- Karen Gatlin | January 30, 2008 3:36 PM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe Food and Drug Administration has determined that doctors and patients are receiving inaccurate information as to the effectiveness of antidepressants. Published data indicates that drugs such as Effexor and Zoloft are very effective in treating depression; however, unpublished data is contrary to the published information. Antidepressants are hugely profitable for the pharmaceutical...
- Karen Gatlin | January 28, 2008 12:00 PM |
Category:
Medical MalpracticeCorticosteroids such as Prednisone are used in inflammatory conditions for their anti-inflammatory effects. When used properly, these drugs save lives and avert injury to bodily organs. They have a rapid onset of action, and profoundly affect many parts of the immune system as well as most other body systems. Corticosteroids are used to treat a variety of conditions such as vasculitis;...
- Donald Caminiti | January 25, 2008 4:26 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousLegislature Considers Payment Cap for Bridge Victims Minnesota lawmakers met Tuesday to decide whether to cap awards to victims of the Minneapolis bridge collapse or leave the size of the payments to neutral party. A $400,000 ceiling for lost income, medical expenses and mental anguish garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans. Federal law has further complicated matters because...
- Donald Caminiti | January 18, 2008 10:47 AM |
Category:
Medical MalpracticeIn the first two years of New Jersey's Patient Safety Initiative, hospitals worked with the Department of Health and Senior Services to analyze more than 800 serious patient safety events and make comprehensive changes to prevent such errors from recurring, Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard, J.D., announced today. Nearly all hospitals reported adverse events in 2005 or...
- Donald Caminiti | January 16, 2008 4:07 PM |
Category:
Medical MalpracticeMost doctors agree that medical errors should be reported to their hospitals, but a significant number admit they don't always report their own, a University of Iowa study shows.Researchers surveyed 338 physicians at three unidentified teaching hospitals around the country. Seventeen percent of the doctors admitted anonymously that they had failed to report minor errors, defined as mistakes that...
- Donald Caminiti | January 16, 2008 11:44 AM |
Category:
Automobile AccidentsThe AP reported today that the Florida Insurance Commissioner suspended Allstate companies from writing new automobile insurance policies in Florida for refusing to comply fully with a subpoena from the state.The Commissioner ended a scheduled two-day meeting Tuesday after just two hours. He reportedly was angered that Allstate officials failed to turn over some information the state requested...
- Karen Gatlin | January 15, 2008 10:55 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousSome insurance carriers, including Aetna Insurance Company, have decided that they will not provide payment for treatment of conditions that were caused by medical negligence. Such restriction on payment include foreign objects left in patients during surgeries and procedures (instruments, packing, sponges); bedsores arising during admissions; incorrect blood transfusions; patient falls;...
- Donald Caminiti | January 09, 2008 2:15 PM |
Category:
Automobile AccidentsA Missouri appeals court Tuesday upheld an $8 million punitive damages judgment imposed in Jackson County against State Farm Insurance.The case involved a lawsuit filed by Johnson County residents Jennie Hampton and Marvin Vail, who accused State Farm of malicious prosecution and breach of contract.The case began a decade ago when Hampton reported the theft of her Toyota 4Runner, which was found...
- Karen Gatlin | January 09, 2008 9:24 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousCoumadin is a commonly used medication to prevent blood clots from forming. It is often prescribed to patients with heart arrhythmias; however, coumadin can be a dangerous medication because it increases the risk of hemorrhage and, therefore, requires careful monitoring. Blood testing should be done frequently to measure the level of anticoagulation. Patients should also know that changes in...
- Donald Caminiti | January 02, 2008 2:33 PM |
Category:
Medical MalpracticeThe Charleston Daily Mail recently reported on made up absurd courtroom situations in an effort to pass so called medical malpractice lawsuit reform legislation. State Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher was qoted in a dissent as having stated:"I dissent to express my hope that, in the future, the court or the Legislature will recognize the absurd and unconstitutional effects of the (reform)...
- Donald Caminiti | January 02, 2008 10:12 AM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe Toledo Blade recently reported that, In a 5-2 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court Thursday morning upheld the constitutionality of a 2004 law capping damages for pain, suffering, and other non-economic claims in personal injury and other lawsuits.In a response to a question posed by U.S. District Court in Toledo, which is considering a federal lawsuit stemming from Johnson & Johnson's Ortho...
- Karen Gatlin | January 02, 2008 9:44 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousA blood test for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a routine screening measure for prostate cancer. Prostate cells produce a protein called PSA, and a high PSA level in the blood can be a sign of prostate cancer. The normal range of PSA is 0-4 ng/ml. A PSA greater than 4 may indicate cancer or it may indicate more benign conditions such as enlargement of the prostate or infection. However, the...