Archive for the ‘ medical mistake ’ Category

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28
Feb

Study Shows Sleep Medications May Increase Risk Of Cancer and Death

February 28, 2012

Sleep medications can be beneficial on nights when you can’t fall asleep, but new research shows that consistent use of these drugs can increase patients’ risks for certain health problems. Reports from FOX DC News indicate that a new study shows that taking sleep aids on a regular basis can more than quadruple patients’ risk of death while also increasing their risk of cancer.

Researchers from the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego, California, and the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine in Jackson, Wyoming, examined 10,500 cases of adults taking sleep medications for two and a half years. These patients were matched with a control group of 23,600 participants based on age, gender, lifestyle, and health. They discovered that patients who took 18 to 132 doses of sleep medications per year were 4.6 times more likely to die than those who were in the control group.

The study was also able to help researchers determine that those taking the highest doses of sleep medications were 35% more likely to develop cancer than members of the control group who did not take the medications.

Estimates show that six out of 10 adults in the United States were prescribed sleep medications in the past year.

The Washington, DC Drug Injury Attorneys with ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers are here to help you if you have been harmed by a medication prescribed to you by a doctor.

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14
Feb

New Survey Shows Doctors Aren’t Always Honest

February 14, 2012

While most doctors have their patient’s best interests in mind, a new study shows that they may not always be completely honest with their patients. An article released by NBC-Washington says that a new survey of doctors across the country shows many admitting to lying to patients.

The survey was conducted by Harvard Medical School researcher, Dr. Lisa Lezzoni, and was published in this past month’s Health Affairs. She and her team compiled data pulled from 1,891 doctors who were surveyed and had some startling discoveries.

They discovered that approximately one-third of all physicians did not agree with fully disclosing serious medical mistakes to patients because of fear of having a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against them. Also, 40 percent of the physicians surveyed did not feel they needed to disclose their relationships and financial backing that comes from drug and medical device manufacturers.

Just over 10 percent of the doctors admitted to telling a patient something that wasn’t necessarily true in the past year.

The research team concluded that the findings raise concerns that patients may not be getting accurate information from their doctors in order to make an unbiased, educated decision on their healthcare.

The Washington, DC medical malpractice attorneys with ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers believe that doctors should be completely honest with their patients. If you have been injured as a result of a doctor’s dishonesty, contact an experienced attorney today.

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22
Nov

Three Maryland Residents Poisoned By Carbon Monoxide

November 22, 2011

As the weather cools and we begin to turn the heat on in our homes during chilly nights, we are reminded of the dangers carbon monoxide poses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says every year, more than 500 deaths and 15,000 trips to the emergency room are on account of unintentional carbon monoxide exposure in the home.

Take the case of the Aspen Hill, Maryland, residents who were listed in critical condition after a gas leak at their apartment complex.  According to ABC 7 News, a faulty furnace in the building was discovered to be at fault for three residents who became ill after gas flooded their units. Rescue units from the Montgomery County Fire Department were dispatched to the scene, where they proceeded to evacuate all other residents and help those harmed by the poisonous gas. Firefighters said carbon monoxide levels had reached 700 parts per million (PPM) in the units–significantly higher than the 35 PPM needed to begin to feel the effects of the gas poisoning the body.

The best way to protect your home from dangerous gas leaks is to install carbon monoxide detectors in each room. The units should be placed within 10-15 feet of all bedroom doors in your home. Also, have furnaces inspected by your gas provider or technician before running the unit each year.

The Maryland Defective Product Lawyers with ChasenBoscolo hope you have a warm and safe fall! If you have been injured in accident no fault of your own, contact our lawyers today for a free initial consultation.

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5
Jul

Pain Killer Endocet Recalled for Wrong Dosage

July 5, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., issued a recall on the painkiller Endocet late last month when tablets containing higher doses of acetaminophen were found in bottles claiming lower dosages. According to the statement, 100 count bottles of the drug labeled with a 325mg dosage may actually contain pills with a 650mg dosage.

Patients unaware of the problem could face allergic reactions and potential severe liver damage. Doctors with the organization say unintentional administration of tablets with increased acetaminophen content may result in liver toxicity, especially in patients on other acetaminophen-containing medications, patients with liver dysfunction, or people who consume more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day.

Consumers who received an affected product are asked to stop taking the medication immediately and to contact the manufacturer for return information. Also, patients are asked to report any adverse affects from product use to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program. If you have been affected by use of the drug, your next step should be to contact a Washington, D.C. Drug Injury Lawyer with ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers, as you may possibly be entitled to compensation for the mistake.

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17
May

FDA Reports Problems With Needleless Pre-Filled Syringes

May 17, 2011

In a podcast conducted on May 06, 2011, by Jennifer Shepard, a pharmacist for the Division of Drug Information for the Food and Drug Administration, a warning was issued about malfunctions in a cardiac drug administration device. A Drug Safety Communication was issued to let medical professionals know of a problem with the connections between particular types of intravenous access systems and certain needless pre-filled glass syringes containing the cardiac drugs adenosine and amiodarone.

According to the report, “The FDA has received reports that the adenosine and amiodarone pre-filled glass syringes can become clogged and malfunction during the process of connecting them to pin-activated needleless IV access systems… These failures can cause a delay in administration of the medication in emergency situations, and could potentially result in serious harm to patients.’’

This is a big enough problem that the manufacturer of the drug, Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has issued a voluntary recall; however, a full recall cannot be issued because “…the current supply of adenosine in vials is not adequate to meet demand.” The FDA has made healthcare professionals aware of the problem and has asked them to only report the problem in the future.

This negligence has caused serious health problems in patients and could potentially lead to a wrongful death. Virginia Drug Injury Lawyers, Chasen Boscolo, practice these types of cases and may be able to help.

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22
Aug

Woman Files Suit Over Maryland Prescription Mistake

August 22, 2007

According to the Baltimore Examiner, an 82-year-old woman filed a lawsuit yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore claiming that a pharmacy gave her the wrong medicine, resulting in the woman losing the majority of her hair.

Instead of filling a prescription for a diabetes drug, the pharmacy gave the woman a hormone replacement drug used to treat goiter and thyroid problems. As a result, the woman says she suffered from hair loss, headaches, and high blood pressure among other ailments. She also spent a week at a hospital recovering.

Click here to read more.

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