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Personal Injury Lawyer News and Updates from Personal Injury Attorneys.
Special reports on Chicago Personal Injury news
Avandia Stays on the Market
10 Sep 2007 at 7:46pm
Recently, the FDA overwhelmingly refused to take Avandia, the diabetes drug, off the market, despite studies that showed increased heart attack as a very realistic side effect. Weaknesses in those studies were one of the reasons cited by the FDA for their decision. However, one of the solid conclusions reached was that Avandia does increase heart attack risk.
The FDA did suggest a "black box" warning, the most severe, to warn consumers about the risk. Further suggestions included discouraging joint use of Avandia and insulin, as this also increases heart attack risk. FDA experts also recommended that the drug be investigated further.
In early 2007, Avandia was the second highest grossing diabetes drug in the United States. An analysis of 42 studies showed that there is a 43 percent higher chance of heart attack risk with diabetic patients taking Avandia than those taking any other or no diabetes medication. Avandia is used to control the body's blood sugar by increasing sensitivity to insulin. Before the studies, this treatment was commonly perceived to decrease heart risks already associated with diabetes. Diabetes affects more than 18 million Americans today.
Congress is in the process of overhauling the FDA's decision, and points to the Avandia situation as evidence of the FDA's inability to handle the safety risks of drugs that have been approved for the market.
In the case of Avandia, it appears that the FDA is too lax in dealing with hazards associated with certain drugs. Conversely, many poor countries around the world are not even close to lax with their policies surrounding drugs that should be deemed necessities. Morphine is one prime example, as a pain reliever. Countless poor countries find it extremely difficult to secure this drug even in the cases of uncontrollable cancerous tumors that cause excruciating pain. However, even in these cases, morphine is not allowed due to an intense fear of patient addiction.
Is the FDA too lax in their drug safety control policies? Are foreign countries not lax enough?
See the following articles for more information: Avandia: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20036086/from/ET/Morphine:www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/health/11pain.htmlwww.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/health/10pain.html
A Feline Harbinger of Death
30 Jul 2007 at 6:44pm
In the story of Oscar the cat lies a temporary light-hearted break with the serious nature of our blog:
Residents at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, have their very own grim reaper...in the form of a feline. Oscar the cat displays an uncanny accuracy in predicting death of the residents on the third floor dementia unit of the nursing home. He has been accurate in 25 cases, beating even a doctor in his predictions of death. Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, an expert in terminal illness care, had predicted the death one patient. which turned out to be ten hours too early. Oscar wouldn't stay in the room until some hours later, when the patient had two hours left to live.
Most of the families appreciate Oscar's accuracy in allowing them to say a final farewell to their loved ones. Although the cat recently received a wall plaque commending his "compassionate hospice care", animal experts say that his behavior could be driven by a desire for personal comforts, such as heated blankets placed on dying patients. Or, it could be due to a keen sense of smell or attentiveness to unconscious changes in behavior in those surrounding him upon impending death. Regardless, Oscar the cat's behavior is another example of the powers of animals that we have not yet fully comprehended, but find so phenomenal.
For more: visit edition.cnn.com/2007/US/07/25/death.cat.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText
Impending Dangers of Food Poisoning
27 Jul 2007 at 5:56pm
Every year, people travel in droves to visit the Taste of Chicago to sample delicacies from a variety of different restaurants. This year, some consumers who visited the Pars Cove booth contracted food poisoning due to salmonella. Thus far, the problem food has been identified as an herb tomato cucumber salad that was served with their hummus.
Another recent salmonella outbreak was traced to the makers of Veggie Booty, a snack that was recalled and is produced by a Sea Cliff company. The FDA recalled the product June 28 after it received over 50 cases of salmonella poisoning in 17 states from consumers who had eaten Veggie Booty. The salmonella may have been a result of additional seasoning added to the product after it had been cooked.
Numerous lawsuits have since been filed against the makers of Veggie Booty. One such case was filed by the parents of an 18 month old named Xavier Allen from Indiana in the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. The suit seeks at least $75,000 in damages.
