It has been known for several years that certain hip times, particularly those in which both the ball and cup are composed of metal, fail at faster rates than other types of hip implants.
Last Year, the Food and Drug Administration ordered 21 manufacturers of the medical devices to study patients who received metal on metal implants. What has become clear is that, while some of the devices have a worse record than others, nearly all of them have issues.
]]> The devices reportedly pose the risk of important metal parts breaking off and lodging in nearby soft tissue and bone, and entering the blood stream. Inflammation and tissue death can occur around the joint. Rarely, heart and nervous system issues can arise. The devices have been known to have poor performance records, sometimes failing within several years despite being designed to last 15 years.At present, roughly 500,000 Americans are estimated to have metal on metal hip replacements. And while many of them have good results, some have not.
Manufacturers are increasingly replacing metal components with other materials, such as plastic and ceramic.
When a metal on metal implant begins to fail, patients often notice pain, swelling and the onset of a limp. Anybody who has them needs to follow up with their orthopedic surgeon.
Source: USA Today, "Faulty hip implants may cause long-term health, joint damage," Janice Lloyd, February 7, 2012.
]]>Sources are reporting that coroner officials said the singer died from what appears to be a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol. There had been some question as to whether Houston died from drowning, but it has been determined that there was not enough water in her lungs to support that explanation.
]]> Police have said that no "foul play" is suspected in the death. Any autopsy of her body has been completed, but the official results have are hold, pending toxicology tests.Houston was set to attend a Grammy party on Saturday evening. When police found her body on Saturday afternoon, they also discovered a half dozen bottles of medication in her room. One of the drugs, Xanax, is often used to treat anxiety. When combined with alcohol, it can cause drowsiness.
Sources said no alcohol was found in Houston's room, but there are reports that she had been drinking with friends the night before at the hotel. She had also attended rehearsals for the Grammys on Thursday and reportedly drank alcohol at that event.
Anti-anxiety medications like Xanax, as well as antidepressants, carry certain risks to those who use them. The latter, if used during pregnancy, sometimes increase the risk of birth defects.
Source: Fox News, "Rx drugs reportedly killed Houston, but officials still probing possible drowning," February 13, 2012.
]]>The Tracey Law Firm represents dozens of children whose birth defects may have been caused by Celexa and Lexapro. If you or someone you know took Celexa or Lexapro during pregnancy and had a child that suffers from a birth defect, please contact the Tracey Law firm for a free consultation.
]]>The Tracey Law Firm represents dozens of children whose birth defects may have been caused by Zoloft. If you or someone you know took Zoloft or another SSRI during pregnancy and had a child that suffers from a birth defect, please contact the Tracey Law Frim for a free consultation.
]]>According to the articles, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice received 728 complaints against doctors in 2011, but only initiated 32 actions ranging from suspension of a license to orders requiring a doctor to receive more training. Last year, Minnesota was the poorest ranked states in terms of the rate of discipline last year, coming in 51st. The news is unfortunate, as the state medical boards provide a necessary avenue, in addition to malpractice claims, for ensuring the quality of health care providers.
]]> The state's discipline rate was measured at 1.29 serious actions per 1,000 physicians. According to the director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, Minnesota's Board of Medical Practice is "consistently one of the worst in the county."The criticism is denied by the board's executive director, who feels certain that the public is adequately protected in Minnesota. He backs up his claim by pointing out that the board's purpose is to be remedial, and should only revoke licenses when absolutely necessary.
According to sources, the Minnesota board often doesn't take any action when a doctor's employer or another state board has imposed discipline.
This information should be of interest to those familiar Dr. Stefan Konasiewicz, a Corpus Christi brain surgeon who was disciplined by Minnesota's medical board for "unprofessional and unethical conduct" prior to coming to Texas in 2007.
Prior to his move to Texas, the surgeon had been sued for malpractice by multiple patients. Dr. Konasiewicz currently works at South Texas Brain and Spine Center. Texas' Medical Board has been criticized for its admission of the doctor.
Source: Minnpost.com, "Minnesota ranked 'worst in the country' at disciplining doctors, Strib series recounts," Susan Perry, February 6, 2012.
]]>The woman allegedly died after using a Duragesic patch, which delivers fentanyl-a powerful opioid. One Duragesic patch may provide up to 72 hours of pain relief.
]]> When worn properly, the manufacturers say patients should not receive any harmful doses of the powerful drug, but the man in this case said that his wife had been wearing the patch correctly, but that it was defective and leaked. A toxicology test indicated that she indeed had lethal amounts of fentanyl at the time of her death.According to the victim's husband, the patch had a defective seal. He accused ALZO of failing to warn of the risks of using the patch, and that the company could have implemented a safer alternative design.
The fentanyl patch was the subject of a 2007 lawsuit out of Florida, which ended in a $5.5 million jury verdict against ALZA. That was the first Federal trial involving the Duragesic patch. The dangers of the drug are now fairly well known.
