Hospital Parting Gifts? MRSA and a $60k tab…

December 21st, 2009. By AbiK

A lot of websites have an “editorial calendar” that they try to stick to. But when you’re site also relies on the news-of-the-minute, well, coincidences occur—and one just happened at LawyersAndSettlements.com. Earlier today, we published an interview Jane did with an MRSA victim, David. No sooner had I read the interview, and right there in my inbox were the results of a study on post-surgery MRSA infection and its associated costs. (And David may have gotten off cheap, believe it or not).

It seems, according to the Public Library of Science journal PLoS ONE, Duke University Medical Center conducted a study that examined the 90-day post-operative outcomes of 659 patients whose incisions had either become infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Some of the 659 patients had no infection.

Here’s what they found… Read the rest of this entry »

Airline Passengers Get a Bill of Rights–Better Late than Never!

December 21st, 2009. By LucyC

When I read the headline this morning I thought they were describing a United Nations or World Health Organization intervention. “Airlines must supply food, water after 2 hours, maintain operable lavatories” (msnbc.com). But no—the Obama administration has developed some regulations to protect domestic air travelers. 

In fact, the Transportation Department has ordered US passenger airlines operating domestic flights to let passengers deplane if they’ve been stuck in a plane on the tarmac for three hours. Three hours is still a long time, mind you, especially if you’re flying at the back of the bus, but it’s better than the current time limit—which is FOREVER. 

According to the report on msnbc—some 613 planes were delayed on US tarmacs in the first six months of 2009—January to June. Not surprisingly, there are horror stories aplenty from passengers stranded in hot, crowded planes for hours—even overnight—while the problem that caused the aborted take-off is fixed—best case scenario. 

Of course there’s always the chance that the problem can’t be fixed in your lifetime, so after Read the rest of this entry »

Underdosing or Overdosing Heparin—A Nurse’s Nightmare?

December 18th, 2009. By janem

I wouldn’t want to be a nurse administering heparin and I wouldn’t be surprised if seasoned nurses are reluctant to inject their patients with the blood thinner.

Most everyone is familiar with the incident that happened with actor Dennis Quaid’s twins: in 2007 a nurse picked up the wrong bottles of Heparin and the newborns were given an overdose that almost killed them. The “tired” nurse was blamed, and now Quaid has launched a campaign for better bottle-labeling systems. Wouldn’t better labeling be the responsibility of the drug manufacturer?

In October, US officials announced that heparin’s potency will be reduced by about 10 percent. So some patients will receive a higher-than-usual dose or number of units of heparin. (Sounds like good news for the manufacturer-unless the price of heparin drops by 10 percent. ) According to the FDA, recommended doses of heparin described in the drug’s label have not changed, and it does not recommend that clinicians increase a patient’s heparin dose to compensate for the reduced potency. Does that mean a patient has a higher risk of blood clots?

Researchers at the University of Oxford say that the risk of having a potentially fatal blood clot after surgery is higher and lasts for longer than had previously been thought. What if a patient isn’t given enough of the low-dosage heparin?

It’s very confusing.

According to HealthDay News, the decrease in potency will make it easier to spot impurities. The new lots will be identified by either the letter “N” placed next to the lot number or expiration date (three manufacturers) or a numeric code (one manufacturer). Got that?

Officials say that the correct dosing of heparin “has always been highly individualized and requires intense monitoring, which is a protocol that will remain in effect.” Dr. Dwaine Rieves, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Division of Medical Imaging and Hematology Products, said, ”The use of heparin is closely tied into monitoring and doses adjusted based on that.”  If I were a nurse, I’d be thinking about Quaid’s twins who were given too much heparin; I’d be thinking about amputee James Bradley, who was given too much.

Asbestos News Roundup: 12.17.09

December 17th, 2009. By LucyC

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

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston, WV: CSX Transportation Inc. is being sued by two widows following the deaths of their husbands. The suits allege that their husbands’ deaths resulted from exposure to asbestos-related materials. According to the two complaints, which were filed separately, Nellie Gray Templeton and Ruth Testa claim that their husbands were exposed to asbestos dust, fibers, silica sand, silica dust, coal and/or coal dust.

Nellie Gray Templeton alleges that her husband, Carroll Templeton, was employed at CSX from 1943 until 1982, and during that time he was exposed to asbestos containing materials.  He died as a result of asbestos-causes diseases and/or injuries.

Ruth Testa claims that her husband, Benny J. Testa, who was employed at CSX from 1938 until 1953, was also exposed to asbestos containing materials and dust, and that he died as a result of asbestos-causes diseases and/or injuries.

Both Mrs. Testa and Mrs. Templeton are seeking judgments against CSX Transportation of $1.5 Read the rest of this entry »

Honda Settlement: When 26 AG’s say you’re drunk, lie down

December 17th, 2009. By AbiK

No, it’s not easy being green. And now it appears a few more folks other than Kermit know that all too well. Folks that bought the Honda Civic hybrid. Seems that when the car was advertised, its mileage was touted as 49 mpg for city, 51 mpg for highway.

Now, I’m the type of fool who never checks what my mpg is. But there are people out there that do—namely, John True from Ontario. He bought that Honda Civic hybrid in March of 2007 and well, according to detnews.com, he drove it for 6,000 miles only averaging 32 mpg in “mixed city/highway driving”. A bit shy of the 49-51 mpg range touted by Honda.

So, he sued.

Honda has since settled—but here’s the kicker: 26 state Attorneys General have objected to the settlement of the class action. (If ever one of my fave sayings applied (see headline, with liberties taken), it would be now.)

But what’s at the heart of their objections? Well, here’s what the settlement terms include: Read the rest of this entry »