Asbestos News Roundup: 2.18.10

February 18th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. 

Asbestos Settlements

Bloomington, IL: A $17.87 million verdict was rendered on February 8, in favor of Jayne Menssen who filed an asbestos exposure lawsuit against a factory in Bloomington, where she worked in the 1960s.  A jury reached the verdict after deliberating for just one day following the four-week trial. 

According to a statement issued by her lawyer, Menssen developed asbestos mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to the lethal mineral while working as a secretary at Union Asbestos and Rubber Co, later called Unacro Industries Inc, from 1967 to 1969. The complaint argued that the defendants, Pneumo Abex LLC and Honeywell International Inc, and their corporate predecessors knew of but failed to warn employees and customers of the hazards of asbestos. (Pantagraph.com) 

Asbestos Law

Denver, CO: A Denver man has been indicted following allegations that he failed to properly dispose of asbestos that had been removed by his company, Talon Environmental Inc., from three business locations. James Robert Read the rest of this entry »

Hospital Website says Reglan “safe” for Infants: that’s news to us…

February 18th, 2010. By AbiK

Use of Reglan for babies with GERD issues—particularly premature babies—as well as using Reglan to stimulate milk production for breastfeeding are hot topics on mommy message boards all over the internet. Boards about colic, GERD, low milk production, premature births, and even morning sickness debate the pro’s and con’s of using Reglan to provide relief—or help things get moving properly.

But it’s also a well-known fact that Reglan can only be prescribed off label for the above uses, and that no studies have been done on the effects of Reglan on infants. All we know is that Reglan carries a black box warning for Tardive Dyskinesia and that there’s a mixed bag of anecdotal experiences on all the mommy message boards and forums out there.

So why is this what’s written about Reglan use in infants with regurgitation, reflux or GER on the California Pacific Medical Center’s website?…

Medications
When basic measures fail to control symptoms, medication may be indicated. Usually, two types of medication are used. Acid-blocking medications (famotidine/Pepcid, ranitidine/Zantac, cimetidine/Tagamet, omeprazole/Prilosec and lansoprazole/ Prevacid) suppress stomach acid and prevent it from doing damage to the esophagus and lungs. Pro-motility agents (bethanechol, metoclopramide/Reglan, cisapride/ Propulsid) help to strengthen the tone of the lower sphincter and increase gastric emptying. For children these medications are by prescription only.

All of these medications are safe in infants and children [my bolding] and have only minor side effects. If your child experiences side effects, we will adjust the dose or change medication.

No qualifying statements or footnotes. No references to use of Reglan in this capacity being off-label. No mentions of the info you’ll see on rxlist.com (run by webmd.com) for Reglan use in children, which reflects Reglan’s monograph:

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established (see OVERDOSAGE).

Care should be exercised in administering metoclopramide to neonates since prolonged clearance may produce excessive serum concentrations (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY – Pharmacokinetics). In addition, neonates have reduced levels of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase which, in combination with the aforementioned pharmacokinetic factors, make neonates more susceptible to methemoglobinemia (see OVERDOSAGE).

The safety profile of metoclopramide in adults cannot be extrapolated to pediatric patients. Dystonias and other extrapyramidal reactions associated with metoclopramide are more common in the pediatric population than in adults. (See WARNINGS and ADVERSE REACTIONS – Extrapyramidal Reactions.)

 What gives California Pacific Medical Center?

Jillian Michaels: The Real Reveal

February 18th, 2010. By AbiK

[Remember this little tidbit as you read this: Jillian Michaels’ father was a personal injury lawyer. Got it?]

So I’m trolling the net for some background on personal trainer and weight-loss-guru-turned-PR-quandry, Jillian Michaels. Most of the buzz is about her diet pills and the—surprise!—contention that no, perhaps they really don’t work weight loss wonders and are now the focus of a lawsuit…or two…or three.

But I’m over the Maximum Strength Calorie Control diet pill thing. Deceptive advertising? Looking like it. Lack of integrity? Uh, yeah. Potentially putting greed ahead of realistically attainable results at the expense of the emotional and physical struggles of her weight-challenged following? Well, that’s for others—and Jillian—to figure out.

As with a number of marketing efforts that rely on celebrity or boastful claims, what’s out there in print may undoubtedly come back to haunt you. So let’s take a little gander and look at some recent quotes from Jillian—her recent Ladies’ Home Journal interview is a good place to start—and it’s only from last month. Are you still remembering what I asked you to remember at the beginning? Then these quotes really need no explanation. Read on:

Jillian Michaels LHJ quote #1:

“There was this time when my parents were going through some s— and I was sparring with my instructor, and he kept kicking me. I thought he’d stop if I cried, but the more I cried, the harder he kicked. And he was like, ‘I don’t give a f—, if you don’t fight your way out of this corner I will kill you.’ And so I fought my way out of the corner.”

And this, Michaels believes, is the approach that’s necessary for people who have been making excuses for Read the rest of this entry »

Fluoride in Water Debate Continues

February 17th, 2010. By AbiK

As the debate on fluoride in water continues to rage in towns across America, it’s interesting to go back and watch this clip from the US Senate Hearing on Safe Drinking Water Act (June 29, 2000); yes, it’s ten years old now, but it’s still relevant; case in point, the current debate going on in Watsonville, CA where on the one hand, health officials note a dental decay epidemic and opponents to fluoridation refer to studies linking it to bone cancer, thyroid problems, kidney malfunction, fetal damage, and of course, fluorosis.

If you’re wondering whether your own water supply has fluoride in it, check with your local water company. Ask what the level of fluoride—it’ll be in parts-per-million (ppm)—in the water is. According to the ADA, the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water that has been proven to help reduce tooth decay is 0.7 – 1.2 ppm. While the ADA supports community water fluoridation, the ADA website also notes:

Naturally occurring fluoride may be below or above these levels [0.7-1.2 ppm] in some areas. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires notification by the water supplier if the fluoride level exceeds 2 parts per million. People living in areas where naturally occurring fluoridelevels in drinking water exceed 2 parts per million should consider an alternative water source or home water treatments to reduce the risk of fluorosis for young children.

Servin’ up Heart Attacks…it’s Tortelicious if not Delicious

February 16th, 2010. By LucyC

Welcome to Totally Tortelicious—a review of some of the more bizarre legal stories making news. Goodness knows there’s no shortage of them. 

The Battle of the Burgers.

Ok, this is pretty sick—literally. According to a report in the media, a rather bizarre lawsuit has been filed by a hamburger joint in Arizona—the Heart Attack Grill—against a burger joint in Delray Beach, FL, called Heart Stoppers Grill, claiming that Heart Stoppers stole the idea for promoting and selling its deadly dishes from the Heart Attack Grill. Well, I suppose anything’s possible.

The names of the menu items are remarkably similar with the Heart Attack Grill offering the Triple Bypass Burger and Jolt Cola (I could use one of those about now), and Heart Stoppers selling the Heart Stopper Burger and Chili Chest Pain Fries. Heart Stoppers apparently promises free food to any patron who weighs over 350lbs. Yeah—that’s smart. Not. What happens when some person does end up having a heart attack after eating a meal there and sues the restaurant?

Maybe one of these guys should open up a Salad Loop next door—you know—diversify…

Mistaken Identity—That’s Mistaken Spelt with an “A”…

Christina Fourhorn of Sterling, CO, ended up spending several days in jail until her husband could raise $3,500 to bail her out. Her crime? Those unpaid parking tickets? Nope. In fact, her arrest actually had nothing to do with her Read the rest of this entry »