Johnson & Johnson has experienced problems with its pain patches in previous years, both in 2004 and 2008. A 2004 investigation by the FDA found that the pharmaceutical's practices and quality control procedures were deficient.
Johnson & Johnson has insisted that the Duragesic patch is safe and effective for its intended purposes.
Source: Desert News, "Cache County man sues pharmaceutical company, says painkiller killed wife," Hunter Schwarz, January 30, 2012.
]]>Some birth injuries can be prevented and others cannot. Those that can be prevented are sometimes the result of medical malpractice, meaning the negligence of a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, or paramedic. And unfortunately, these accidents happen more frequently than many health care providers would care to admit.
]]> Roughly six out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States suffers from some form of birth injury. The following are some common birth injuries:• Cerebral palsy, which is a condition that can occur when the baby is deprived of oxygen. The result is brain damage and lifelong impaired function.
• Facial paralysis, which can e caused by pressure on the baby's face during birth or by the use of foreceps. Surgery can be performed to repair the damaged nerves.
• Erb's palsy, which consists in the damage of nerves controlling hand and arm movement. The damage often occurs when the baby's shoulders prevent its safe passage through
• Fractured bones, typically the collar bones. These usually heal when the baby is immobilized.
Medical malpractice involves the violation of a standard of care by a health care professional. Common grounds for these actions include incorrect diagnoses, incorrect surgical procedures, delay of treatment and medication errors.
Those who have been harmed by a health care provider's negligence often seek out the services of an attorney.
Source: ABC Action News, "How medical malpractice leads to birth injuries," Negligence can result in permanent injury to baby," Ed Greenberger, January 27, 2012.
]]>The drug, which has been marketed as sort of super aspirin, is used to prevent strokes and heart attacks in patients at risk for these problems. Plavix is considered an antiplatelet medication, and it works by preventing harmful blood clots that may cause heart attacks and strokes. The drug is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi Aventis.
]]> The complaint alleges that the plaintiffs began taking Plavix after the manufacturers promoted it as more effective than Aspirin in preventing heart attacks and strokes. The drug, they said, was marketed on the promise that it would provide greater cardiovascular benefits than a daily aspirin, while being cheaper and safer on the stomach.The complaint also alleged that the drug was marketed as safe for use with aspirin, though that claim had never been proven and has actually allegedly been proven false.
A number of other claims are made in the complaint, including the following:
• The FDA has disciplined Bristol-Meyers Squibb and Sanofi multiple times for marketing misinformation
• Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to market Plavix as a better alternative than apirin, despite the fact that it is more dangerous and more expensive than aspirin
• The manufacturers failed to adequately warn regarding the dangers of Plavix in package inserts
• Bristol-Myers and Squib and Sanofi continued marketing misinformation for the sake of the roughly $3.8 billion of annual profits.
Sources said the plaintiffs are seeking economic and compensatory damages, though they didn't indicate the amount.
Source: The Madison St. Clair Record, "72 plaintiffs from across country sue Plavix maker in St. Clair," Helly Holleran, January 24, 2012.
]]>Novarta has said it isn't aware of any confirmed cases of product mix-ups or any cases where patients have been injured, but it isn't out of the woods yet. The pharmaceutical is recalling the over-the-counter products, but not the painkillers, as the possibility of mix-up and the danger of finding a stray pill is low.
]]> Consumers and patients are being advised to examine the product packing to ensure all the tablets are similar in shape, color, size and marking. Any different looking pills should be returned to a pharmacist. Consumers are also told they may contact the company for a refund.The potential mix-up was discovered during an FDA inspection of the Nebraska facility where the drugs were manufactured. Inspectors found a manufacturing problem that could have allowed pills to become stuck in machinery and carried to packing for other products. That investigation is reportedly still ongoing, so it isn't known whether any penalties will result. Last summer, FDA inspectors cited the plant for a number of quality control problems.
Since 2009, the company has reportedly failed to properly investigate 166 complaints of mixed-up pills found in Novaris bottles.
The Nebraska facility is now being shut down, causing regulators to be concerned about a potential shortage of the painkillers.
Source: CBS News, "FDA: Novartis pill mix-up may involve prescription painkillers," Monica DyBuncio, January 10, 2012.
]]>Merck took Vioxx off the market back in September of 2004 after the company's research found the drug doubled patient's risk of heart of attack, stroke and death. The move caused the company's stock to drop and brought on a multitude of lawsuits in both the United States and other countries. According to the suits, Merck did not adequately disclose the drug's known health risks before it was taken off the market.
]]> Merck has won roughly two-thirds of the suits that went to trial. One settlement, which involved about 50,000 U.S. patients, ended at $4.85 billion. The government has been involved in the matter.Last November, the company resolved a government investigation into its marketing of the drug. That settlement included about $321.6 million in criminal fines. Merck plead guilty to marketing Vioxx as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis prior to receiving FDA approval. The company also paid roughly $682.4 million of fees in connection with a civil settlement with the federal government
Thursday's settlement covers former users of Vioxx or their survivors, who suffered a heart attack or died from a heart attack.
