Makers of the bone strengthening osteoporosis drugs such as Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva are facing new challenges to the efficacy of their drugs. The Food and Drug Administration recently reported there is a small risk of contracting esophageal cancer if taking the drugs. Diane K. Wysowski of the FDA's division of drug risk assessment said the agency has received 23 reports of the cancer developing in patients taking Fosamax of which eight of the patients died. European and Japanese authorities have reported an additional 21 cases of cancer. The drugs were already known to cause esophagitis, an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus or throat, which is why patients are told to remain upright for a half-hour after taking the drugs. That inflammation might be a precursor of cancer. Wysowski recommended that physicians not prescribe the drugs to patients who already have problems with their esophagus. The bone strengthening drugs have previously been linked to osteonecrosis (bone
death) of the jaw.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A five-year traumatic brain injury study at 11 health-care facilities in the United States and Canada financed by a $4.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health seeks to identify the most effective rehabilitation therapies in current use. This research differs from other similar studies in that it will not test experimental treatments. Instead researchers will keep a daily log of the type of care patients receive including speech, physical and occupational therapy. The study will collect detailed records on the type of rehabilitation techniques used on more than 2,300 patients. Dr. James Young of the Rush University Medical Center said, “This is the single-largest and most important study ever done on brain injury and could determine what we're going to do for the next 10 to 20 years. We would love to be able to say objectively that a particular therapy is what makes a difference.” Researchers will analyze the data to determine which components of the therapies were most effective in improving outcomes for patients with different types and severity of injuries. Patients will be followed for a year after discharge to assess their quality of life, including whether they were able to live independently. “What this study allows us to do is get good data and research on a patient population that is incredibly heterogenous and therefore hard to research,” said Emily Poole, a speech and language pathologist at Rush. "Medical fields are moving toward being more evidence-based care. But it's really hard to do with the traumatic brain injuries population, because we haven't had good research to back up our treatment.”

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The plight of a brain injury survivor was illuminated when she was tasered repeatedly by a Norfolk, VA police officer prior to being arrested. Pamela Brown is known locally as the “hula-hoop lady”, a nickname that testifies the extent of her brain injury. Stephen M. Smith, a Hampton, Virginia attorney and founder of The Brain Injury Law Center, which specializes in traumatic brain injury cases, along with Carlton Bennett of Virginia Beach, Va. filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pamela Brown seeking 5 million dollar’s in damages. “Ms. Brown is a brain injury survivor who is regularly seen hula hooping in the area where she was assaulted," said Smith. The suit seeks to compensate Ms. Brown as well as train Norfolk’s officers in understanding traumatic brain injury to prevent this from happening again.

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The Nevada Medical Examiners Board met and listened to a proposal that would streamline the licensing rules for that state as well as decreasing the amount of time it takes to investigate and discipline errant doctors. Louis Ling, a lawyer as well as the medical board chief, brought his concern that the disciplinary process seemed more concerned about doctors than their patients. He felt the process was “cloaked in confidentiality,” and that “a lack of transparency inevitably leads to accusations of favoritism and unaccountability. The current process is more than 30 years old and was created when there were only 820 active physicians. Today the Board licenses 4,400 doctors, plus physician assistants and respiratory therapists. Ling suggested that an investigative committee including lawyers outside of the Board be created to take over the investigation and adjudication of complaints. The team would review complaints, assign investigators, manage the investigation and mak e decisions regarding how to proceed with the complaints. The new proposal would also allow patients to tell the board how they were affected by an errant treatment. “What gets lost is the really human harm that’s been done in these matters,” Ling said in his critique of the current system. “We want to get patients back involved in your process so they’re part of your considerations.” Although the Board members agreed with most of the proposal they tweaked a few of the suggestions. It looks as if the Nevada Medical Examiners Board is taking definitive and positive steps in an effort to protect the public.

