NCBTMB test - National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Updated: 2023

Several candidates resort to malpractices in medical examinations and this reminds of ''Munnabhai MBBS'' movie, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court said while refusing relief to a person who was not permitted to appear for the NEET exam as he did not have a required document.

A division bench of Justices R V Ghuge and Y G Khobragade in its October 31 judgment dismissed the petition filed by a 49-year-old doctor Shyamsundar Patil seeking a direction to the National Board of Examinations to hold the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test for Super Specialty 2023 exam for him.

Patil was not permitted to enter the examination centre at Hyderabad in September as he did not have a physical copy of his permanent registration certificate issued by the Medical Council. Patil claimed that he had a copy of the same on his phone but since mobile phones were prohibited in the exam centres, he was not allowed to enter.

The bench, however, said the authorities cannot be faulted.

The court said as a result of technological advancement and development, there are instances when students have resorted to various methods/tactics of manufacturing admit cards, identity cards, hacking websites and carrying air-pods or electronic earbuds in the examination hall, in order to resort to malpractices in the examinations.

''We are reminded of the movie ''Munnabhai MBBS'', and it would not be too much to say that there are several candidates who resort to such practices. There are instances when the results of the NEET-UG and PG exams are hacked by hackers, results are manufactured and higher scores in the examination results are published on such fictitious websites,'' the court said.

It added that the examination authority had been consistently informing the candidates as to what documents they should be carrying along with them to the examination hall and which are the electronic instruments and gadgets that are to be left behind and are not to be carried to the hall.

The purpose behind this mechanism is to ensure that the examination is conducted in a fair manner and that a proxy candidate or a candidate resorting to unfair means does not participate in the examination, it added.

The bench noted that the petitioner had not carried a copy of his registration certificate and had relied on showing it on his mobile phone at the examination centre and hence laches cannot be attributed to the authorities.

''Had the petitioner carried the Medical Registration certificate, there was no embargo for him to enter the examination hall. Therefore, it could only be said that the petitioner should blame himself for having failed in strictly following the standing instructions for the students,'' the court said.

The bench said it would not be reasonable and appropriate to direct the authorities to hold a fresh examination only for the petitioner.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The Food and Drug Administration granted marketing approval to a home test for chlamydia and gonorrhea on Wednesday, the first such authorization of a home test to detect the two most common sexually transmitted infections in this country.

The marketing approval was granted to LetsGetChecked’s Simple 2 Test, which allows individuals to collect a trial at home that is then submitted to a laboratory for processing. Prior to this, the only approved tests for these two STIs required samples to be collected at medical facilities such as doctors’ offices.

“This authorization marks an important public health milestone, giving patients more information about their health from the privacy of their own home,” said Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “We are eager to continue supporting greater consumer access to diagnostic tests, which helps further our goal of bringing more health care into the home.”

The Simple 2 Test will be available over the counter and is intended for use by people aged 18 and older. The only other STI test that allows for home trial collection is for HIV.

Jodie Dionne, an STI expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, welcomed the news, saying experts in the field have been advocating for this approach for some time.

“It is exciting to see the FDA recognize the value of this type of testing by granting marketing authorization through the premarket review pathway,” Dionne, an associate professor of infectious diseases, said in an email.

“There are many people who would like to be tested for STIs who may not know where to go or who have barriers to accessing medical care. If we are going to do a better job of reaching more sexually active people for STI testing as recommended … we need to be creative about how to get them tested and treated in a way that is highly effective and works for them.”

Alan Katz, an STI expert at the University of Hawaii, said the test deploys the same assay clinicians use to diagnose chlamydia and gonorrhea, an assay that has an excellent accuracy record. And Katz, who is a medical consultant at the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Diamond Head STI/HIV Clinic, said this approach also has other advantages.

“This option is exceptionally useful for individuals who live in rural areas or are geographically distanced from a clinic where STI testing can be done and there is no telehealth option available,” he said via email. “If a person screens positive, they can then contact a healthcare provider for further evaluation and treatment.”

Rates of new infections of chlamydia and gonorrhea have been soaring in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were more than 1.6 million cases of chlamydia in 2021, and over 710,000 cases of gonorrhea the same year. Both infections are curable, but if left untreated can trigger serious long-term effects, including infertility.

Home samples are taken either using vaginal swabs or urine samples, which are then submitted to a designated laboratory. Results are delivered online, with follow-up care provided when a diagnosis is positive or ambiguous.

Unapproved home tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea have existed for some time, but until now none has gone through the FDA’s approval process. This approval may make it easier for future such tests to clear the FDA’s regulatory pathway.