It is truly unfortunate that drug companies sometimes engage in practices that put patients at risk. Fortunately, legal action can address some of these issues.
Source: Washington Post, "Merck makes deal to settle Canadian Vioxx lawsuits for up to C$37 million, admits no liability," January 19, 2012.
]]>Misdiagnoses can come about for a number of different reasons. Sometimes it is simply a matter of pathologists and radiologists misreading slides and scans or failing to make use of the latest tests or technology. Sometimes doctors get an idea in their head about what is going on and they fail to look at evidence that it may be something else. In such cases there is the possibility of negligent behavior leading to medical malpractice.
]]> Interestingly, diagnostic centers are increasingly requiring an internal review of pathology reports to prevent misdiagnosis. In some of these centers, a third opinion is given if the second opinion differs significantly from the first. These programs attempt to get a consensus on the preferred course of treatment.In some cases, it is absolutely crucial that a diagnosis is correct. One example is brain cancer, where treatment would require removal of brain tissue. If the diagnosis is really multiple sclerosis, you wouldn't want to unnecessarily remove brain tissue. On the other hand, a diagnosis of infection or stroke will not yield an adequate treatment if the condition is really brain cancer.
Misdiagnosis is a serious issue, one which doctors are increasingly becoming more mindful of. Patients, many of whom have limited resources, deserve adequate and accurate treatment. Sometimes a second opinion is necessary to get that treatment.
Source: Wall Street Journal, "What if the Doctor Is Wrong?," January 17, 2012.
]]>The fact is that some diseases are very difficult to diagnose correctly and test results can be inconclusive or inaccurate. About one in 10 mammograms, for example, results in a false positive. Diagnostic testing often leaves ample room for carelessness on the part of physicians. Almost half of the medical malpractice claims at Harvard University medical institutions which resulted in serious harm or death over the last five years was the result of diagnostic errors.
]]> Many patient advocates familiar with the issue say that it is wise for patients to get a second opinion on any diagnosis and to get all treatment options on the table. That may be difficult for some patients, particular when the diagnosis is serious.Sometimes getting a second opinion can result in less invasive and expensive treatments than was originally thought to be needed. Cancer, dementia and coronary artery disease are all conditions which are susceptible to misdiagnosis.
Of course, getting a second opinion can add extra costs, as well as the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the diversity of opinions for serious conditions. The key seems to be to find a doctor you trust and to go with their recommendation.
In our next post, well continue looking at this topic.
Source: Wall Street Journal, "What if the Doctor Is Wrong?," January 17, 2012.
]]>Four different drug companies are working on developing this highly powerful painkiller, which contains pure hydrocodone, a pain-killing substance that is known to be incredibly addictive. Currently, consumers cannot legally buy pure hydrocodone unless it is mixed with other non-addictive painkillers. Hydrocodone is actually the second-most abused drug in the United States behind oxycodone.
]]> This has experts worried about patients developing addictions to this new painkiller. While it is not available yet, one company hopes to start marketing the product as early as next year.The drug that is set to hit the market next year is intended to be a time-released one, but experts say that addicts could crush the pills up and ingest them for a quick and intense high.
This is what happened with the popular drug OxyContin, which was once wildly abused. Similar to this new drug, OxyContin, which contains oxycodone, slowly released doses of the drug to help patients manage their pain. Instead, many would crush up the pills, which would therefore cancel out this time-releasing action. Makers of the drug eventually changed the formula for OxyContin to make this less of an option.
Proponents for the new drug say that it helps give doctors additional tools to help manage a patient's pain. By using hydrocodone, proponents also say that the new drug will help patients avoid liver damage that is sometimes common with drugs like Vicodin.
According to these people, pure hydrocodone drugs will be monitored closely and patients will have to visit the doctor in order to refill their supply.
Source: CBS News, "Pain pill stronger than Vicodin concerns experts," December 26, 2011.
]]>In the summer of 2010, the 2-year-old boy took strawberry-flavored liquid Children's Tylenol to help battle a mild fever. Not even an hour later, the boy was brought to the hospital because he was spitting up blood. He died the next day, and doctors determined that his death was a result of liver damage sustained at the hands of the defective drug. The Children's Tylenol was a part of a batch that contained too much acetaminophen, which caused the liver damage. Doctors tested the boy both before and after his death to reveal that no other viruses or ailments could have played a role in his death.
]]> Johnson & Johnson claimed it did not recall the product because of that instance, but immediately after, they contacted doctors and retailers about recalling the faulty batch.The family of the victim is now seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. The amount was not specified. They have named the company's CEO, company executives and board members and subsidiaries of the company as defendants as well.
Recalling products is not unfamiliar territory for the company, which was forced to recall 24 products since 2009. Despite the recent incident, and rash of recalls, the company issued a statement that expressed sympathy to the victim's family and said Johnson & Johnson is dedicated to providing consumers with healthy products.
Source: USA Today, "Couple says defective recalled J&J med killed son," January 9, 2012.
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