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An Omaha, NE woman lost her husband of 57 years to a medical error on March 12, 2007. Earlier the previous day Jim Karaus and his wife Mary were watching TV when he started talking in nonsense words. Mary called the paramedics and they rushed him to Bergan Mercy Hospital. Jim had suffered a minor stroke. Doctors
approached Mary and asked her about giving him a dose of T.P.A. a drug that can minimize the effects of stroke. She agreed. “Next thing I knew, the nurse came in and she was crying and the doctor come right in and they said they'd given Jim the wrong medicine,” said Mary. The doctor prescribed T.P.A., but a nurse wrote T.N.K. in another box. T.N.K. is a drug for heart attack patients not strokes. The emergency room record stated, “Nurse inquired 'do you want T.N.K. given? Both M.D.'s stated yes.” Mary said she stayed at the hospital while the staff monitored her husband in case there were complications. When it looked like Jim was in the clear, Mary went home. Later Jim
’s lungs started to bleed and he died shortly after. The family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital in hopes of preventing the same outcome in future stroke patients.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

http://www.burgsimpson.com/malpractice.htmlThe U.S Government under the Federal Tort Claims Act was ordered to pay $8.6 million to a woman whose arm was ravaged by necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh eating bacteria that eat away at the deeper layers of skin. Jean Phillips went to see a military doctor at Scott Air Force Base in 2002 seeking treatment for pain and swelling in her right arm. According to the lawsuit, the doctor failed to properly diagnose and treat her telling her to take some Motrin. The disease progressed and she was left with a ravaged arm and debilitating pain.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The New Hampshire law that went into effect three years ago in an effort to screen medical malpractice cases before trial has come into question. Lawyers for doctors feel the system is saving time and money by encouraging settlements, but attorneys representing injured plaintiffs believe otherwise because they are spending just as much time and money preparing for the panel hearings. The question of whether cases are being resolved quicker is ard to categorize because after three years more than half of the malpractice lawsuits remain unresolved. The superior court is concerned, “To the extent that one of the ideas (behind this law) was that we'll get a quick and dirty resolution, that's just not happening,” said Chief Justice Robert Lynn.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it now requires a black-box warning to be put on the labeling for two prescription drug products used prior to a colonoscopy. It has been reported to the FDA that the oral sodium phosphate products, Visicol and OsmoPrep have caused kidney injury. “The FDA has received reports of 20 unique cases of kidney injury associated with the use of OsmoPrep,” Dr. Joyce Korvick, deputy director of FDA's Division of Gastroenterology Products at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said.
“Of the reported cases, three were biopsy-proven cases of acute phosphate nephropathy. The onset of kidney injury in these cases varied, occurring in some within several hours of use of these products and in other cases up to 21 days after use.” The FDA is also concerned about similar non-prescription treatments, such as Fleet Phospho-soda made by C.B. Fleet Co. and stated they will get new warnings as well.

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Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed an executive order December 8 calling on the Colorado Department of Human Services to administrate the coordination of traumatic brain injury treatment and services across the state. The department will catalog the many tools available to victims and their families. Their effort is a step to connect the available programs and services in such a way as attainable by all. In a news release the state said there are about 5,000 people a year hospitalized with traumatic brain injuries and an estimated 96,000 Coloradans suffer from them. Sue Kirton, office manager for the Brain Injury Association of Colorado, said the executive order will expand another that went into effect in 2000. “With the number of cases growing, there is a new focus,” she said. “This one helps solidify the need for coordination. This will just help the different agencies involved have a closer relationship and will hopefully make the system for people with a brain injury easier to navigate.”