If you are considering a medical malpractice claim, it is important to understand what types of documents and other records you should keep. These documents will be used as evidence to support your legal claim for compensation. When crucial evidence is missing or incomplete, it can affect whether or not your medical negligence claim is successful, or how much compensation you are awarded. Fortunately, even if you do not have some of the documents listed here, your attorney may be able to obtain copies for you. 

Here we discuss ten of the most important documents you should keep to ensure the success of your medical malpractice claim.

1. Medical Records

Medical records are the most important evidence in a medical malpractice case. They contain detailed information about your treatment, including any diagnoses, procedures, medications prescribed, and notes from your healthcare providers. It is essential to collect all medical records from every healthcare provider involved in your treatment at issue, including records from hospitals, clinics, and specialists.

Your medical records should include medical test results such as blood work, X-rays, and MRIs. These can provide important information about your condition before and after the medical malpractice event. They can also contain evidence of errors made by your healthcare provider in the interpretation of the test results.

Informed consent forms included in your medical records indicate that you gave permission for a certain procedure or treatment. These forms can be used to show that the healthcare provider failed to disclose the risks and potential complications associated with the procedure or treatment. This can be a crucial piece of evidence in proving negligence on the part of the healthcare provider.

Prescription records can also provide insight into your treatment and any potential errors made by your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or the equipment administering the medication. These records should include all prescribed medications, dosages, time and manner of administration, and any adverse reactions you experienced.

2. Medical Bills and Other Receipts

Medical bills and other receipts serve as evidence of the financial impact of the alleged malpractice. These documents should detail all expenses incurred during and after your treatment, including charges for hospital stays, doctor's visits, surgeries, medications, therapy or rehabilitation sessions, and any medical equipment needed for recovery. These records can also include transportation expenses for medical appointments and any out-of-pocket costs you have paid. 

You may have expenses that are not medical that can also be included in your claim, such as the cost of home renovations or vehicle modifications that are necessary as a result of your injuries. The cost of at-home nursing care or similar services may also be eligible for compensation.

3. Insurance Documents

Insurance documents play a vital role in substantiating your medical malpractice claim. They consist of your health insurance policy, Explanation of Benefits (EOBs), and any correspondence with your insurance company. Your policy details the terms and conditions of your coverage, while the EOB provides an itemized account of the medical services you received, the charges that you incurred, and the amounts that were billed to your insurance. Any correspondence with your insurance company is also important.

4. Correspondence with the Healthcare Provider or Insurer

All written communication between you and your healthcare provider or insurance company can serve as significant evidence in your medical malpractice claim. This might include emails, letters, or notes of telephone conversations, or communications regarding your treatment, any complaints you may have lodged, or discussions about your condition. Similarly, any communication with the insurance company regarding claims, disputes, or denials should be preserved. This evidence can illustrate your efforts to address the issue and any negligence or misconduct on the part of the healthcare provider or insurer. Sharing these documents with your medical malpractice lawyer can provide further context to your claim and help build a stronger case for compensation.

5. Witness Statements

If there were witnesses present during the course of your treatment or procedure, their statements can be valuable evidence in a medical malpractice claim. Witnesses can also provide evidence of the impact of the malpractice on your daily activities and quality of life. Your attorney will help you to identify witnesses and gather their statements when necessary during the course of your medical malpractice claim.

6. Treating Expert Opinions

In some cases, medical doctors who have treated or are treating you may express expert opinions about your care, treatment, or prognosis. These treating physician opinions are used to support your medical malpractice claim by providing a professional, and often unbiased-by-litigation, analysis of some aspect of your case.

7. Employment Records or Tax Returns

Employment records and tax returns are evidence of your lost wages and benefits. In a medical malpractice case, victims often face substantial economic losses due to the inability to work or a reduction in their working capacity. These losses are referred to as lost wages and benefits, and they can form a significant part of your compensation. Similarly, your future loss of earnings may also be compensable. This accounts for the reduction in your ability to earn in the future as a result of the injury. It is calculated based on a variety of factors, such as your age, work-life expectancy, skills, and the severity of your injuries. These calculations often require the expertise of economic loss experts to accurately predict future earning potential and loss.

8. Personal Journal or Diary Entries

If you kept a personal journal or diary during your treatment, these entries can be used to document your medical appointments, periods of treatment, any changes in your condition, symptoms, or concerns you may have raised with your healthcare provider. This can be valuable evidence in showing the progression of your condition and any potential negligence on the part of the healthcare provider.

A journal is also useful for documenting your pain and suffering, including physical discomfort and emotional anxiety. Pain and suffering is often a substantial part of the compensation awarded in a medical malpractice case. A journal can be used to record your daily pain levels, mobility issues, sleepless nights, feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, or frustration, and the impact of these problems on your quality of life. Do remember that this journal could become a public document if it is used as evidence in your case.

