Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

FDA Issues Advisory to Dialysis Centers on GranuFlo Use

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:07:34 -0600

GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are two dialysates manufactured by Fresenius and used in Fresenius’s dialysis clinics, as well as in other dialysis centers and hospitals throughout Missouri and the United States. In recent months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into what Fresnius may have known about the risks of using GranuFlo or NaturaLyte – but did not tell its patients. Experienced Missouri GranuFlo injury attorneys have followed the situation to ensure they can provide solid representation to their clients.

Risks related to the use of either dialysate include heart attack, low blood pressure, low blood oxygen, and other conditions that can cause serious injury or death. These risks are particularly high for dialysis patients who also take bicarbonates in addition to undergoing dialysis. The risk is increased for these patients because GranuFlo and NaturaLyte contain high levels of substances that turn to bicarbonate in the blood. Patients who take bicarbonates in addition to receiving dialysis with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte, then, are at a higher risk of a bicarbonate overdose.

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week Focuses on Worker Safety

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:20:27 -0600

The first full week in May is North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH Week), focusing on the importance of workplace safety in the prevention of serious injuries and illnesses. Although some industries in the U.S. are more dangerous than others, no workplace is completely free from hazards – making workplace safety an important issue for every U.S. worker.

Organizations participating in NAOSH Week include the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

In 2011, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,609 U.S. workers lost their lives in workplace accidents. On average, 13 people a day die on the job, and hundreds more suffer injuries or occupational illnesses that result in lost time at work, lost productivity, and other life-altering disabilities and situations. Workplace safety measures protect not only workers on the job, but also the bottom line of businesses, which can’t afford losses in productivity during tight economic times.

Actos Diabetes Drug Use May Be Linked to Bladder Cancer

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:06:51 -0600

Actos (pioglitazone) is a medication used to treat diabetes patients. While it has been on the market for several years, in 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that Actos had been linked to a 40 percent chance of bladder cancer – particularly if the medication is used for more than one year.

From January to October 2010, about 2.3 million patients in the U.S. had an active Actos prescription. Actos is used to control the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in adults, including high blood sugar.

In 2011, the FDA released the warning about the risk of bladder cancer, based on the results of a five-year study of Actos-using patients. The study found that the risk of bladder cancer continued to climb the longer a patient took Actos, and that the patients with the highest doses of the medication also faced a high risk. The FDA also examined a study conducted in France that showed similar links between Actos use and bladder cancer.

Understanding Yaz Recalls and Risks

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:53:17 -0600

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, in the past several years, released recalls and other warning information about the birth control pill Yaz, manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Since 2009, experienced Missouri Yaz injury attorneys have been fielding questions about the risks associated with Yaz use - especially because until recently, information on these risks has been spotty.

An Overview of Yaz Birth Control

Yaz contains a synthetic hormone known as drospirenone, which mimics the effects of a hormone called progesteronethat the body produces naturally. When combined with other hormones in the same medication, drospirenone suppresses ovulation, preventing conception and therefore pregnancy. Because the hormones in Yaz and similar medications affect the menstrual cycle, the pills may also be prescribed for other reasons, such as to alleviate menstrual pain and other symptoms.

FDA Raises Concerns about GranuFlo, NaturaLyte Used in Dialysis

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:25:53 -0600

Missouri residents with damaged or failing kidneys frequently go through dialysis. The dialysis process uses a machine to do what the kidneys do in healthy patients: clean the blood and restore electrolyte balance. A compound called a “dialysate” is a key part of the process - but when a dialysate is not manufactured safely, serious injuries can result.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued several warnings about two particular brands of dialysate, GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. Both are manufactured by Fresenius Medical Centers, the country’s largest dialysis provider, and both are used in Fresenius dialysis centers, as well as by other dialysis providers.

Concerns about GranuFlo and NaturaLyte center around the creation of compounds called bicarbonates. Bicarbonates are frequently prescribed to kidney patients in order to neutralize excess acid in the bloodstream. However, GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, when used, also cause a buildup of bicarbonates in the blood - a risk that many other brands of dialysate have not posed, according to the FDA.

House Transportation Committee Asks for Three-Month Extension to Hours of Service Rule

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:12:02 -0600

Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, asking the Department of Transportation to delay the effective date of a new Hours of Service (HOS) rule for truck drivers and commercial bus drivers by three months. The rule was originally scheduled to take effect July 1.

The new rule changes the “restart” period for the number of hours truck drivers may spend on the road. The new rule still limits drivers to the 60- or 70-hour on-duty period, but it allows them to “restart” the clock on this period only once every seven days, by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. This 34-hour period must include at least two time periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. In addition, if more than 8 consecutive hours have passed since the driver was last off-duty or in the sleeper berth, the driver must take at least a 30-minute break before driving.

Do Dangers Outweigh Benefits for the da Vinci Surgical System?

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:20:45 -0600

The rapid progression of technology and its place in the medical world can be personified in the da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic console controlled by a doctor to perform surgery. Rather than perform incisions by hand, robotic arms do the work, giving doctors a hands-free approach. But are there more risks created by this system than there are benefits?

The da Vinci consists of four arms that manipulate instruments and control a camera in an effort to perform minimally invasive laproscopic surgery. The console senses the surgeon’s hand movements and turns them into micro-movements for the instruments while trying to eliminate any tremors. However, concerns have been raised over whether the system could actually lead to more mistakes and causes too many financial challenges.

