Pediatric Leukemia Patients in China at Risk after Deadly Outbreak of mcr-1 Klebsiella
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) recently raised the alarm about an outbreak of MCR-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in China. This strain has proven resistant to several antibiotics, including one called colistin, described as a “last resort” medication by CIDRAP. The mcr-1 gene, or mobilized colistin resistance gene, is resistant to this…
Read MoreImproper Cleaning Protocols in Hospitals Leads to Ireland’s Superbug Outbreak
The U.S. isn’t the only country that struggles with healthcare associated infections. Tallaght Hospital in Ireland is facing an outbreak of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) after its cleaning budget was reduced as a cost-cutting measure. As a result of the outbreak, wards had to be closed in the hospitals, and operations cancelled. Government Health Spokesperson Billy…
Read MoreFDA Asks Endo Pharmaceuticals to Pull Opana ER Painkiller from the Market
By now, we are all fully aware of the opioid crisis that is gripping our nation. We have written about it, looked at its sources, listened to the doctors and the patients affected, and tried our best to share the facts about drugs like fentanyl. We believe that standing up for patients is the right…
Read MoreThe Florida High Court Overturns Medical Malpractice Damages Caps
On June 9, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court struck down state law which placed a cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, ruling them unconstitutional. In a 4-3 ruling, the majority of the judges held that the cap on non-economic damages was arbitrary and therefore violated equal protection rights. Before this decision, if you…
Read MoreNew Jersey Gets Heat for Selective Scrutiny of Fentanyl Drug
In New Jersey, advocates are frustrated because the state has decided to only look into off-label usage. Many debates about whether off-label usage is ethical or should be legal have popped up, and the larger debate about Subsys rages on. In 2016, Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts penned a letter about the dangers of Subsys…
Read MoreScabies Outbreak at Florence, SC Retirement Home Is Being Investigated by the DHEC
Carriage House of Florence, a retirement home and assisted living facility, is under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) after an outbreak of scabies occurred at the facility. On May 9, 2017, Carriage House officials contacted the DHEC, which responded by visiting the facility. News 13 quotes a DHEC…
Read MoreAbbott Vascular Issues Worldwide Recall of Coronary Catheters for Balloon Problems
Abbot Vascular has issued a worldwide recall on three of its coronary catheters: NC Trek RX Coronary Dilatation Catheter NC Traveler RX Coronary Dilatation Catheter NC Tenku RX PTCA Balloon Catheter Almost half a million lots have been recalled because of difficulties associated with removing the protective balloon sheath. As a result, the Food &…
Read MorePhysiomesh: Another Example of FDA’s Failure to Protect Consumers from Dangerous Products
The Ethicon Physiomesh hernia mesh is yet another implanted medical device that was pulled off the market because of higher than normal rates of revision surgeries and adverse effects. You would think that with all the rigorous research and testing that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires, these kinds of issues would not…
Read MoreEthicon Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Product Liability Lawsuits for Injuries and Revision Surgeries
Physiomesh is a product manufactured by Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to be implanted into human bodies to repair hernias. The product was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2010 through the agency’s 510(k) process. This fast track that is the 510(k) process allows device manufacturers to skip…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Extensive Costs Associated with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a motor development disorder and learning disability that is often caused by medical malpractice during the birth delivery process due to a lack of oxygen flow to the brain. Treatment and care can easily run $1 million in addition to a person’s normal living costs. Some of the expenses are directly related…
Read More