da Vinci Surgical Robots Have Been Linked to At Least 144 Deaths
(This is part of a series, presented by McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, titled “Life on The Bleeding Edge: How the FDA Won’t Keep You Safe.” To learn more, please read Part One and Part Two.) When we were kids (well, at least for some of us), the future promised it would be filled…
Read MoreFDA Issues Warning against Vaginal Rejuvenation Procedures, Citing Potential for Severe Injury
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to women who are considering vaginal rejuvenation cosmetic procedures that would use energy-based devices. Per the FDA, “To date, we have not cleared or approved for marketing any energy-based devices” for the procedure. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb made an additional statement about the devices used…
Read MoreFDA Recalls Even More Drugs Which Use Valsartan, Citing Cancer Risk
In July of 2018, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall notice for a number of drugs containing valsartan, a medication used in the treatment of high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. The batches, which had been manufactured in China, contained traces of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) – a cancer-causing carcinogen. In early August,…
Read More10 Million People with Hip, Knee and Shoulder Replacements Are at Risk of Being Poisoned by Cobalt
(This is part of a series, presented by McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, titled “Life on The Bleeding Edge: How the FDA Won’t Keep You Safe.” To learn more, please read Part One.) In the Netflix documentary, The Bleeding Edge, you meet an orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Stephen Tower. He is shown biking around…
Read MoreInfections Causing Sepsis Can Be Caused by Many Things, Even a Lick from Your Dog
Many of us have furry friends at home. They show love by licking us at times. It’s probably never crossed your mind that your pup’s expression of love could lead to a life-threatening medical condition. Unfortunately, that appears to be what happened to a man in Wisconsin. An innocent lick from his dog ultimately led…
Read MoreLife on The Bleeding Edge: How the FDA Won’t Help Keep You Safe
On July 20, 2018, Bayer announced that it would finally stop selling Essure, a form of birth control that was supposed to cause permanent female sterilization, at the end of 2018. On July 27, 2018, Netflix released a documentary titled The Bleeding Edge, a film about the $400 billion medical device industry – and which…
Read MoreWhat Causes Pressure Sores in Nursing Homes?
One of the most common injuries in nursing homes is pressure sores, also known as “pressure ulcers.” Even though they are one of the most common injuries to nursing home residents, they’re also one of the most preventable. Pressure sore injuries can range from mild to extremely severe, causing serious infection or death. If your…
Read MoreWrongful Death Caused by Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
We place a great amount of trust into nursing homes that take care of our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and other family members. We expect that the people we love will be treated with respect and be provided proper and safe care. When these expectations aren’t met, the consequences can be tragic or even fatal.…
Read MoreBrian Tally Inspires the VA Medical Care and Liability Improvement Act
In 2018, McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC learned about Marine Corps veteran Brian Tally. He was misdiagnosed by doctors in the emergency room at the VA Loma Linda hospital – a diagnosis that was seconded by his own primary care physician at a different VA clinic. What those VA doctors diagnosed as a sprained…
Read MoreA Better Way to Detect Cervical Cancer?
Once women turn 21, most of them start getting an annual pap smear as part of their regular health care. However, new research shows that the human papillomavirus (HPV) test may actually be a more accurate way of detecting cervical cancer. Replacing the pap smear with the HPV test may allow women go longer between…
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