9. Photographs, Videos, and Text Messages

Photographs, videos, and text messages serve as powerful tools to document your condition, your injuries, and your recovery process. They capture a real-time narrative that words often cannot express, holding undeniable evidentiary value. For instance, photographs of physical injuries, surgical wounds, or any visible adverse reactions to a treatment can substantiate your claim. Similarly, videos can illustrate mobility issues, symptom severity, or other physical hardships caused by your healthcare provider’s negligence. And text messages can document complaints and clinical responses by medical professionals that are not captured by medical records. Photos, videos, and text messages should be dated and/or timestamped, which most devices now do automatically.

10. Death Certificate and Autopsy Report

In tragic cases where medical malpractice results in a patient's death, the death certificate and autopsy report become crucial pieces of evidence. The death certificate provides the cause and manner of death, which can substantiate claims of medical negligence. The autopsy report, on the other hand, gives more detailed information about the deceased's exact cause of death and may reveal evidence of malpractice that was not apparent before. These documents can provide compelling proof of a causal connection between a healthcare provider’s malpractice and the fatal injuries to the patient.

When your attorney can present strong evidence to support your medical malpractice claim, you are more likely to receive full and fair compensation, even if your case is settled before you get to trial. You can help your chances of success if you are diligent about keeping copies of the documents listed here.

Abortion rights advocates in Nebraska who are launching a ballot initiative campaign this week are seeking to enshrine "a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability" in the state's constitution, according to proposed policy language made public Wednesday.

The language — initially filed with Nebraska's secretary of state earlier this month by a coalition of advocates known as Protect Our Rights — will appear on petitions seeking to put the constitutional amendment before voters in November 2024.

The coalition leading the effort, which includes the ACLU of Nebraska, I Be Black Girl, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, the Women's Fund of Omaha and Nebraska Appleseed, among others, plans to formally launch their petition drive Thursday in Omaha.

Advocates will need to collect signatures from 10% of Nebraska's registered voters to get the would-be amendment on the ballot next November — a total that will require about 122,000 authorized signatures, including 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of Nebraska's 93 counties.

The proposed policy language does not set a specific timeline for when abortion would be illegal under the amendment but defines fetal viability as "the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures."

If it reaches the ballot and is approved by voters, the amendment would also ensure abortions are available "when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions."

"This amendment will ensure that these personal decisions stay with Nebraskans — not politicians," Ashlei Spivey, a member of Protect Our Rights' executive committee and executive director of I Be Black Girl, said in a statement Wednesday.

The proposed policy invokes similar language as the constitutional amendment voters in Ohio supported last week that allows the state to regulate abortion only after fetal viability, which is generally considered to be six months of pregnancy or about 22-24 weeks gestation.

The proposed language prompted immediate backlash from Gov. Jim Pillen and some of his allies in the Legislature, who in April voted 3315 to pass a bill that restricted access to abortion in the state to 12 weeks based on gestational age. State law previously allowed abortions up until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

"Bottom line: it's very vague, it's very open," Pillen told reporters Wednesday, suggesting "fetal viability" could be defined "a lot of different ways."

"I'm gonna fight it with every ounce of energy that I have because what it will lead to, if enacted, it will lead to doctors deciding — women deciding, doctors deciding whether a baby being born at 39 weeks can live or not," he said.

"We are a pro-life state. There's no Nebraskans that are gonna support that petition and we're gonna make sure they understand the truth of the language in it."

Questioned about his assertion that no Nebraskan would support the petition, Pillen then said: "The majority of Nebraskans are not going to support that petition."

State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, who proposed a six week ban that was narrowly blocked in the Legislature this year before the body ultimately passed the 12-week ban, called the petition language "extreme" and said current law already provides exceptions for the life of the mother and medical emergencies throughout pregnancy.

"An amendment that jeopardizes the health and safety of women and abandons babies who deserve love and protection to painful late-term abortion procedures must be rejected," she said in a press release.

Abortion rights advocates have framed the issue as unpolitical, pointing to the success of the abortion rights ballot initiative last week in Ohio — the seventh state where voters have decided to protect abortion access in the months since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022 — as evidence that the fight over abortion access is not an inherently political issue.

But the looming ballot initiative campaign in Nebraska will nonetheless pit advocates against Pillen and his political allies who championed the passing of the state's 12-week ban in April.

Those restrictions, which took effect immediately, have been challenged in court, so far unsuccessfully. The legal challenge — currently pending in the Nebraska Supreme Court — claims the law violated the state constitution's single-subject rule because the bill that put the restrictions into place also banned gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

Pillen has since pledged that he and his allies in the Legislature are "going to end" abortion at conception in Nebraska, indicating their push to restrict access to the procedure won't stop with bans at 12 or even six weeks.

Advocates, though, hope to halt further restrictions and reverse those already in place.