Salmonella can cause serious infections. Some symptoms include vomiting, fever, nausea, and abdominal pain.
Food poisoning is a serious problem that faces consumers today. How do you think we should face this problem? Should the FDA impose more stringent regulations?
See the following articles for more information on food poisoning and salmonella.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_poisoninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmonella
New Guidelines for Detecting Down Syndrome
23 Jul 2007 at 5:58pm
Having a baby is a joyous experience. Every mother wants their child to be healthy. Imagine a mother's consternation in the realization that her baby has Down Syndrome. And imagine her reaction when she is informed that she has the power of prevention.
Previously, only women over 35 had amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling tests in addition to the typical blood test and ultrasound for detection of the disease. This precaution for older women is associated with higher risk of having babies that test positive for Down's.
To provide mothers with the option of prevention, new guidelines published in January by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) urge all women to have the same comprehensive tests at their 20th week or earlier. Before the amendment, younger mothers were only screened at their 20th week with blood tests.
The new guidelines are mostly advantageous. The new tests are more accurate and give mothers more time to decide what to do. However...
Pending Lawsuits for Faulty Defibrillators
16 Jul 2007 at 6:02pm
"Boston Scientific Corp. said it agreed to settle all pending federal lawsuits against the company alleging harm from faulty defibrillators and pacemakers for $195 million, well below the sum the company had estimated as its likely liability.The company acquired liability for the suits through its 2006 acquisition of Guidant Corp., which was forced to recall more than 100,000 cardiac-assist devices in 2005. One of its defibrillator models occasionally failed to deliver lifesaving shocks to the heart when needed.Several attorneys representing plaintiffs declined to comment, saying they were subject to a judge's order not to speak.Guidant already has settled some cases brought on behalf of patients who died. The vast majority of pending cases -- about 1,850, covering more than 5,000 individuals -- were brought by patients who had their devices removed because of the Guidant recalls, complaining that the company waited too long before informing them and doctors of the flaw."For Full ar...
Nursing Home Abuse
16 Jul 2007 at 5:53pm
"While the traditional view of elder abuse in nursing homes involves staff harming residents, new research suggests residents may have more to fear from their peers..."Read the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19712822/from/ET/
Chinese Tires Recalled
26 Jun 2007 at 12:26pm
"Federal officials have told a small New Jersey importer to recall 450,000 radial tires for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans after the company disclosed that its Chinese manufacturer had stopped including a safety feature that prevented the tires from separating.
Jeffrey B. Killino, a personal-injury lawyer from Philadelphia, said the company came forward only after it was named as a defendant in a lawsuit, filed in May, involving an accident in which two construction workers were killed and a third was severely injured when a van rolled over. The lawsuit contended that the accident was caused by tread separation in a Hangzhou Zhongce tire.
Earlier, an ambulance in New Mexico rolled over after a Hangzhou Zhongce tire came apart, though there were no significant injuries, according to documents supplied by Foreign Tire Sales to the federal safety agency."
Read the full article in the NY Times.
Hospital Staph Infections Rampant
24 Jun 2007 at 12:33pm
"As many as 1.2 million hospital patients are infected with dangerous, drug-resistant staph infections each year, almost 10 times more than previous estimates, based on findings from a major new study.And 48,000 to 119,000 hospital patients a year may be dying from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, far more than previously thought, the study suggests.The Tribune obtained the results during the weekend from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC), which is releasing the report publicly on Monday. The author is Dr. William Jarvis, former acting director of the hospital infections program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune.
Prescription Info Used to Improve Sales or Safety?
22 Jun 2007 at 1:27pm
"How do pharmaceutical companies know which doctors prescribe the latest and most expensive brand name drugs?
They have inside information on the prescribing habits of virtually every doctor in the United States. Pharmaceutical and device manufacturers buy this information from the American Medical Association and from companies that match the AMA's data with pharmacy records.
While such practices have gone on for years, the issue is expected to be a hot topic at this week's annual meeting of the AMA in Chicago, with some groups planning to protest during the gathering at the Hilton Chicago.