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since a Hepatitis C outbreak was discovered, two Endoscopy centers have been at the center of the crisis. Health officials say as many as 105 hepatitis cases are “possibly associated” with the facilities where another 35 have been classified as “indeterminate.” The Nevada Board of Health has already suspended the licenses of two owner/doctors of the centers pending an investigation. The Board has announced a third physician who has been assigned a medical malpractice complaint by officials. Dr. Clifford Carrol, a Las Vegas gastroenterologist, faces four allegations relating to the care he provided to patients, one of whom has been identified as the source or "index" patient whose disease officials say was transmitted to seven others on Sept. 21, 2007. “The allegation is that he (Carrol) was the physician treating the sourc e pati ent that led to other patients acquiring hepatitis C later that day,” said Louis Ling, the medical board's executive director and special counsel. “This was Dr. Carrol's first patient of the day and he (the patient) was a known carrier of hepatitis C.” It is believed the reuse of syringes contaminated multiple vials of anesthesia. As of now, the Southern Nevada Health District has linked eight hepatitis C transmissions to one of the facilities and one case to a sister facility. Carrol, who has been licensed in Nevada since April 1997, is one of more than a dozen physicians who had practiced medicine under the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada. The center was the umbrella company for several Desai-owned endoscopy centers throughout Las Vegas, all of which have closed. Since the outbreak was discovered, health officials have urged more than 53,000 f ormer patients to get tested for hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 07:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A leading online source of health information, WebMD is expanding its consumer access by teaming up with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although many online visitors are aware of the FDA website, as many as 50 million use WebMD. “We are enthusiastic about this collaboration with WebMD because it will enable us to reach more consumers with accurate, science-based information that can help them improve their health,” said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., commissioner of food and drugs. “This is an important step forward in our effort to form partnerships to help bring timely safety alerts and other public health information to a wider audience in the most effective and convenient way.” WebMD visitors will be able to access information of FDA-regulated products such as food, medicine and cosmetics as well as report problems involving the safety of products directly to the FDA. FDA health alerts will also be included in the co llabor ation. “As a leading brand of health information, we are pleased to be partnering with the FDA to provide consumers with public health and safety information, direct from the source,” says Wayne Gattinella, WebMD president and chief executive officer. “This important partnership is consistent with WebMD's longstanding mission of providing for Americans access to credible and relevant health information.” According to a national study released in August 2008 by the Center for Studying Health System Change, researchers found that 32 percent of American consumers, approximately 70 million adults, conducted online health searches in 2007, compared with 16 percent in 2001.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A five-year-old twin from New Zealand underwent an experimental umbilical cord blood treatment in the U.S. in an attempt to improve her outcome after she was affected with a form of cerebral palsy which left her brain damaged at birth. The little girl’s sister is healthy, but her brain injury has affected her speech, balance and movement disabling her ability to reach healthy milestones such as talking, walking and eating without assistance. The infusion of her umbilical cord blood at Duke University, North Carolina in August has already shown improvements in her recovery. “Just a few days after the procedure her eyes started to look more alert, she lost the unfoc used, dreamy kind of look,” the girl’s father said. “Her arms and legs began to straighten out, and her physical co-ordination improved.” Since her return home to New Zealand she has continued to make progress and is now attending pre-school. Pediatric oncologist Joanne Kurtzberg, who oversaw the girl’s treatment, has re-infused 50 children with their own cord blood for treatment of cerebral palsy and brain injury since 2003. It would appear banking children’s cord blood could have far reaching capabilities for future necessary treatments.

