Peter Panas, P.C. Blog

Do you know what causes traffic accidents in New York?

If you were asked what factor causes the most traffic accidents in New York, what would you say?  How about what factor contributes the most fatalities on New York’s roads and highways?  Most people have their pet dislikes about other drivers, and you might be thinking, “aggressive driving” or perhaps “driving while intoxicated” or “speeding”.

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Will more regulations make construction sites safer?

The tragic March 15 crane collapse on the East Side of Manhattan that took the lives of seven people was a grim reminder of the dangers of construction site work.  Not only did construction workers lose their lives in this horrific construction accident, but members of the general public died as well.  This tragedy – not even a month after the city’s Buildings Department kicked off a new safety campaign in response to a recent increase in construction accidents – puts even more pressure on city officials to address the city’s safety woes.

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Department of Buildings Gets Serious About Construction Accidents

We were pleased to see that the Department of Buildings has launched a Safety Analysis and Field Evaluation (SAFE) Scaffold & Shed Initiative after a spate of serious construction accidents in the city.  In February, Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster promised to crack down on the New York City construction industry – starting with scaffolding and sidewalk sheds.

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Informed consent is going digital

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal about those informed consent documents you sign before you have a medical procedure discusses new technology being used to improve the consent process.  You know that something needs to be done when studies have revealed that 60 to 70% of patients either don’t read or don’t understand their informed consent forms.

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When will it stop? Another tragic construction death

Well, it’s happened again – another hard-working New York City construction worker has lost his life on the job.  This time it happened when the worker fell 12 stories after the scaffolding he was standing on collapsed.  Another man who fell at the same time was seriously injured, while another co-worker was able to leap to safety.  So far investigators think that high winds are to blame.

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Accreditation for Outpatient Medical Facilities – At Last

Last summer Governor Elliot Spitzer signed new public health legislation intended to increase New York’s oversight of outpatient medical facilities that provide office-based surgeries.  Facilities using moderate or heavy sedation will be required to seek accreditation by July 14, 2009, otherwise the doctor will lose his or her license.  These facilities must also report adverse events like patient deaths, serious occurrences, hospital transfers, or life-threatening events within 30 days.

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