In another disturbing display of elder abuse, a Michigan nurse's aid has been arrested on charges of urinating in a female patient's hair and pouring liquid soap on her husband's head. The abuse occurred at the couple's Muskegon, Michigan home, and the aid currently faces criminal… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
March 6, 2008 | 1 Comment
Following a series of surgical errors which occurred last year at Rhode Island Hospital, where doctors operated on the wrong-side of three different patients' heads, state lawmakers have proposed a new bill designed to reduce the risk that these types of preventable medical mistakes will happen… Read More
By Eric Saiontz
March 5, 2008 | No Comments
It has been estimated that as many as two million Americans each year suffer from bedsores in nursing homes and hospitals. In many cases, these bedsores lead to infections, resulting in serious injury or even death. With simple preventative strategies and proper care, the risk of… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
February 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine recently reported on the impact special safety procedures can have on the risk of obstetrical errors. Medical mistakes during the course of childbirth could result in devastating and potentially fatal injuries for a mother or newborn child. The simple safety… Read More
By Donald Saiontz
February 18, 2008 | No Comments
After releasing a list of the 54 worst nursing homes in America, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released an additional 59 names of problem nursing homes with troubling inspection records. Although they initial resisted releasing the complete list, there are now 113 nursing… Read More
By Eric Saiontz
February 16, 2008 | No Comments
Yesterday, the FDA notified the public about serious and potentially fatal reactions which have been associated with use of Botox and Myobloc. Botox side effects could be responsible for a number of hospitalizations and deaths, most of which involved children with cerebral palsy who were treated… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
February 9, 2008 | 6 Comments
A new study indicates that giving an infusion of Epsom salts to a pregnant woman who has gone into early labor could greatly reduce the premature baby's cerebral palsy risk. Cerebral palsy is a serious disorder which could permanently impact movement control and muscle coordination throughout… Read More
By Donald Saiontz
February 5, 2008 | No Comments
A troubling story about a case of nursing home abuse in Ohio highlights the importance of facilities investigating reports of suspicious behavior by their employees. Former nursing home worker John Riems has been charged with raping and assaulting a paralyzed male patient, and according to police… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
January 31, 2008 | No Comments
Johnson & Johnson has issued a world-wide balloon catheter recall for a medical device used to open blocked blood vessels during a heart procedure known as PTCA, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The defective balloon catheters could fail to properly function, leading to a risk of… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
January 26, 2008 | No Comments
The FDA has issued a public health advisory regarding a recurring prescription drug error which has resulted in about a dozen deaths for children and adults who were given the wrong medication. Edetate Disodium and Edetate Calcium Disodium, which are both commonly referred to and prescribed… Read More
By Carl Saiontz
January 18, 2008 | No Comments