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On May 9, 2007 Edith Rodriguez, 43, was brought to the Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Medical Center by her boyfriend in excruciating pain. She lay on the hospital floor writhing in pain and was ignored. The negligence she underwent was reprehensible. The boyfriend was forced to find a nearby pay phone and dial 911 after no one would help her. When the hospital declined to treat Rodriquez, county police officers arrested her on an outstanding warrant for a parole violation. She died from a perfo rated bowel shortly after she was arrested. A federal report issued last year concluded that six staff members, including a nurse and two nursing assistants, saw or walked past Rodriguez but did nothing. A video showed a janitor mopping the floor around her. A Los Angeles County official acknowledged for the first time in more than a year that Rodriquez could have been saved if she were properly treated. A lawsuit has been filed against the county by her adult children. The boyfriend was recently offered a paltry $250,000 settlement by county supervisors. The county will attempt to settle the children’s case for $250,000, but the children are asking for $1 million for each minute she was denied treatment resulting in $45 million total.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 08:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“Missed or delayed diagnosis of breast cancer remains the leading cause of medical malpractice litigation in the nation today, while at the same time reimbursement for mammographic examinations remains embarrassingly low,” Dr. Leonard Berlin, chairman of the department of radiology at Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie, Ill., and Rush Medical College in Chicago. All over the country it can take from four months to a year to get a mammogram. Most radiologists shy away from mammography because of its repetition, narrow focus and the fear of missing a diagnosis. Many no longer offer the services. The number of facilities offering mammograms has dropped from 9,114 in 2004 to 8,832 in 2006, according to the FDA. “There is no public or private agency measuring or ensuring that women have reliable access to mammograms,” says Robert Smith, Ph.D., director of cancer screening for the American Cancer Society. “Junior staff get assigned to read mammograms, and most of them just don't want to do it. Most will try to cycle out and pursue other subspecialties like MR (magnetic resonance) and CT (computerized tomography),” says Dr. Barbara Sharp, an advocate for improved access and a breast-imaging specialist at Mori, Bean & Brooks Radiology. Many radiologists consider it bad business to offer routine breast screenings. The leading reason women choose to sue is when a late-stage diagnosis has been made because the breast cancer was not detected in an earlier mammogram. What we can conclude from this is that with lack of financial gain and quite simply boredom, radiologists put women’s health at risk.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Saul Raisin was a rising star in the cycling world before a bicycling accident halted his climb during a Tour De France competition. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in which his parents were told the outcome was dim. The road to recovery has been long and difficult, but Saul never gave up. “Looking back 2 1/2 years ago I was in a hospital bed, I couldn't move the left side of my body,” expressed Raisin. “I always believed everything happens for a reason and that purpose would come to life.” The purpose he has found is in helping others in similar circumstances. Saul started a foundation that he hopes to use as a tool to connect families with each other and to let them know they are not alone. He hopes to raise money for research and public awareness about traumatic brain injury. Raisin has wr itten a book detailing his journey on the road to recovery, “I was able to give a copy of my book Tour De Life to every one of the injured troops with traumatic brain injuries at Walter Reed.” Cycling is still Saul’s passion and his continued recovery is an uphill climb.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 06:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Neuro-rehab center Wingate Healthcare in Middleboro, New York announced its intention to close amid financial burdens. The 124 bed facility is one of two that specializes in traumatic brain injury care operated by Wingate. The announcement is a blow to those who depend on it for the specialized care the facility offers. One of the residents is a former state trooper woman hit by a drunken driver going 100 mph in July of 2003. She is in a catatonic state in which she cannot communicate, walk, talk or eat. “We have been trying to work with the Division of Medical Assistance to get Medicaid reimbursement rates for special therapies,” Mr. Benjamin said. “We have been unable to get the state to make a commitment to the facility for treatment of p atient s or to get something in writing for the add-on care that patients need. We have tried and tried, but we’ve been ignored by the state agencies.” Unfortunately, the fate of many of these specialized facilities depends on the government’s support. Most traumatic brain injuries can be rehabilitated with the right care and financial support. There are many attorneys who are dedicated to finding a financial solution for the families affected by a TBI. Without the type of care these specialized facilities offer, victims are relegated to nursing homes and the hope of recovery diminishes.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An Illinois mother of nine died in a hospital three years ago after bleeding during her pregnancy. The 27-year-old woman was 31 weeks pregnant. The infant survived. According to the suit medical personnel at the county hospital failed to administer the woman blood-clotting products in time after she began bleeding and collapsed. The mother’s family filed a lawsuit and the Cook County Board authorized a $9.8 million medical malpractice settlement.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hospital Infections Latest Trend in Medical Malpractice Litigation

Medical malpractice lawsuits concerning hospital infections are on the rise according to a lawyer who writes for Lawyers USA. Authors of the article cited some recent examples.

