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Medtronic Settles Charges Over Kickbacks To Doctors

Medical device giant, Medtronic Inc., is settling charges over kickbacks to doctors. The firms just agreed to pay $23.5 million to settle claims it paid physicians kickbacks in exchange for their use of its pacemakers and defibrillators, according to a U.S. Justice Department announcement yesterday. The company was accused of seeking ...

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Actos Side Effects Lawyers Says Whistleblower Revelations Could Boost Bladder Cancer, Heart Failure Lawsuits

Actos Side Effects Lawyers Says Whistleblower Revelations Could Boost Bladder Cancer, Heart Failure Lawsuits

An attorney with a prominent personal injury law firm says an Actos whistleblower lawsuit filed earlier this year could strengthen legal claims alleging the type 2 diabetes medication caused some users to develop bladder cancer and heart failure.

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Colorado Woman Sues American Medical Systems Over Transvaginal Mesh Injuries

Colorado Woman Sues American Medical Systems Over Transvaginal Mesh Injuries

Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm, just filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Colorado woman allegedly injured by transvaginal mesh products manufactured by American Medical Systems, Inc. The suit was filed on May 21, 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. ...

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Another Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit Filed in DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation

Another Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit Filed in DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation

A vital food safety program was saved from budget cuts this week, enabling the country’s largest—although considered by experts to be far too small—produce-safety testing program to continue.

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Lawsuit Alleges Bi-Lateral DePuy ASR Hip Implant Resulted in Elevated Chromium and Cobalt Levels, Need for Revision Surgery

Lawsuit Alleges Bi-Lateral DePuy ASR Hip Implant Resulted in Elevated Chromium and Cobalt Levels, Need for Revision Surgery

DePuy Orthopaedics and its parent, Johnson & Johnson, continue to be named in lawsuits by metal-on-metal hip replacement recipients who suffered severe injuries, including elevated chromium and cobalt levels, allegedly due to recalled ASR hip implant devices. Most recently, the national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP filed suit on ...

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Majority of Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Failures Occur within Two Years, Study Finds

Majority of Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Failures Occur within Two Years, Study Finds

A newly published metal-on-metal hip replacement study is reporting that the majority of failures occur early, within two years of surgery. The study, published in the journal Orthopedics, is just the latest to indicate that close follow-up of metal-on-metal hip implant patients is warranted.

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Hip Replacement, Knee Implant Patients with Diabetes, Other Health Problems May Face Difficult Recoveries

Hip Replacement, Knee Implant Patients with Diabetes, Other Health Problems May Face Difficult Recoveries

Patients receiving hip replacement devices or knee implants may face a more complicated recovery if they are obese, or suffer from diabetes or other health woes. According to a new study published online in the journal Anesthesiology, at least 3% of all total hip or knee replacement patients will ...

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First DePuy ASR Hip Implant Lawsuits Head to Trial in December, January

First DePuy ASR Hip Implant Lawsuits Head to Trial in December, January

The first trials involving lawsuits filed against DePuy Orthopaedics by recipients of its recalled ASR Hip Implants will begin later this year, and early next year. The first is slated to start on December 3, 2012 in state court in Las Vegas, Nevada. A second DePuy ASR hip implant lawsuit ...

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Older Patients Face Heart Attack Risk Following Surgery

Older Hip Implant, Knee Replacement Patients Face Heart Attack Risk Following Surgery

An emerging report reveals that older hip implant and knee replacement patients face increased heart attack risks following surgery. The risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was seen in the first two weeks after these surgical procedures.

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Another Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit Filed in DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation

Another Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit Filed in DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation

A vital food safety program was saved from budget cuts this week, enabling the country’s largest—although considered by experts to be far too small—produce-safety testing program to continue.

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Man Alleges Taking Actos for Two Years Caused Bladder Cancer

Actos_Bladder_CancerA South Dakota man is the latest to bring a lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos (pioglitazone). The plaintiff alleges that taking Actos for two years caused him to develop bladder cancer.

Actos was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999.

According to the complaint, the man began taking Actos in January 2009; he developed bladder cancer in May 2011, allegedly due to his having taken Actos. At the time of his diagnosis, he stopped taking the medication. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants were aware that taking Actos could lead to an increased risk of bladder cancer, but failed to disclose this information to the man, his doctor, and consumers. The plaintiff is suing for extensive pain and suffering and severe emotional distress. Continue reading

Posted in Actos, Legal News, Pharmaceuticals |

Parker Waichman LLP Takes on Credit Card Companies, Fights for Small Business

Credit_Card_Companies_AbuseNational law firm, Parker Waichman LLP, and co-counsel just filed an objection to the passage of a proposed $7.25 billion settlement of a price-fixing case brought against Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. over credit card transaction fees. Co-counsel—both based in Little Rock, Arkansas—are Duncan Firm P.A. and Thrash Law Firm P.A.

