Medical malpractice law

Total news: 125
Last news: January 1, 1970 00:59:59

Total news: 47
Last news: March 20, 2008 06:55:15

Total news: 16
Last news: September 5, 2007 17:19:00

World Kidney Day is observed on March 13th in 70 countries and 6 continents, according to the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the Internation Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).  Its a day designated for raising international awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease, and the critical health consequences that often accompany it, such as heart attack and stroke.

Simple tests are now available to screen for Chronic Kidney Disease, but each year, many people go unscreened because they dont understand the risk factors associated with the disease.  According to the World Kidney Day website, the following are the most common risk factors and preventive measures for Chronic Kidney Disease:

"People most at-risk:

If you think you may exhibit the signs or symptoms of kidney disease, you should consult your physician immediately.

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A new study indicating that obese patients wait longer for kidney transplants
• A rise in the incidence of kidney damage following bypass surgery
• Evidence that kids with Urinary Tract Infections may fare better without antibiotics

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030. 

Reducing the television and computer time of obese children by half can subsequently reduce the amount of food they eat and help them lose weight -- even if those children dont increase their physical activity at all.  The finding is the result of a new study published in a recent edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

In this latest study, researchers studied 70 obese children between the ages of 4 and 7 who watched television or played computer games at least 14 hours per week.  The researchers installed monitoring devices on every TV or computer used by one half of the 70 children -- devices designed to automatically reduce their screen time by 10% per week until a 50% reduction had been achieved.  Each user of the equipped televisions and computers was issued a unique identification code to help track his or her own viewing time.  The other 35 children participating in the study received no viewership-restricting devices.  All 70 children in the study were rewarded for the entire length of the study with incentives such as stickers or small amounts of money for reducing their own screen time. 

By the end of the study, researchers observed that children without electronic time-limiting devices reduced their television viewership by an average of 5.2 hours per week.  The children who used electronic time-limiting devices, however, achieved an average reduction of 17.5 hours per week.

Furthermore, the children with time-limiting devices also achieved greater weight loss than their unrestricted counterparts -- a somewhat unusual phenomenon, as researchers noted no significant differences in the level of physical activity of each group.  Authors of the study attribute the difference in weight loss to a mix of several mechanisms, including television disruption of normal dining patterns and exposure to fast food and beverage commercials on television, among other considerations. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A new study linking obesity to poor bone health
• Common serious risks associated with gastric bypass surgery
• Evidence that although gastric bypass is dangerous, hospitals market it, nonetheless

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

On average, U.S. trauma room patients are exposed to radiation levels equivalent to 1,005 chest x-rays during a single visit -- enough to put them at risk of developing cancer.  The finding is the result of new research published in a recent issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine.

The high dose of radiation is attributed to a battery of diagnostic procedures, including conventional x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans.  CT scans offer sharper images, but deliver exponentially higher doses of radiation. 

In this latest study, researchers analyzed the records of 86 random car accident victims treated in a Level 1 trauma center over a three-month period in 2006.   Authors of the study warn that while multi-trauma patients such as these often require aggressive diagnostic testing, many physicians order a hefty battery of imaging tests that may not be entirely advisable, given the potential for long-term damage as a result of exposure to radiation. 

Younger patients, the researchers warn, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of high doses of radiation, because their longer lifespans give them more time than other patients in which to develop tumors. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• Radiation dangers posed by 64-slice CT scanners
• Why a new heart imaging scan carries cancer risks
• How hospital trauma level designations correlate to patient survival rates

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

Though patients and even dentists are often unaware, crowns, bridges and other dental devices produced by foreign manufacturers contain dangerous levels of lead in many instances, according to an investigative report by WBNS-10 TV  -- an Ohio television station that has captured the attention of the American Dental Association (ADA) and millions of concerned patients.

According to the ADA, 15 to 20% of all dental prostheses used in the U.S. originate in foreign labs --- only a fraction of which originate in China.  (Recently, many lead-tainted childrens toys have been found to have originated in China.)  The organization maintains that there is no appropriate use for lead in the manufacture of dental products. 

