psychologist 'alarmed by what's happening to WSIB claimants'

Dr. Keith Klaasen, who has been working with people who have suffered brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder for the last 22 years, is part of a group of Ontario psychologists who claim their patients are being unfairly denied compensation.

 Source/more:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-psychologist-alarmed-by-what-s-happening-to-wsib-claimants-1.3306891

WSIB slashes injured Pakenham paramedic's compensation

Dan O'Connor sits in his living room in Pakenham, Ont., trying to find the words to describe the excruciating pain that racks his body


He hardly needs to. His agony is plain to see.


O'Connor, 54, winces as he shifts his weight in the chair, trying in vain to find a comfortable position. The pain makes it difficult to sit for more than 15 minutes at a time, even with his legs elevated.

Source/more:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wsib-injured-worker-paramedic-1.3779727