"Doctors are not aware that companies are out there that know every prescription a doctor prescribes," said Dr. John Santa, an internist at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and consultant to the Prescription Project, which is part of a coalition trying to curb drug companies' access to doctor prescribing information."
Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune.
Untold Injuries From Hospital Tubing Misconnections
20 Jun 2007 at 2:33pm
"When nurse Julie Thao put a spinal drug in Jasmine Gant's arm at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison a year ago, the fatal mistake struck many as a freak event. But Thao's intravenous delivery of an epidural pain medication was an unusually public example of a quiet but dangerous health care problem: tubing misconnections. At least 1,200 times in the past nine years, U.S. hospital workers have inadvertently given patients solutions meant to flow through one tube -- an IV, an epidural, a feeding tube, a bladder catheter, a blood line -- into another tube, frequently causing harm and sometimes death. The true tally is much greater."Read the full article in the Wisconsin State Journal.
CDC Wastes Case on Consultants
18 Jun 2007 at 2:35pm
"The top U.S. public health agency spent millions of dollars on a Hollywood consultant, a lavish visitors center, and a 70-foot-by-25 foot ``wall of plasma televisions,'' a senator's report said. Using some money intended to fight bioterrorism, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid out more than $1.7 million since 2001 to get producers to include public health messages in television shows and movies, according to the report, issued today by Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican. One consultant is a former CDC employee, the report said. The Atlanta-based agency last week asked for more money and an airplane to help with the fight against tuberculosis after the travels of an infected man called attention to gaps in controlling the disease. Coburn, a doctor who sits on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the CDC has mismanaged the $9.2 billion budget it already has, while infections such as with the AIDS virus keep growing."Read the...
Mississippi Atty General Sues State Farm
16 Jun 2007 at 2:37pm
"Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood sued State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. on Monday, claiming the company failed to honor an agreement for a mass settlement of claims over Hurricane Katrina damage. In January, Hood agreed to drop State Farm from a lawsuit his office filed against several insurance companies. Hood did that after State Farm settled with lawyers for homeowners on a $50 million payout to about 35,000 southern Mississippi policyholders who hadn't sued the company but could have their claims reopened. But the pact fell apart after a federal judge refused to endorse it. Hood has said he didn't negotiate the terms of that settlement and shared the judge's concerns about the deal."Read the full article at Crain's Chicago Business.
Families Call for Hospital Safety
14 Jun 2007 at 2:42pm
"When her 18-month-old daughter Josie died after a series of medical mistakes at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore six years ago, Sorrel King was consumed by grief and anger, wanting to destroy the hospital and even end her own life. But with three other children to live for, she and her husband Tony decided they had to help fix a broken system."We had to do something good that would prevent this from ever happening to a child again," Ms. King says. When the hospital offered a financial settlement, Ms. King, a former fashion designer who had become a stay-at-home mom, asked Johns Hopkins to take some of the money back to start a children's safety program. She also created the Josie King Foundation to fund safety initiatives at other hospitals.Now, to take the message to a broader audience of both consumers and medical professionals, she is launching a new Web site, josieking.org, with her own blog on patient safety; an online community where families can pos...
More Concerns With Contact Lens Infection
12 Jun 2007 at 2:44pm
"FDA issued a Preliminary Public Health Notification to inform healthcare professionals of a recent increase in reported cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis in soft contact lens wearers. The infections are potentially related to the use of Complete MoisturePlus Multipurpose Contact Lens Solution."
Read the FDA's full release here.
Hospital Nightshift Nightmare
10 Jun 2007 at 2:46pm
"It's midnight in Charleston, South Carolina, and something has gone terribly wrong in room 749 of the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital. The patient, Lewis Blackman, is a 15-year-old boy recovering from surgery to correct a relatively common birth defect called pectus excavatum, or sunken chest. The condition is not life-threatening and never seemed to slow Lewis down. A whiz in every school subject, he acted with the South Carolina Shakespeare Company and, at age seven, appeared in a long-running TV commercial for Sun-Drop soda with Dale Earnhardt. But a sunken chest can sometimes lead to respiratory difficulties, so Lewis and his parents decided to go for a minimally invasive surgical correction: inserting a metal strut to support the breastbone.Three days after the surgery, Lewis should be feeling better. Instead, despite doses of a powerful painkiller called Toradol, the boy is racked with agonizing pain -- "five on a scale of five," he pantingly tells hi...
