Medical Malpractice

• FDA Announces Recall of Certain Welch Allyn Automated External Defibrillators

  Staff Writer | July 31, 2006 6:39 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and MRL, Inc (a Welch Allyn company), recently notified healthcare professionals about the class 1 recall of 1184 automated external defibrillators ([AEDs] Welch Allyn PIC 50, catalog #97108X) manufactured during February 2002 to October 2004; 673 units were sold within the United States.The recall occured because of an electrical contact problem that...

• FDA scientists conclude public health not adequately protected

  Staff Writer | July 22, 2006 6:20 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The FDA's prime responsibility is to insure that the public is protected from unsafe drugs and medical devices. Recent studies suggest that the FDA is falling well short of it's goal. Even more surprising, these concerns have been raised from within the FDA itself.Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a survey noting that more than a third of FDA scientists said agency officials...

• Medication errors harm millions

  Staff Writer | July 22, 2006 5:57 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Pharmacists and physicians belong to two of the most trusted professions in America. We routinely follow our doctors advice regarding drugs they prescribe and then trust that our pharmacists will correctly fill the order. Unfortunately, many times our trust is misplaced. Today the Institute of Medicine released a report noting that medication errors harm 1.5 million people each year. The...

• Adverse Event Report on Defibrillators

  Staff Writer | June 16, 2006 3:51 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  MRL, Inc. and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary worldwide Class I recall of 580 AED20 automatic external defibrillators because of an intermittent electrical connection that could result in failure, delay in analyzing the patient's ECG or failure to deliver expected therapy and resuscitation of the patient. A Class 1 recall occurs when there is reasonable probability that use...

• Is it frivolous when it affects you or yours?

  Staff Writer | June 01, 2006 10:34 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  I read a story today about a Tacoma physician filing a medical malpractice lawsuit involving his wife's recent death. While you cannot make a good determination based on just what you read in the papers, it appears as if her death should have been prevented. We, of course, sympathize with the family and offer our condolences.Medical malpractice damage caps affect us all. I hope our legislators...

• Guidant Defibrillators

  Staff Writer | May 21, 2006 1:57 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Many of you have learned of recent problems associated with implantable cardiac devices. Guidant Corporation's implantable defibrillator has been associated with potentially fatal complications. As a result of negative publicity, Guidant created a panel to investigate complaints. The May 18 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine contains an early release of their findings. Of note,...

• Frivolous Litigation?

  Staff Writer | May 11, 2006 7:55 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Today's edition of The New England Journal of Medicine sheds light on an erroneous claim often made by medical malpractice insurance companies. The insurance community-- and the current administration--- has long claimed that high premiums are brought on largely by frivolous or unfounded litigation. Today's article should settle this issue once and for all.The NEJM (the world's most prestigious...

• FDA Warns of Burns/Explosions From Oxygen Cylinders

  Staff Writer | April 25, 2006 7:06 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The FDA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)issued a safety alert April 24, 2006, warning that 12 incidents have been reported in which regulators used with oxygen cylinders have burned or exploded, in some cases injuring personnel. Improper use of gaskets/washersin the regulators are a major factor in the ignition and severity of the fires, and FDA and NIOSH...

• Medical Errors and Death in Hospitals

  Staff Writer | April 21, 2006 8:36 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  A recent study by HealthGrades indicates that the most serious problem in U.S. hospitals is medical error. This study ranked hospitals in New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Tennessee and the District of Columbia as those ranking lowest in patient safety.For more information about the medical errors study...

• Health Care Crisis

  Staff Writer | April 18, 2006 10:59 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  We have all read about rising health care costs. Insurance companies would have you believe the increase is due to high medical malpractice verdicts and unscrupulous trial lawyers. As a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice litigation and takes pride in representing the injured, it was with interest that I read the front page story in today's Wall Street Journal (April 18, 2006).The...