The settlement has drawn criticism from trade associations and retailers that argue that the settlement grants credit card companies too much leeway to raise future rates, according to Bloomberg News. Continue reading

Posted in Legal News, Press Releases |

GranuFlo, NaturaLyte Maker Faces Center Closure Following Patient Deaths, Poor Infection Control Standards

GranuFlo_DialysisA dialysis center owned by Fresenius Medical Care North America has shut down following infection-related deaths and hospitalizations.

The Bessemer Kidney Center is one of one dozen dialysis centers in Alabama that are owned by Fresenius Medical Care. This center was shut down earlier this month following two patient deaths and other patient hospitalizations that occurred over a matter of days, according to AL.com. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health are investigating. Continue reading

Posted in Legal News, Malpractice, Pharmaceuticals, Product Recalls, Recalled Drugs |

DEP Drilling Review Reveals Water Damage, Questionable Testing Methods

Water_Damage_FrackingA recently released drilling review found water damage and questionable testing methods in many cases when oil and gas activity were involved.

State environmental regulators found, according to a Times-Tribune/The Sunday Times report, that between 2008 – 2012, oil and gas development activity harmed water supplies for some 161 Pennsylvania homes, farms, churches, and businesses based on nearly 1,000 determination letters and enforcement orders written by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials and obtained by the media outlet. Determination letters are sent to water supply owners who seek state inspections into whether or not oil and gas drilling activities polluted their well water or impacted the water flow to their wells, according to the Times-Tribune. Continue reading

Posted in Health Concerns, Toxic Substances |

Ohio Nursing Home Employee Charged with Patient Abuse

Ohio_Nursing_Home_AbuseOn May 13 a Montgomery County, Ohio, grand jury indicted a Dayton nursing home employee on a felony charge of patient abuse.

Norma Black, 70, is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on May 28.  She is charged with hitting a patient at the Arbors at Dayton Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in Dayton, whiotv.com reports. According to the indictment, the abuse occurred in March 2012. Continue reading

Posted in Legal News |

Cell Phone Radiation Leads to New Concerns

Cell_Phone_RadiationWhile study results have been mixed over the issue of cell phones and the radiation they emit and the dangers they present, some credible experts are taking another look at the ubiquitous devices.

A nurse at the brain injury unit of a physical rehabilitation hospital told CBS58 News that in the past year she has seen more brain tumor injuries in younger patients. A Milwaukee attorney told CBS58 that his now-deceased friend “developed brain cancer on the side of his head where he typically used the cell phone.” Continue reading

Posted in Cell Phones & Cancer, Cellular Phone |

Metro-North Connecticut Collision Leaves Dozens Injured, Some Critically

Metro_North_CrashDozens were injured following a derailment and crash involving two Metro-North Railroad trains near Fairfield, Connecticut during Friday’s rush hour.

So far, 60 people have been reported as injured and five of those injuries have been classified as critical, according to The New York Times. Since, the Northeast traffic corridor has been severely hampered, with Amtrak operations between New York and Boston suspended over the weekend. Continue reading

Posted in Accident |

Bean Bag Chairs Recalled Over Suffocation, Strangulation Hazards

Bean_Bag_StuffingAbout 6,300 Anywhere Lounger Bean Bag Chairs have been recalled, according to a just-released U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announcement issued in cooperation with Powell Company, the chair’s manufacturer.

The recalled Anywhere Lounger Bean Bag Chairs were constructed without a permanent zipper closure, which allows young children to unzip the bean bag chair and to ingest or inhale the small beads inside the chair. This, says the CPSC, poses a suffocation and strangulation hazard. No incidents or injuries have been reported, to date. Continue reading

Posted in Product Recalls |

Avon Recalls Microwave Popcorn Makers Over Burn, Fire Hazards

Popcorn_MakerThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced a recall issued by Avon for microwave popcorn makers.

Some 55,000 Avon Microware Popcorn Makers that were sold in the United States are being recalled over the potential for fire and burns, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The recalled Avon popcorn makers retailed for about $13 and were sold in the United States through Avon’s website and Avon sales representatives from October through February, the AP said. Continue reading

Posted in Product Recalls |

Another Ethicon Vaginal Mesh Device Lawsuit Filed Over Serious Injuries

Vaginal_Mesh_LawsuitA Mississippi woman alleges, in a recently filed lawsuit, that she suffered injuries caused by Ethicon Inc.’s transvaginal mesh device. The woman alleges the injuries are a result of Ethicon’s Prolift and TVT sling and that these products are defective.

According to this complaint, the woman was implanted with the Prolift and TVT sling on November 20, 2008. The lawsuit alleges that the device makers knew about the risks associated with Ethicon’s Proflift and TVT sling and failed to warn the woman, her doctor, and other consumers. She is suing for negligence on three counts of strict liability (design defect, manufacturing defect, and failure to warn), breach of express and implied warranty, fraudulent concealment, and punitive damages. Continue reading

Posted in Defective Medical Devices, Transvaginal mesh |