1. On Nov. 6, a jury awarded $13.5 million to the family of a Massachusetts woman who died of an infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria that she contracted during cancer treatment.

2. On Nov. 14, a Utah woman reached a confidential settlement in a $16 million suit she filed, alleging that a hospital failed to detect necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria, before and after she gave birth, causing her to lose three limbs and several organs.

3. In July, a Missouri couple was awarded $2.58 million after the husband contracted a potentially deadly type of staph infection, known as Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), when doctors inserted a pacemaker. As a result of the infection, the patient lost a kidney, and a leg and a foot had to be amputated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has estimated that more than 2 million hospital-acquired infections occur annually, resulting in 90,000 deaths. In long-term care facilities, the CDC estimates an additional 1.5 million health-care associated infections occur each year.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Doctor Bruce Battles of Kentucky is convinced that the use of the video game system Nintendo Wii helps victims of a traumatic brain injury to recover. In an effort to prove his claim he has started seven TBI patients playing Wii one hour a day, five days a week, for six months. “Two of our subjects actually went from severe level to moderate,” said Dr. Battles. “Six of the seven showed improved memory.” His study found that half of his patients increased their range of motion and most improved social skills starting with Wii Bowling and Tennis. A patient with a 29-year-old brain injury even improved his short-term memory. “This shows the brain still can function,” said Dr. Battles. “There still can be things to unlock from the brain that we though t were sitting dormant and were never going to work again.” Dr. Battles also believes that those recovering from stroke could benefit, “Not only for the TBI patients involved in this, but potentially for stroke victims in doing so you can recover at a faster rate.” He has been presenting the results of his study around the country.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Unfortunately under the next administration, Obama will be forced to deal with the inadequacies of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For some time now the FDA has been struggling to protect Americans from unsafe medication, defective medical devices, contaminated food and numerous questionable imports from China and other countries. The FDA has been operating with a small budget, antiquated technology and inadequate leadership and personnel according to members of Congress, watchdog groups and various government reports. "Everywhere you go, you hear the same chorus: The agency's in trouble," said David A. Kessler, who served as FDA commissioner under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. "There's a general perc eption the agency is suffering mightily." The FDA’s credibility is under scrutiny as they are being accused of allying themselves with the pharmaceutical industry rather than consumer safety. It didn’t help when several issues arose out of China alone including tainted human and pet food, contaminated toothpaste, tainted heparin that took the lives of at least 81 Americans and caused hundreds of serious illnesses. The E. coli and Salmonella infected produce prompted large scale recalls nationwide. "I'm afraid we're going to see more horrible things happen if we don't get our act together on this," said David Ross, who was a drug reviewer at the agency for 10 years. Regardless of their credibility, the agency is suffering falling morale as it tries to keep up with its responsibilities while under fire from the outside. "FDA is close to being at a tipping point -- the agency is hanging on by its finge rtips in protecting us," said William K. Hubbard, who worked for the agency for 27 years. "If something is not done, they could become a failed institution, and no one wants that. The FDA is not only important to protecting the public health but also to the industries it regulates."

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to the Federation of State Medical Boards, 65 of 70 boards in the United States put physician profiles online, but what information is included in those profiles varies. In the past, patients across the nation have been able to access physician profiles by calling or writing to their boards, but now the web is empowering their research. Some but not all websites include a physician’s hospital affiliation, hospital and medical board disciplinary actions, medical malpractice payments and other pertinent information. The more detailed sites include medical malpractice information and criminal convictions. The trend toward transparency is expected to grow. “People expect transparency,” said David Swankin, president and CEO of the Citizen Advocacy Center based in Wash. D.C. which offers training and research for members of health care regulatory, credentialing and governing boards. “It's a good thing to see. For too long we drew the balance the wrong way.”

