- Joe Saunders | October 30, 2007 11:12 AM |
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MiscellaneousAccording to a draft report from the State of Florida, the Sarasota YMCA is doing a poor job in their foster child program. The YMCA which contracts with the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, was criticized in the report for arrogance, defensiveness, and a retaliatory attitude toward those who criticize its programs. If true, this is disturbing news. The state run foster...
- Joe Saunders | October 29, 2007 7:19 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe USDA is pointing its finger at a defunct Canadian company for the recent outbreak of E coli contaminated beef in the US. The company, Ranchers Beef, has been linked to E coli O157:H7 bacteria which has been linked to nearly 100 illnesses. This type of bacteria can cause diarrhea and dehydration, even death. The governmental agency has cautioned meat packing companies not to use products...
- Joe Saunders | October 27, 2007 10:52 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn the last few years, we've seen a number of food recalls including peanut butter, spinach, lettuce, ice cream, and ground beef patties. These food products were either contaminated with salmonella or E coli bacteria. Recently, consumers have had to face another food safety issue dealing with the mislabeling or incorrect labelling of food products. There's been a spate of recalled foods due...
- Joe Saunders | October 25, 2007 8:13 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeMedtronic, the manufacturer of the Sprint Fidelis cardiac defibrillator a.k.a. pacemaker, knew that its medical device had problems with fractured lead wires last winter, according to consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. These defects were reported to the government last winter. According to Dr. Sidney Wolfe, the FDA had received 599 reports of defibrillator malfunctions as of January 10,...
- Joe Saunders | October 24, 2007 10:56 AM |
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MiscellaneousA female special education teacher has been accused of having sex with a 15 year old male student. She was released from the Orient Road jail on $7,500 bail. This most recent arrest comes on the heels of a report citing the alarming prevalence of sexual abuse among teachers and their students. The study and the arrest highlight the fact that children are often abused by authority figures...
- Joe Saunders | October 23, 2007 9:46 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsCongressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has written a letter to the FDA requesting documents about their monitoring and evaluation of Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis defibrillator. The Sprint Fidelis was voluntarily recalled after Medtronic disclosed that the Sprint Fidelis leads were prone to fracture causing defective operation of the...
- Joe Saunders | October 22, 2007 11:11 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsFive orthopedic implant makers, including embattled Medtronic, have received letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating the SEC intends to investigate claims that the companies may have made improper payments to foreign officials. The companies who've received the letters are Medtronic, Zimmer, Biomet, Smith & Nephew, and Stryker. Medtronic, known for its cardiac...
- Joe Saunders | October 21, 2007 10:53 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn the last two weeks, the FDA has issued press releases concerning food products that did not disclose ingredients that could cause harm to consumers. Lochmead Dairy has recalled half gallons of Lochmead Farms Country Fresh Chocolate Premium Ice Cream with code date June 22, 2008 because these products may contain undisclosed almonds. This past week, Shain's of Maine Ice Cream has recalled...
- Joe Saunders | October 19, 2007 10:44 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeAccording to a Wall St. Journal article, the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator may pose more risk to the young than previously thought. The Sprint Fidelis has had problems with its lead wire breaking causing erratic jolts of electricity to the heart. The wire connects the defibrillator to the heart and is supposed to jolt the heart rhythm back into a normal rhythm. However, the device...
- Joe Saunders | October 17, 2007 4:29 PM |
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MiscellaneousIn a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, MRSA infections cause more deaths each year than AIDS, emphysema, Parkinson's and homicide! MRSA, also known as Staphylococcus aureus, is a virulent drug-resistant bacteria prevalent in hospitals in nursing homes. The bacteria can be transported from infected patients to other patients through unsterilized equipment and...
- Joe Saunders | October 16, 2007 10:47 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsWhile most companies don't like more federal control over their industry, the Grocery Manufacturers Associaton and the National Fisheries Institute are lobbying the FDA to get more involved in the regulation of their industries. Both trade groups want the FDA to more closely monitor and regulate foods coming in from other countries, citing the fact that food preparation processes in foreign...
- Joe Saunders | October 15, 2007 6:10 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe FDA has agreed to investigate claims by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, an advocacy group, that certain lipsticks contain high levels of lead. Among the top brands testing positive for lead were:• L'Oréal Colour Riche "True Red": 0.65 ppm• L'Oréal Colour Riche "Classic Wine": 0.58 ppm• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red": 0.56 ppm• Dior Addict "Positive Red": 0.21...
- Joe Saunders | October 11, 2007 5:31 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeIn spite of a recent scientific report citing certain health risks, the FDA voted to approve Medtronic's new cardiac stent, Endeavor. Data published a few days before the vote raised questions about the risk of blood clots linked to use of the drug coated stent. However, the FDA panel did suggest the FDA require that Medtronic conduct a 5 year post-approval study to assess the risks...
- Joe Saunders | October 10, 2007 12:16 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsLast time ConAgra was in the news it was for contaminated peanut butter. This time ConAgra is in the news because of a salmonella scare with its pot pies made in its Missouri plant. So far, there have been more than 30 food poisoning incidents reported in 37 states. Federal investigators are busy trying to determine the extent and nature of the salmonella contamination.For more information on...
- Joe Saunders | October 09, 2007 5:09 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsDuring the three day Clinton Global Initiative, Novartis Chief Executive Dan Vasella said that the FDA was buckling under political pressure to monitor the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceuticals. HIs comments were made in the wake of rising awareness of overly aggressive marketing tacticts by pharmaceutical companies at the expense of consumer safety. Two Novartis drugs, Prexige and Galvus...
- Joe Saunders | October 08, 2007 4:32 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA new study has revealed that Medtronic's new heart stent has shown more blood clots than its rivals in comparison studies. The new device has not yet received approval for sale in the US. Use of drug coated stents to prop open occluded arteries have been popular among physicians until recently. Stents are tiny mesh tubes inserted into the artery to prop them open after they've been cleared...
- Joe Saunders | October 05, 2007 10:18 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA class action lawsuit has been filed in US District Court in New York against Topps Meat Co. The company has recalled more than 21. 7 million pounds of frozen ground beef patties that have made at least 28 people sick from the E coli bacteria found in the beef. One person has developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure from contracting the E coli bacteria. So far, the...
- Joe Saunders | October 03, 2007 10:00 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn a last minute change, PIP has been added to the agenda for this week's special session of the Florida Legislature. The law had expired October 1, but Governor Charlie Crist has added the item to the agenda. The law, which took effect in 1971, required drivers to purchase insurance to cover his or her own medical costs regardless of who is at fault in the car accident. Opponents of the no...
- Joe Saunders | October 02, 2007 5:27 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsThe Florida no fault auto insurance law expired yesterday after the Florida Legislature did not renew the law this year. As of yesterday, Florida no fault personal injury protection insurance is not required anymore. This insurance required that persons injured in auto accidents make a claim against their own auto insurance for the first $10,000 of medical bills or wages even if a careless...
- Joe Saunders | October 01, 2007 10:10 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsAn overnight crash in Sarasota near the Bee Ridge Road exit on Interstate 75 has claimed the lives of two adults. I-75 northbound was closed for hours as a result of the 12 car accident which included a tractor trailer truck. The truck was driving northbound at approximately 12:30am and had its cruise control on and set at 70 m.p.h. when the crash occurred. According to the tractor trailer...