In light of this recent report, the ADA is currently taking the following actions to protect dental patients:

Unnecessary appendectomies have become drastically less common since 1996, thanks to the increased use of CT scanning in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.  The finding was announced by a research team led by Dr. Steven Raman of the University of California - Los Angeles, and appears in a recent letter to the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

The incidence of unnecessary appendectomy was approximately 24% nationwide in 1996.  By 2006, the rate had fallen to 3%.  This latest survey conducted by UCLA researchers demonstrates that during the same period of time, the rate of CT use to confirm a diagnosis of appendicitis increased from 20% in 1996 to 85% in 2006. 

Authors of the new study report that approximately 8% of the U.S. population suffers appendicitis at some point in their lives.  The condition, which can become fatal, has historically been aggressively remedied with surgery -- appendicitis is the most common indication for emergency abdominal surgery in the nation.  Appendectomies carry their own risks, however, and the procedure should not be performed unless necessary, the researchers warn.

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A study demonstrating that technical errors are prevalent in U.S. surgeries
• A report indicating that aggressive surgical interventions for breast cancer are on the rise
• Information regarding the Institute for Healthcare Improvement "100,000 Lives" campaign

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Baxter Healthcare Corp. has announced that it is recalling all remaining multi-dose vials of their heparin, as well as single-dose vials and Hep-Lock heparin flush products, which prevent blood clots in intravenous (IV) lines.  Baxter widened its initial recall after another manufacturer of multi-dose heparin vials -- APP Pharmaceuticals of Schaumburg, Ill. -- was able to assure the FDA that it could meet the demand for the entire supply of the blood thinner in the United States.  Several U.S. manufacturers produce items similar to Baxters Hep-Lock.

There have been 448 reports of adverse reactions associated with Baxters heparin product since the end of December 2007.  Fewer than 100 adverse events were recorded in all of 2007.  According to the FDA, there have also been reports of 21 deaths, four of which involve an adverse reaction to heparin.  The precise source of the heparin contamination has not yet been identified.

The FDA reported last week that it had accidentally inspected and approved the wrong Chinese pharmaceutical factory, because it had a similar name, and inadvertently granted approval to a manufacturing facility that should never have been approved. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• FDA mix-up leads allows tainted Heparin to reach the market
• Evidence that drive-through pharmacy windows jeopardize patient safety
• Dozens of drugs with identical or similar-sounding names pose patient safety risks

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.  

Endometriosis is an illness that affects women during their reproductive years, but frequently goes undiagnosed.  In women who suffer from the condition, endometrium-like tissue grows outside of the uterus, often throughout the abdominal cavity, leading to a variety of symptoms that arent routinely seen together.

According to the National Womens Health Information Center (NWHIC), those symptoms typically include:

A diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains is an excellent defense against many chronic diseases -- even some cancers -- but routinely including them in your diet can seem challenging.  University of Michigan dietary experts advise this approach:  Include them for just one day.  One day of healthy lifestyle choices, they reason, can give you the perspective and direction needed to stay the course.  Erica Wald, registered dietitian for the University of Michigans health promotion division, provides the following suggestions for eating healthier and removing many processed foods from your diet:

1. "Prepare. “The most important thing you can do is sit down and create a plan of what you are going to eat,” says Wald. Create a list when you go to the grocery store, package healthy snacks in small baggies for work or school, and take the time to pack a lunch instead of eating out. Try cutting up fruits and veggies and separating them up into individual portions, and buy frozen vegetables so that you will have healthy options around that won’t rot away. 
2. Eat breakfast. Eating breakfast will keep you from feeling famished, which means you will be less inclined to splurge on junk food later. Fruits, nuts and individual containers of yogurt are all whole foods that can be eaten on the go.
3. Snack wisely.  Processed foods are the worst offenders at snack time. By planning out what you eat, you can avoid processed foods and cut out calories. For example, instead of a snack pack of cookies, try eating 10 medium strawberries with one tablespoon of whipped cream. This is only around 50 calories, and the fiber in the fruit will keep you feeling full. Craving something salty instead? Eleven dry roasted peanuts are around 60 calories, as opposed to a grab bag of potato chips that is around 200 calories.
4. Have a fruit and/or vegetable at every meal. Fruits and vegetables will keep you fuller longer. Wald suggests that a healthy plate at every meal should include a source of calcium, a fruit and a type of healthy fat along with half of your plate being filled with vegetables, one-quarter with grains and one-quarter with a source of protein.
   