"Unlike the state officials working to totally ban abortion, we're elevating the voices and lived experiences of Nebraskans who believe that pregnant people should be able to access needed care with compassion and privacy, free from political interference," Spivey said in her statement Wednesday.

She said the amendment is "informed both by medical experts and where most Nebraskans are on this issue."

The group's filings with Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office list three formal sponsors of the proposed amendment: Dr. Andy Robertson, an Elkhorn-based maternal and fetal medicine specialist; Dr. Carolyn Maud Doherty, an OB-GYN in Omaha, and Jasmine Smith, a birth and postpartum pregnancy loss support provider who also lives in Omaha.

The coalition has commissioned a poll to test Nebraskans' view on the issue but hasn't published results of that effort.

Campaign finance reports filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission indicate the Washington, D.C. Based organization the Fairness Project paid a California polling firm nearly $54,000 to conduct the poll on behalf of the Nebraska coalition.

Protect Our Rights' latest campaign finance statement, which the group filed in late October, suggests that it has around $43,000 in cash on hand and has so far been funded primarily by the ACLU of Nebraska, which gave $25,000 to the coalition in September and again in October.

Matthew Perry's official death certificate has been released almost two weeks after the "Friends" star died at the age of 54.

The death certificate, obtained by Fox News Digital, said the actor died at 4:17 p.m. Oct. 28 at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, near Los Angeles.

Perry's stepfather and longtime "Dateline" correspondent Keith Morrison, 76, was listed as the "informant," the person, usually a family member, who provides personal information about the deceased on the certificate. 

The document said Perry was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles Nov. 3. Perry's family and former "Friends" co-stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox attended the private ceremony in Los Angeles.

MATTHEW PERRY CAUSE OF DEATH ‘DEFERRED’: CORONER

The Hollywood Hills cemetery is not far from the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California, where Perry and his castmates filmed the hit sitcom during its 10-year run from 1994 to 2004.

Actor Matthew Perry of the television show 'The Kennedys - After Camelot' speaks onstage during the REELZChannel portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on January 13, 2017 in Pasadena, California (Ph

The certificate cited Perry's occupation as "actor" in the "entertainment" industry for 38 years. Perry's cause of death was listed as "deferred." 

Perry died after an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his home, law enforcement sources previously confirmed to Fox News Digital.

On Oct. 29, a representative for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office confirmed to Fox News Digital the actor's autopsy had been completed and toxicology reports were pending.

The coroner initially listed "other significant conditions" as a cause of death, and he said Perry's body was "ready for release" before removing his case from the county website.

Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner of New York City, forensic pathologist and Fox News contributor, explained that while toxicology tests take time, information reportedly leaked by law enforcement may indicate that a full report is already completed.

"They’ve got pretty much 99% of what they're going to get at this point as far as information goes, and they can release it now or they can wait for a couple more weeks because they’re looking for some unknown drug," Baden told Fox News Digital.

No foul play is suspected, and no illegal drugs were reportedly found at the home. Initial tests indicated neither fentanyl nor meth was found in the actor’s system at the time of his death, according to TMZ, citing law enforcement sources.

"They might be doing microscopic slides, but it’s now about almost two weeks, so the toxicology should be finished," Baden explained. 

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"I imagine what they’re doing right now is discussing the findings with the prosecutor and the family, and that in good time it will be when they should release the findings."

As Baden previously told Fox News Digital, "[O]ften [when there] is a great interest in a death, there's delay to do a more extensive toxicology than normal."

Baden noted that the release of toxicology results could be pending for many reasons.

"If it's a drug overdose, they oftentimes — that itself will delay it," he said. "They're making a decision, and it doesn't sound that there's any reason the prosecutors should be involved with this. There’s no foul play unless it's an illegal drug, and they're trying to find out, you know, how he got the drug.

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"If there are illegal drugs, the police would be involved … how he got illegal drugs."

The "Friends" actor was already dead when first responders arrived at the home to find him "unconscious in a stand-alone hot tub," according to a release provided by Capt. Erik Scott. "A bystander had brought the man's head above the water and gotten him to the edge, then firefighters removed him from the water."

Scott added that, following a "rapid medical assessment," the man was "deceased prior to first responder arrival" and that circumstances are under investigation by the LAPD and the LA County Medical Examiner.

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The case has since moved on to the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division, which is not uncommon because the agency often works with high-profile cases.

In an October 2022 interview with The New York Times, Perry said he had been sober since early 2021. In a Fox News Digital interview with Perry's friend, who saw the beloved star one day before he died, she said he was "100% sober."

Perry had been candid about his addiction and sobriety journey, and he previously founded the Perry House, a men’s sober living facility in Malibu, California, which he ran for two years before closing the business to find an easier access location to serve more members of the community.

Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report. Read more of this story from FOX News.