Another: ADR in U.S. bad (?) article

[David]

Artificial disc embedded in controversy

I find it interesting that the "author" goes to enough trouble to investigate that a surgical procedure sometimes has complications *gasp*, but doesn't go to enough trouble to investigate the amount of clinical data that exists in Europe.

David

[Harrison]

Thx for the post David. If you look carefully, that's the same article I posted in the "Troubling News & Bad Press" topic. It's interesting to see how the same story propagates to other site...sensationalism sells!

[ADR in the USA]

Again, I have to say that as a candidate for multi-level ADR, I am bias; I like to hear good news about ADR and don't like the fear I experience when hearing about horror stories. Truth of the matter is, the way the American medical community interacts with the American justice system is much different than in Germany. In addition, it is in my humble opinion that many Charite patients have a very legitimate lawsuit regarding disc failure and/or surgical complications.

Another issue in the US has to do with insurance companies. In addition to seeking FDA approval, the US medical community is currently in the process of "selling" ADR to the biggest critics- the insurance companies who fear lawsuits. US doctors are now telling insurance companies that they will actually save them money by "helping" employees return to work sooner after an industrial accident.

So please tell me, what patient, whom has had an accident at work and whose surgery is being paid for by Worker's Compensation, that experiences horrible outcomes, will have a surgeon that is willing to say "This patient can't return to work because ..."?