Rebekah Bernard MD and Niran Al-Agba MD

Patients at Risk

Health EN ↓ 130 episodes

Patients at Risk exposes the political maneuvering and corporate greed that has led to the replacement of physicians by lesser trained practitioners, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. As corporations seek to save money and government agencies aim to increase constituent access, minimum qualifications for our nation’s healthcare guardians continue to decline—with deadly consequences. This is a story that has not yet been told, and one that has dangerous repercussions for all Americans.

Author

Rebekah Bernard MD and Niran Al-Agba MD

Episodes

Physician fired for writing op-ed explaining the differences between MDs and NPs 06.12.2020 31:47

Physicians who speak out in support of physician-led care face repercussions. Steven Maron, MD, a pediatrician with 31 years of experience, was fired from United Community Health Center in southern Arizona after writing a newspaper article explaining the difference in training between a physician and a nurse practitioner. As Maron pointed out in his op-ed, while there are excellent and experienced...

Boards of nursing fail to protect patients from dangerous nurse practitioners 29.11.2020 30:41

Dr. Amy Townsend discusses the incredible lengths she went through to get the Texas Board of Nursing to act to stop a dangerous nurse practitioner after he caused 2 patient deaths. Get the book! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/patients-at-risk-niran-al-agba/1137936919?ean=9781627343169 July 21, 2017 https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/nederland-nurse-practitioner-says-allegations-of-in...

Cochrane's 18 Tall Tales 17.11.2020 27:36

Drs. Rebekah Bernard, Niran Al-Agba, and Phil Shaffer break down the 2018 Cochrane Review "Nurses as Substitutes for Physicians in Primary Care," pointing out that of 9,000 studies reviewed over the last 50 years, just 18 were of adequate quality to include in a review of the subject. Of these 18 studies, just THREE were published in the United States, most contained high degrees of bias...

Nurse practitioner speaks out against independent practice 16.11.2020 25:15

Drs. Rebekah Bernard and Niran Al-Agba are joined by Shannon Keaney, a nurse with 11 years of intensive care experience who recently graduated as a nurse practitioner. Shannon explains the differences between "brick and mortar" nurse practitioner training as compared to newer "diploma mills," and discusses why she thinks patients are best served when nurse practitioners practic...

There's Something About Mary 10.11.2020 26:19

Drs. Rebekah Bernard, Niran Al-Agba, and Phil Schaffer discuss researcher Mary Mundinger's recent Wall Street Journal letter, which argues that the nurse practitioners studied in her 2000 JAMA publication were practicing without physician supervision. The fine print reveals fascinating details left out of the headlines. Referenced in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BUGdOs74Q8&a...