5. Watch out when you eat out.  Checking a restaurant’s Web site beforehand is a great way to plan what you are going to eat, says Wald. Look for words on the menu like baked, grilled, broiled and roasted. “And when it comes to the bread basket, just ask your waiter to not even bring it out,” she says.
6. Beware of beverages. A major source of calories can be from what you drink. Stick with low-calorie and no calorie beverages to avoid unnecessary calories and sugar. Try a glass of water or sparkling water with a lime, lemon or orange instead of reaching for a can of soda."

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• New evidence that a whole grain diet can prevent high blood pressure
• A study indicating that even the elderly even benefit from healthy lifestyle changes
• Dietary supplement safety tips

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

As a hospital patient, youre significantly less likely to survive a heart attack on night and weekend shifts, according to a new study published in a recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 

For the purposes of research, "night" was defined as 11:00 p.m. to 6:59 a.m., and "weekend" ran from 11:00 p.m. on Friday to 6:59 a.m. on Monday.  The study, which accounted statistically for routine physiological changes that people experience at different times of the day, demonstrates that survival rates are greatest during daylight hours on weekdays.

Authors of the study advise that this particular study was not designed to determine why survival rates are lower during nights and weekends, but suggest that staffing patterns, availability of certain medical procedures and other health system design issues are likely to blame.  Overall survival rates following cardiovascular events on nights and weekends was 14.7%, compared to 19.8% on weekdays. 

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), 98,000 preventable, in-hospital deaths occur every year.  The agency also has determined that the rate of medical errors in U.S. hospitals is higher at night. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• Winter tips for preventing and recognizing heart attack and stroke
• Evidence that most hospital telephone operators dont recognize stroke symptoms
• How physicians off-duty answering services can put patients at risk

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030. 

Children who grow up breathing traffic-polluted air have lower IQs and score lower on other types of intelligence and memory tests than kids who breathe higher quality air.  The finding is the result of research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers examined 202 children between the ages of 8 and 11 living in Boston, Massachusetts.  They determined, among other things, that breathing carbon-polluted air throughout childhood had an effect on childhood intelligence roughly equivalent to that of a mother smoking 10 cigarettes per day throughout her pregnancy, or to early childhood lead poisoning.

Heavy exposure to black carbon was associated, on average, with a reduction of 3.4 IQ points.  Those children also scored low on tests designed to determine language development, learning ability and memory.  Researchers suspect the effects of the pollution can be attributed to inflammation and oxidative damage within the brain brought on by exposure to black carbon.

Authors of the study advise that prolonged exposure to air pollution has been linked to a number of other ill effects on pediatric health, and that the only effective remedy appears to be relocation to an area with improved air quality. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A study linking unnecessary Caesarean deliveries to breathing problems
• New guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• The under-diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among smokers

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

Patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are every bit as likely to have correlative long-term health complications as patients who have chronic disease risk factors such as elevated white blood cell counts and other biological symptoms -- but most physicians fail to screen for PTSD in the same manner that they would screen for other risk factors.  The finding is the result of recent research conducted at the Geisinger Health System and published in a recent edition of the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

The Geisinger study centered on 4,462 male Vietnam-era veterans, and demonstrates that a diagnosis of PTSD is as reliable an indicator of future health problems as an elevated white blood cell count.  An elevated white blood cell count can identify impending health problems such as leukemia, or major infections. 

While many disease markers are identified with laboratory tests, PTSD is identified with psychological testing or mental health examinations.  Authors of the study warn that anyone who experiences a traumatic event can be susceptible to PTSD, which means that accident victims and disaster victims are also predisposed to the biological risk factors that come with PTSD.  More information regarding the study can be obtained via this podcast by lead researcher Joseph Boscarino, Ph.D., MPH. 