One of the main complaints about the da Vinci is that there is no tactile feedback for performing incisions or suturing. As such, surgeons may not be able to properly respond to a patient’s unique condition or realize that they are making a mistake, such as cutting too deeply. Additionally, some physicians believe that there is no advantage to using the system in place of traditional surgery in many instances. Whether or not it improves in the future, in the present it may simply be a more expensive option that is no better or worse than other procedures, with it costing $3.5 million during a five-year period.

Cass County, Missouri Teen Triggers Wrong-Way Crash on I-49

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:02:56 -0600

A sideswipe car accident on I-49 near Peculiar, Missouri in Cass County left at least two people with moderate injuries, according to a recent article in the Democratic Missourian. Investigators believe the cause of the crash was a 19-year-old driver heading the wrong way on I-49.

The crash occurred during the mid-afternoon hours. Witnesses saw the vehicle driven by the 19-year-old heading south on the northbound side of I-49. About one mile south of the Route J interchange, the teen’s car sideswiped another vehicle, driven by a 32-year-old man from Kansas City. He later sought treatment for minor injuries related to the crash.

After the collision, the teen’s car crossed the median and stopped on the southbound side of Interstate 49. Rescue workers transported her to a local hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Investigators believe that drug or alcohol intoxication was a factor in the crash.

NFL Players’ Union Funds Brain Damage Study

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:12:51 -0600

The union that represents players in the National Football League (NFL) recently provided a $100 million grant to Harvard University, according to a news article by Reuters. The grant is earmarked for the study of brain damage, heart conditions, and other medical conditions that affect current and former football players.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School plan to use the grant to study former and current players. Their goal is to understand and to limit the long-term damage that football players suffer after years of taking hits on the field. Researchers have recently found that even mild blows to the head, built up over the years, can cause life threatening injuries or permanent disability.

Hope for Amputation Injuries: Scientists Use 3-D Printing to Regrow Ears

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:07:06 -0600

Amputation injuries cause some of the most catastrophic and life-long damage any dedicated Missouri personal injury attorney helps victims cope with during a career. Even the loss of a single finger or toe causes severe pain, requires extensive medical care, and changes the way you live your life.

Recent research has begun to offer hope for future survivors of amputation injuries. At Cornell University, scientists have combined living cell tissue and 3-D printing technology to grow replacement human ears made of living tissue. One day, these ears may be grown using cells from the bodies of those who lost an ear in an accident – allowing these people to regain the body part that they’ve lost.

The ears grown in the study were based on cells taken from cow cartilage, which is easier to obtain than human cartilage, say scientists. However, it’s not inconceivable that a patient’s cartilage, taken from another part of the body, might be used to grow that person a new ear in the future.

NHTSA Launches Investigation of Defective Brake Lights in Pontiac G6 Cars

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:37:53 -0600

As many as 500,000 Pontiac G6 cars may have a brake light defect that increases the chances of a serious accident, according to an article in The New York Daily News. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently begun investigating the problem to see if a recall is necessary.

The NHTSA has received 212 complaints about brake light malfunctions in G6s belonging to model years 2005 through 2009. The complaints are similar to those made about earlier model years, which led to a recall in the past. The NHTSA is now looking at the model years in question to determine whether the brake light issue is a consistent one that requires a recall of all the vehicles in order to provide a proper fix.

Nerve Stimulation System Helps Paralyzed Patients Practice Walking

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:24:19 -0600

In recent years, research on treating complete paralysis due to spinal cord injuries has been significant, but research on treating incomplete paralysis in patients with less-severe injuries or conditions like multiple sclerosis has fallen by the wayside. Now, however, an electrical stimulation system for the nervous system is helping patients with partial paralysis walk and even run, giving them improved health and a new lease on life.

The neurostimulation systems are designed to treat foot drop, a condition that occurs in patients with partially-paralyzed legs, hips, or feet. Foot drop happens when the brain signals the leg to lift up to take a step, but it can only respond partially due to the paralysis. Patients with foot drop often have difficulty walking because the leg and foot don’t lift or move far enough forward for the patient to stay balanced. Falls are common in foot drop patients, which can increase their risk of injury.

NHTSA Considers Standards for Heated Vehicle Seats

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:23:34 -0600

Heated vehicle seats can be a wonderful source of comfort in frigid temperatures or when one is suffering from acute or chronic pain. However, when seat heating elements don’t work correctly, they can cause serious burns, as some Missouri defective vehicle attorneys have seen.

That’s why the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) are looking into seat heating elements more closely, according to a recent report. The NHTSA and the SAE plan to look at how heating elements are designed and what their maximum temperature cutoffs should be - and, if necessary, to create regulations that keep these elements at a safe temperature.

Changes May Be In Store for Missouri Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Diseases

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:16:39 -0600

Currently, workers who are injured on the job in Missouri may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and temporary or permanent disability via their employer’s workers’ compensation coverage in most circumstances. However, workers who suffer an occupational disease after years of exposure to a hazardous substance or situation can still bring their claims to court instead - a situation that may soon change, according to a recent article in the Kansas City Star.

According to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Missouri is the only state that allows personal injury cases to be brought for occupational diseases instead of requiring individuals with an occupational disease to seek workers’ compensation.

Study: Texting While Walking Can Also Cause Pedestrian Accidents

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:27:36 -0600

Texting is a major source of distraction for drivers that can easily result in a collision with a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or other vehicle, and, in fact, very few determined Missouri pedestrian accident attorneys have never handled a distracted-driving case. However, “distracted walking,” caused when pedestrians are absorbed in texting or smartphone use, can also cause serious injuries.

According to the results of one study from the University of Washington, about one in every four pedestrians engages in “distracted walking” at any given time. As many as 74 percent fail to follow the basic safety rules for crossing a street, such as checking to make sure the “walk” signal is activated and looking both ways for oncoming traffic.