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Victims of the debilitating condition Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis will have to wait an additional 90 days in seeking retribution. NSF is a progressive disorder characterized by the hardening and thickening of skin that severely restricts movement and in many cases leads to immobility. The U.S. District Judge Dan Polster who is overseeing the lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio postponed the litigation to give more time in the bellwether selection of 10 cases as a result of the number of gadolinium contrasting agents responsible for the disorder. Approximately 300 lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of the five different types of gadolinium based contrast agents identified as responsible for NSF by multiple researchers and medical doctors. Lawyers representing individuals who have filed NSF lawsuits have been pushing for an aggressive t rial s chedule, as many of the plaintiffs are very sick and may not survive lengthy litigation. It is likely that the first NSF lawsuits will not reach a jury until Fall 2009.

Posted by Peter W. Burg at 05:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In an effort to warn consumers of the side effects of the osetoporosis drugs used to limit bone loss, Susan Lark, MD a medical researcher and women’s health practitioner issued a statement determined to highlight concerns. “Without a doubt, the newest osteoporosis drug on the market, Reclast, is not the miracle drug its marketers want you to believe it is. While this once-yearly IV treatment is touted as safe and convenient, its side effects far outweigh its benefits,” says Dr. Lark. “In fact, all bisphosphonates should be avoided because they can cause gastrointestinal side effects, chemical burning of the esophagus, infection and death of bone tissue in the jaw (called osteonecrosis), and kidney toxicity. And Reclast, in particular, has been shown to cause heart rhythm abnormalities like atrial fibrillation. These side effects are dangerous and hardly seem worth it, especially when there are extremely safe, natural ways to prev ent an d treat bone loss.” Further, according to Dr. Lark the drugs don’t stimulate new bone growth, but instead slow the rate of loss of old bone. Ultimately, this means the bone building capabilities in the bones of women taking bisphosphonates are in fact over-aged, damaged bone cells that have not sloughed off as they should. The drugs she spoke out against include Boniva, Actonel, Fosamax and Reclast.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Regional Medical Center at Memphis and researchers from University of Tennessee Health Science Center are overseeing a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of administering concentrated salt solutions in traumatic brain injured patients. As part of the clinical trial concentrated salt solutions will be placed in TBI patients’ veins rather than the standard saline solutions. The intent is to determine whether the concentrated solution could effectively reduce the dangerous swelling of the brain post injury as researchers believe will be the case. The clinical trial is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Marine Corporal Steven Schultz suffered a traumatic brain injury during his second tour of duty in Iraq. His brain injury has affected his vision in such a way that his brain is ignoring visual input because of a lesion in the visual processing center of his brain and is called hemi-spatial neglect. “Because of the brain injury, I don't see a lot of stuff on my left,” he explained. While walking he will run into people if they are on his left side. Combining an old technology with new at the DeBakey VA Medical Center is helping veterans like Corporal Schultz to regain some of their independence. Doctors at DeBakey say some odd-looking prism glasses help retrain the brains of patients with visual impairments caused by a TBI. Dr. K ia Eldred says wearing the goggles a couple times a day can help a patient correct the hemi-spatial problem. “When they take the glasses off after doing this exercise, they then start being more aware of the left side of space,” Dr. Eldred said. “It's like they're over-correcting back to the left.” Steven has been using them a couple of months and has already noticed a difference. DeBakey low vision therapist Tonya Mennem said, “He (Steven) moved into a new home and he hasn't run into any of the walls and that's incredible progress for him.”

