Staten Island's Dr. Gilbert Lederman was found guilty of malpractice after treating Giuseppa Bono with radiation without confirming she had cancer. Lederman, who had previously been sued by George Harrison's family, advertised his special "Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery" on Italian infomercials with colleague Salvatore Conte, who would diagnose patients despite not having a medical degree. Though Lederman committed malpractice, the jury ruled that his treatment was not responsible for Bono's death, and no monetary damages were awarded to Bono's family. more ›

Staten Island's Dr. Gilbert Lederman—whom you may remember from such lawsuits as "Will You Sign This Guitar, Dying George Harrison?"—is being sued by a Sicilian woman for allegedly blasting her with radiation without verifying if she had pancreatic cancer. She was recommended for the procedure by Lederman's colleague Salvatore Conte, who isn't even a doctor. Rather, Conte and Lederman are partners in advertising "Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery" on Italian infomercials. more ›

Brooklyn ob-gyn Dr. Jacqueline Perlman tells the Post, "I've decided to retire from obstetrics. It breaks my heart. Malpractice costs are a big part of it. It's a very sad story." Obstetricians are considered high-risk and her insurance was canceled—and even though she never had a malpractice suit or settlement, a new insurer wanted $160,000/year. Plus, she said "her income has dropped by 20 percent" as the malpractice costs have gone up. more ›

Remember last week's story about the brain surgeon who was AWOL from North Shore University Hospital when he was supposed to be operating on a prepped, anesthetized patient? It gets worse. At least four families are suing Dr. Paolo Bolognese (pictured) and his colleague Thomas Milhorat, who has just stepped down as chairman of the department and, at age 73, will no longer be operating. The plaintiffs in one case are the parents of a five-year-old girl with Chiari malformation, a rare defect where the lower part of the brain descends into the spinal canal, as well as 'tethered cord syndrome." Their lawyers argue that Dr. Bolognese's $100,000 operation to treat the tethered cord "was unnecessary and experimental," and that the girl "was being used as a human research subject." They say she didn't even have tethered cord to begin with, and that the surgery made her problems incredibly worse. Her grandfather tells the Daily News, "These doctors must be stopped. I have cried a thousand tears over her. They must be shut down." A hospital attorney insists that the two surgeons are "expert in this area, and when all the facts come forth, they will be vindicated." more ›

Yesterday, the Post reported that Governor Paterson was close to rolling back fees on legal fees from medical malpractice awards. Currently, the law limits "payments at 30% for the first $250,000 in judgments, 25% for the next $250,000, 20% for the following $500,000, 15% for the next $250,000 and, finally, at 10% for amounts over $1.25 million," but the proposal would lift the caps and allow a 33% commission on awards. Today, a Staten Island pediatrician tells the Post, "It's going to drive the premiums up and drive doctors out of the state, where the [insurance] rates are lower and where they can make a decent living," pointing out his premiums have gone up 50% in 10 years. The Post notes that a trial lawyers' lobby donated $2 million to legistlators, plus: "It would generate millions of dollars in windfall earnings for some of the state's most politically influential law firms including Weitz & Luxenberg, where Silver is employed. It would also benefit lawyers at Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, the Long Island firm where Paterson's father, Basil, is a partner." more ›

The New York Health Department's Office of Professional Medical Conduct revoked the license of an Upper East Side therapist accused of having sex with two of his patients. One woman told the board that she had an affair with Dr. Reed Moskowitz that lasted 11 years while he saw her as a patient. A second woman accused the doctor of not only having sex with her, but paying for her abortion when she became pregnant with his child. Moskowtiz's defense was that the women were confusing fantasy with reality. The Post points out that on his website, he tells prospective patients that his "focus is on the client taking an active role in their healing process." Moskowitz is also a professor of psychiatry at NYU and apparently also lied on his application last spring by not revealing that he was under investigation for the sex crimes. more ›

There are worries that a proposed $50,000 surcharge on all MD's in the state could do irreparable harm to New York's health care community. The state's medical malpractice liability fund is underfunded, and state insurance superintendent Eric Dinallo is looking for ideas. more ›