Experts at the National Institutes of Mental Health warn that if you identify with any of the following statements, you may be experiencing PTSD:

• "Sometimes, all of a sudden, I feel like the event is happening over again.  I never know when this will occur.
• I have nightmares and bad memories of the terrifying event.
• I stay away from places that remind me of the event.
• I jump and feel very upset when something happens without warning.
• I have a hard time trusting or feeling close to other people.
• I get mad very easily.
• I feel guilty because others died and I lived.
• I have trouble sleeping and my muscles are tense."

If you believe that you or someone you know is experiencing the signs or symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, you should seek medical attention immediately. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• The role of physicians in diagnosing domestic violence
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) risk factors and warning signs
• Results of the first comprehensive study of maternal depression

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030. 

Some over-the-counter dietary supplements have been found to contain hormonal ingredients that speed up the development of colon cancer and also make important cancer-treating drugs less effective.  The finding is the result of recent research conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and published in a recent edition of Clinical Cancer Research.

UT researchers began investigating the link between a particular supplement and prostate cancer progression when they inadvertently spotted similarities between two patients suffering from aggressive colon cancer who had each recently began consuming the same dietary supplement daily -- one to develop stronger muscles and enhance his sexual performance, and the other to gain muscle mass. 

Scientists analyzed the supplement, which is not identified in the study, and discovered that the products label listed ingredients which were not present, as well as contained ingredients which were not listed on the product label.  The concentrations of ingredients which were present were also inaccurately listed.  A hormone analysis of the supplement revealed the presence of testosterone as well as estradiol, a sex hormone that is a potent stimulator of cancer cell growth.  In laboratory tests, scientists were unable to halt the progression of cancerous colon cell growth with conventional cancer drugs as long as the estradiol was present, indicating that patients who were being treated for colon cancer would likely receive no benefit from their treatment as long as they were also taking the dietary supplement.  Further, the supplement would simultaneously speed the proliferation of cancerous cells. 

As a result of the research, physicians filed an adverse event report with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which subsequently issued a warning letter to the manufacturers.  Following receipt of the warning letter, the manufacturers removed the dietary supplement from the market.

Authors of the study warn that unlike prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements are not required to be tested for safety or efficacy before being released to the market, and that dietary supplement labels may or may not reflect the ingredients they actually contain.  They also recommend that all physicians should question their patients regarding what dietary supplements they may be taking, in order to formulate a more complete and accurate assessment of their health. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• Why dietary supplement and herbal remedy labels dont guarantee safety
• A new rule issued by the FDA to better regulate dietary supplements
• An FDA warning regarding steroidal dietary supplements

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030. 

Many over-the-counter Icy Hot therapy products have been voluntarily recalled by Chattem, Inc., according to a recent announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  According to the agency, customers suffered first, second and third degree burns, skin irritation and skin removal due to their use of the Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat patch.

The Air Activated Heat Patches are available in a variety of different applications.  Following are the only three applications affected by the recall:

• "Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat—Back
• Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat—Arm, Neck, and Leg
• Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat—Arm, Neck, and Leg, single consumer use samples included on a limited promotional basis in cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme"

The products were sold through food stores, drug stores, and mass merchandisers.  Consumers who purchased the products under recall should immediately stop using them, destroy them, and/or return them to Chattem, Inc., by contacting their Consumer Affairs Department at 1(877) 742-6275, or via the companys website:  www.chattem.com.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of these products should also be reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting Program, either online, or by fax at 800-FDA-0178. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• An FDA warning that three Botox formulations have been linked to respiratory fatalities
• A looming shortage of Hib vaccine
• Why nursing mothers should use codeine with caution

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

An industry-wide culture of long hours, speedy service and staffing shortages contributes to millions of potentially serious medication errors in pharmacies across the United States, according to a recent investigative article by USA Today.

The story centers on 5-year-old Trey Jones who was mistakenly treated with a steroid never intended for use by children.  The child took the medication regularly for two months before a critical pharmacy error was discovered and the drug was discontinued.  Unfortunately, the medication caused the boy to erupt in fits of rage and triggered his early puberty, but as the article reveals, scores of other similar pharmacy errors across the nation have been implicated in equally severe adverse reactions and even fatalities. 

