Legal News & Updates Blog: All Posts
The personal injury lawyers at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. provide information, news and updates regarding legal claims investigated by the firm.
Stent maker Boston Scientific violated FDA regulations
Boston Scientific, manufacturer of the popular Taxus Express Drug Eluting Stent, has been reprimanded by the FDA for violating federal regulations when they failed to report two deaths in a clinical trial for a different type of stent. This is not the first warning for the company, which has a history of failing to properly report problems with their devices. The medical product manufacturer also recently agreed to pay $195 million to settle lawsuits filed due to problems with their recalled pacemakers and defibrillators, and they face thousands of potential drug eluting stent lawsuits from individuals who suffered a heart attack, death or reclogging of their artery after having the dangerous device implanted into their artery.
Car accident whiplash may be linked to the development of TMJ
Those who suffer car accident whiplash could be at an increased risk of developing delayed jaw pain and dysfunction, according to a Swedish study. Researchers found that over one third of those injured in a rear-end accident developed temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) when evaluated one year later.
Monitoring for signs of elder abuse
A study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society emphasizes the need for friends, family members and social workers to be familiar with the signs of elder abuse. Many older adults who are reliant on a caregiver will not openly discuss physical abuse, neglect and exploitation. Monitoring and screening could uncover significantly more cases of elder abuse than are currently being reported.
>>INFORMATION: Signs of Elder Abuse
Drug Coated Stent Problems Continue
More troubling data regarding problems with drug coated stents was presented yesterday in Vienna at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology. An international study found that those who receive a drug coated stent following an acute heart attack, instead of a bare metal stent, face a significantly increased risk of death six months or more after the stent is implanted.
>>INFORMATION: Drug Coated Stent Problems
Reducing the danger of fentanyl patch overdose
Concerned by reports of fentanyl patch overdoses and deaths, the Institute of Safe Medicine Practices issued recommendations to reduce the dangers of fentanyl patch problems. Misinformed and careless physicians continue to prescribe the pain patch inappropriately, with doses that are too large or in combination with other opiates which could result in a serious and potentially fatal overdose of fentanyl.
>>INFORMATION: Dangers of Fentanyl Patch
Treatment for NSF and other rare conditions may not be covered by insurance
Many individuals diagnosed with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), and other rare conditions which only impact a few hundred or a few thousand people, may experience difficulty obtaining insurance coverage for treatments which could improve their condition. Insurers often refuse to pay for treatments they consider “experimental” since there have not been enough individuals diagnosed with the condition to fully study the effectiveness of the therapy.
Preventable bedsores in nursing homes and hospitals
Bedsores are becoming an increasingly more common problem, and Medicare officials now indicate that they may not reimburse hospitals and nursing homes for treatment of the preventable condition which is often caused by a medical mistake. Clear protocals have existed for years to prevent bedsores, but neglect and poor care continue to allow the sores to develop into a severe problem which can cause infection and possibly even death.
>>INFORMATION: Bedsore Lawsuits
Seat belt bruising could be a sign of an auto accident spinal cord injury for children
Following an auto accident, signs of seatbelt bruising on a child should warrant a search for more serious problems. A study published this month in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine indicates that a child lap belt injury may be associated with an increased risk of a spinal cord injury, vertebral fracture or abdominal injury.
Duragesic fentanyl skin patch dangers still underestimated
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the degree of danger associated with the Duragesic fentanyl skin patch is still not fully appreciated by healthcare providers and deaths continue to occur at an alarming rate as a result of sudden fentanyl overdose for unsuspecting users.
>>INFORMATION: Duragesic fentanyl skin patch overdose
Shoulder infusion pain pump lawsuits are being reviewed nationwide
The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are now reviewing potential shoulder pain pump lawsuits for individuals who received a disposable infusion pump following arthroscopic surgery and subsequently developed permanent cartilage damage.
>>INFORMATION: Shoulder infusion pump lawsuits