Truck Kills Two At Chinatown CTA Stop, Injures Others
29 Apr 2008 at 12:56pm
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
Friday evening a truck drove into the CTA red line stop at Cermak-Chinatown. Two women, Elosia Guerrero 47 and Delisia Brown, 18 were killed at the scene of the collision. Another 21 people, including the truck driver, were injured. Video cameras at the station caught the collision on tape and will likely be used to determine the cause of the collision.
Don Wells, the truck driver, was cited and held by the City of Chicago. His behavior is being reported as bizarre and not typical. At this time there is no indication alcohol or drugs were involved though it is being reported Wells had a prescription not prescribed to him with him at the time of the collision.
CTA accidents like this are rare, however, they must be investigated to determine who is truly at fault for this tragedy and in order to protect the millions of commuters using the CTA every year. There is an ongoing investigation into the Chicago collision to determine how Wells wound up crashing into the CTA stop. He m...
Contaminated Heparin May Have Caused Deaths
23 Apr 2008 at 7:09am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
Heparin, a blood thinner, may be linked to the deaths of at least a dozen people. The FDA recently reported a contaminant in the Heparin could be causing serious side effects, including death. It is believed the contaminated Heparin came from shipments from China. The shipments were sent to at least 10 countries.
The Heparin is causing serious adverse reactions due to an oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. The compound, made from animal cartilage, has been reported to cause side effects from nausea and vomiting to shortness of breath and substantial drops in blood pressure.
Heparin is a common blood thinner prescribed to patients. Blood thinners are prescribed for various reasons, but often immediately after surgery to reduce the chance of blood clots during the recovery period.
If you or someone you know is required to be on a blood thinner, make sure you discuss the type of blood thinner you are being prescribed and if there are safer alternatives. Heparin is not the only bloo...
Stable Patients Dying in Hospitals
15 Apr 2008 at 3:06pm
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
During a two year period from 2004 to 2006 it was reported that over 188,000 lives were lost due to what is called a "failure to rescue". A failure to rescue occurs when a patient dies in a hospital from preventable complications due to hospital caregivers failing to recognize the patient is dying.
A "failure to rescue" caused six year old Christian Padilla his life in 2005. Christian successfully made it through surgery to correct a birth defect, but died in the hospital after no one realized he was having complications that resulted in his death. The nurse noted that Christian was "fidgety" but did not examine him further to determine if Christian was having any medical problems. Due to the failure of the nurse and hospital staff, Christian died from seizures that resulted from brain swelling. His father settled with the hospital for $1.25 million.
If you or someone you know is in the hospital or has a planned stay in a hospital, be aware of who should be monitoring the pat...
3 Men Killed in Chicago Car Crash
24 Mar 2008 at 6:33am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
A fatal car collision took the lives of three family members and one other man. Five other people were also seriously injured in the crash, including a baby who was the son of one of the drivers. The three men killed were Jolliffs Thomas, Otis Thomas and Albert Cole Sr. It appears Cole was the driver of one of the cars at the time of the collision.Cole was driving eastbound when he crossed the center line and collided with the other vehicle, which was traveling westbound. The injured were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago for treatment. Reports state the injuries were serious. There is an ongoing investigation to determine exactly what occurred. At this point it is difficult to tell due to the poor condition of the vehicles. Those injured in the car crash may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. The injured and the family members of those killed should contact an attorney to learn what legal steps they may take against the at fault driver.Originally posted a...