Investigative journalists contributing to this article reviewed lawsuits and pharmacy board disciplinary actions taken in 10 states to identify a dangerous culture of safety compromises including the following:

•"Too many prescriptions, too few pharmacists. Some stores fill so many prescriptions that pharmacists work long shifts with few breaks. In the case of Benjamin Goldberg, a North Carolina baby whose parents were given an antibiotic with instructions for five times the prescribed dosage, the state pharmacy board reprimanded a CVS pharmacy for filling prescriptions "at such a rate as to pose a danger to the public health or safety."

• An emphasis on speed. American consumers expect fast pharmacy service, and the chains try to meet that expectation. Walgreens guidelines obtained by USA TODAY say pharmacists need as little as two minutes to fill a prescription. That doesnt leave enough time to counsel patients about a new prescription, says William Kennedy, a former Walgreens pharmacist and union leader.

CVS monitors whether pharmacists meet goals for filling prescriptions by promised times and ensuring phones are answered swiftly. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices urged CVS to review whether the policies place "speed above safety" after a Massachusetts investigation substantiated 62 drug errors or other concerns.

• A reliance on technicians. Walgreens and CVS rely on lower-paid, lesser-trained technicians to help pharmacists by processing and packaging prescriptions. Although pharmacists by law must verify that each medication contains the right drug, dosage and directions, they dont always catch technicians errors. In Jacksonville, roofing contractor Terry Paul Smith died of a methadone overdose in 2001 about 36 hours after getting a prescription for which a dosage error by a Walgreens technician went unnoticed by a pharmacist.

•Pharmacist incentive awards. At Walgreens, bonuses paid to pharmacists and pharmacy managers are based in part on increases in prescription volume. Until this year, CVS partly based pharmacists bonuses on their success in meeting company goals for filling prescriptions by the times promised to patients and for ensuring phones are answered promptly.

• Counseling gaps. All but two states require pharmacies to offer face-to-face counseling to most customers who pick up new prescriptions. But state records show CVS was cited at least once by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy for failing to offer or provide counseling, and Walgreens was disciplined at least five times since 2002 for similar infractions in Oregon." 

Medication errors can have severe and fatal consequences.  If you think you or someone you know may be the victim of a medication error, you should seek medical attention immediately, being certain to let all medical personnel know that you suspect a medication error.  Take the remainder of the medication or its container and any prescription label with you if possible. 

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• A new survey indicating that many pharmacies with drive-through windows offer convenience at the expense of safety.
• Evidence that 25% of all elderly patients receive incorrect or ineffective prescription medications.
• FDA safety tips for buying prescription drugs on-line.

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

A new study conducted at Seattle Childrens Hospital indicates that many children hosptalized with influenza have had a recent prior hospitalization that would have provided an opportunity to receive the flu vaccine.  Complete results of the study appear in a recent issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Researchers studied pediatric discharge data collected over a five-year period (from 2001 to 2006) to determine how many children hospitalized with influenza or respiratory illness had had a recent, previous hospitalization in which they could have been given a preventive flu vaccination.

Approximately 14,000 incidents of pediatric influenza, and 170,000 cases of influenza or a respiratory illness were analyzed.  Researchers determined that 16% of children with influenza and 23% of children hospitalized with flu and another underlying illness had previously been admitted to the hospital during the most recent flu vaccination season, and could have benefited from the influenza vaccine. 

Each year, influenza causes approximately 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations in the U.S., alone.  The flu season generally runs from November to April, and most illnesses are recorded between December and March.

Authors of the study have indicated that the data supports an industry-wide review of hospital protocol surrounding pediatric flu vaccinations.  They advise that new policies ensuring the routine vaccination of all children hospitalized during the flu season could reduce the nation-wide incidence of flu significantly.

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• Flu vaccine questions and answers from the CDC
• A new study indicating that many physicians prescribe inappropriate, ineffective flu drugs
• An FDA warning that flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza need new safety labels for children

For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.