RANDOM STUFF

Personal Injury News

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 ....
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 ....
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 ....
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, they ....
"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 ....
FROM PINTAS.COM