One Killed and Five Injured in Overnight Traffic Crash
21 Feb 2008 at 10:09am
Posted by Jenny Albano
On Wednesday night, February 20, there was a car accident that killed one and injured five, including two police officers. Eric Gray, 21, of the 2200 block of East 92nd Street, was pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.The police officers were in their squad car when the accident occurred and Gray was in the other vehicle that was involved in the crash. The police officers did not suffer from life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover fully. The three civilians in the other vehicle were taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but authorities did not immediately know how severe their injuries were.No other details have been released and will be available some time on Thursday.Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano
Recall of Fentanyl Pain Management Patches
20 Feb 2008 at 11:14am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
The FDA announced on February 19, 2008 that Actavis Inc. is recalling certain Fentyl transdermal patches. These patches may be defective causing an excess amount of medication to be administered to the patient. This overdose of medication can lead to respiratory depression and possible fatal overdose. The recall extended to patches with doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg/hr. It is not known at this time if anyone has been injured as a result of these faulty patches, however, the manufacturer has recalled 14 lots of Fentanyl patches due to this fold over defect, which causes a possible overdose of medication.If you or anyone you know has suffered from respiratory distress or death while on one of these patches, contact an attorney immediately. You may have a right to take legal action against the manufacturer, Actavis.Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein
State Farm Sued After Producing Fraudulent Medical Reports
15 Feb 2008 at 10:31am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
State Farm has long been reluctant to pay injured victims insurance money they rightfully deserve. As noted in previous blog posts, they prefer to use the delay, deny, defend tactic. While implementing this delay, deny, defend policy, State Farm also calls on what defendants like to call "Independent Medical Examiners" to examine a plaintiff to determine if he or she is injured.These exams are far from "independent". The defense attorney chooses who is going to examine the plaintiff. It is not an independent person chosen by agreement between the parties. Often the doctor examinig the plaintiff has been hired on numerous occasions in the past by State Farm.A lawsuit that was recently filed in New York states the reports generated by these so called "independent medical examiners" were fraudulent in nature. There are documents and testimony that are believed to show the doctors hired by State Farm were told to leave out certain opinions that would favor the injured person. The...
Baby Lotions, Shampoos, and Powder Can Expose Children to Chemicals
5 Feb 2008 at 2:24pm
Posted by Jenny Albano
According to a study, baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose young children to chemicals that are linked with potential reproductive problems. The chemicals are called phthalates and can be found in numerous products such as cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. Phthalates are for stabilizing fragrances and making plastics flexible. The study found higher than normal levels in infant's urine who had recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products.Phthalates (pronounced thowl-ates) are under attack by some environmental advocacy groups, but experts are uncertain what dangers, if any, they might pose. The federal government doesn't limit their use, although California and some countries have restricted their use. Animal studies have suggested that phthalates can cause reproductive birth defects and some activists believe they may cause reproductive problems in boys and early puberty in girls.The study did not actually find evidence that the baby p...
Drunk Driver Kills 17 Man In Chicago
1 Feb 2008 at 7:35am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
Tracy Bolden was drunk and speeding in his van in the Garfield Park neighborhood when he rear ended the car Marlon Tate was driving. Tate was pronounced dead shortly after the accident. The passenger of Tate's car, 17 year old Laura Kubiak survived the crash despite the van resting on top of the car after the incident.Bolden was charged with DUI but the charges may be upgraded to felony charges. The family of Marlon Tate may be able to file a claim on behalf of Tate for his wrongful death. Kubiak may also be able to file a claim against Bolden for her injuries. Kubiak and the family of Tate should contact an attorney to find out their legal rights.Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein
Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Label Change
31 Jan 2008 at 6:29am
Posted by Jamie G. Goldstein
The FDA approved a label change to Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Evra birth control patch on January 18, 2008. The patch has been known to cause blood clots which can lead to pulmonary embolism and death. The label change comes after testing revealed women on the patch between the ages of 15-44 are at a higher risk for pulmonary embolism.Currently there is litigation pending throughout the United States, including in Chicago, relating to the use of the Ortho Evra patch. Plaintiffs have filed claims after suffering from blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and in some cases death. The side effects of the patch can be very serious and even deadly. If you or someone you know developed blood clots while being on the Ortho Evra patch, contact an attorney immediately to learn your legal rights. You may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer for the injuries suffered.Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein
 
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