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In a lawsuit filed by relatives of the two construction workers killed in the May 30th crane collapse in New York City, emails within the NYC Buildings Department were presented. The NYC Buildings Department division head sent emails nine months before the crane collapse informing department experts and outside consultants that the crane should be grounded because it was at risk of “catastrophic failure.” Investigators into the Manhattan construction accident focused on the turntable of the crane which had been damaged and rebuilt prior to the accident. Choosing to ignore the warnings put forth by their own employees should be held as a factor in the two men’s deaths.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 01:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In an effort to notify doctors of the risks of acquiring nephrogenic systemic fibrosis following an MRI in patients with insufficient kidney function, UroToday published an article encouraging physicians to take notice. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis develops following exposure to MRI imaging products containing gadolinium. Its long term effects devastate the patient leaving them wheelchair bound and can sometimes lead to death. A recent study linked the contrasting agent to the disorder. The symptoms of NSF usually develop within weeks to months after exposure to gadolinium. The study also revealed algorithms to follow when determining the safety in the use of gadolinium, indicating that those with severe renal impairment are not to be exposed to any level of the agent. They conceded that further research needs to be directed in finding agents that will stabilize gadolinium and make MRI imaging safe for all patients.

Posted by Peter W. Burg at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Five lots of Heparin Sodium Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and six lots of Heparin Lithium were seized by U.S. Marshals at the FDA's request in an ongoing effort to ensure patients remain safe. The contaminated Heparin was removed from Celsus Laboratories Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. “This action will help prevent this contaminated heparin from finding its way into the marketplace,” said Mike Chappell, acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, FDA. The over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS) contamination, a substance that mimics heparin's anticoagulant activity, has been linked to multiple adverse events and deaths since January 2008. To date, the FDA has initiated 13 recalls of multiple contaminated medical products containing heparin from several companies. The FDA informed Celsus Laboratories during an April 2008 inspection and again in a May 8, 2008, letter that the company's actions to notify customers about a contaminant in its Heparin were insufficient to assure an effective recall.

Posted by Seth A. Katz at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Nevada Clark County judge has ruled that former patients of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center who were not infected by Hepatitis C will not be able to go ahead with the class-action lawsuit filed against the centers. District Judge Allan Earl’s ruling upsets those who wanted to be a part of the suit because they endured weeks of anxiety waiting for test results. Both outpatient centers were using syringes and vials multiple times over the course of about four years. The centers may have infected more than 100 people. The ruling does not limit the uninfected former patients to file their own lawsuit against the endoscopy centers.

Posted by Seth A. Katz at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

WETA, the public broadcasting station in Washington D.C. is partnering with the Department of Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in launching a website targeted at Traumatic Brain Injury. BrainLine.org is an online effort to centralize core issues on Traumatic Brain Injury such as treatment, prevention and knowledge. The site uses video webcasts, recent research, personal stories and articles on living with TBI to empower victims and their families. More recently on Nov. 7, the site hosted a live webinar featuring former WWE professional wrestler Chr istophey Nowinski. Nowinski is now a researcher for TBI. “Up to this point, much of the information available online was very clinical and difficult to find,” said BrainLine.org executive director Noel Gunther. “We wanted to present valuable information in easy to understand language that anyone -- a service member, a mother, a teenager - could use because these injuries are having a huge impact on a large and growing segment of our country.” BrainLine.org explains what treatment people with brain injuries should receive and what kind of support they will need to begin their altered lives. The website offers resources that provide those living with TBI a 24-hour network of support. The site is located at http://www.BrainLine.org.

Posted by Kerry N. Jardine at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Pennsylvania jury ruled in favor of a family in a lawsuit triggered by the medical malpractice experienced at the birth of their son. Jurors found the doctor and the Community Medical Center negligent in their care for Laura White while giving birth to her son Cody causing lifelong injuries. Cody now suffers from cerebral palsy, is almost blind and has no use of his hands. The Whites will receive $2 million for heath care expenses and related costs and when Cody reaches the age of 18 will receive $18.5 million for his lost earning potential, pain a nd suffering and future medical expenses. The judge in the case said this was the largest award he has seen in a medical malpractice trial in his 10 years on the bench.

Posted by Scott J. Eldredge at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)