Fox 4 in Dallas did a great story on the Texas Medical Board and their contribution to physician discipline since tort reform in 2003. According to the report serious disciplinary actions are down and the time taken to conduct investigations has risen. Further, Doctor confidentiality and secrecy is maintained until a final disciplinary action is completed, leaving patients unaware of allegations of malpractice by doctors. Check the Fox 4 page for a video. Some of the images are graphic and the stories are truly tragic. Its a shame our state has fallen so far in protecting patient … [Read more...]
Injured by a Doctor? You’ll likely deal with the secretive Medical Board instead of open court
May 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Happy Stop The Texts Day!
May 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Distracted driving is a real scourge in our society. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, has declared today #StopTheTextsDay asking Twitter for ideas on how best to fight this menace and convince people to put down the phone and drive. Celebrities like Kasey Khane have even released public service announcements with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urging drivers to “STOP THE TEXTS STOP THE WRECKS.” Unfortunately, distracted driving isn’t just a problem amongst consumers. Many employers still have policies that allow, or even encourage employees to use … [Read more...]
Federal Judge in Texas Upholds Med Mal Damages Cap
April 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
Originally posted at the Dallas Morning News: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/20120327-u.s.-judge-upholds-texas-cap-on-medical-malpractice-awards.ece By MARK CURRIDEN The Texas Lawbook mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net Published: 27 March 2012 08:55 PM A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Texas law limiting noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases to $250,000 is constitutional. The decision, applauded by tort reform advocates and denounced by trial lawyers and victims of medical malpractice, ends a four-year legal battle over … [Read more...]
Tragedy Brought on by Tainted Fruit
October 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Moni Basu, CNN William Beach was one of those people who fixated on certain foods. He would eat the same thing voraciously for a few days, and then, when he tired of the same tastes, he moved onto something else. In August, when summer's heat seemed unending in Mustang, Okla., Beach took to savoring fried chicken -- and soft, sweet cantaloupe. Beach was elderly -- 87 -- but after eating the fruit, his health declined rather suddenly and before anyone in his family knew what was wrong, he was dead. He is among 15 people who died from Listeria monocytogenes in what the Centers for … [Read more...]
Carreras v. Marroquin, et al.
April 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Parents brought claims against a physician who allegedly caused their adult daughter’s death. The parents attempted to delay the expiration of the statute of limitations by sending a pre-suit, notice of their claims shortly before their filing deadline expired. The notice was not accompanied by a form allowing the doctor access to the daughter's medical information as required by the health care liability law. After the parents filed suit, the doctor moved for summary judgment, arguing that the notice did not delay the parents filing deadline, resulting in the suit being barred as untimely. … [Read more...]
Johnson & Johnson insulin cartridge recall
March 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
from Reuters J&J Animas unit recalls leaky insulin cartridges * 384,180 cartridges recalled in U.S., France * 22 adverse events reported, no deaths * Leak could result in underdelivery of insulin * FDA also warns Cordis unit over stent manufacturing * Shares close up 0.5 percent (Updates number of adverse events, closing share price) By Bill Berkrot NEW YORK, March 8 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), which has been beset by a seemingly endless stream of product recalls, has recalled hundreds of thousands of potentially leaky insulin pump cartridges that could … [Read more...]
Glaxo Suit on Avandia Heart Attack Death Settled on Trial’s Eve
March 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
from Bloomberg.Com Glaxo Suit on Avandia Heart Attack Death Settled on Trial's Eve GlaxoSmithKline Plc said it settled on the eve of trial a lawsuit alleging its Avandia diabetes drug caused a North Carolina man to die of a heart attack, avoiding a jury determination over risks associated with the medicine. The U.K.’s biggest drugmaker resolved the suit by the family of James Burford, an Avandia user who died in 2006. The company declined to provide details of the accord’s terms. The resolution eliminates the risk Glaxo would face a large jury award, said Navid Malik, a … [Read more...]
Child-Safety Seats Recall
March 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
from the New York Times online Nearly 800,000 Dorel Child-Safety Seats Are Recalled By CHRISTOPHER JENSEN Almost 800,000 child seats are being recalled because their harnesses may not hold the child securely, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday. The recall covers a wide range of booster, convertible and infant seats, including some sold as part of a stroller travel system, made by the Dorel Juvenile Group of Columbus, Ind. The action was prompted by the safety agency, which began an investigation of the restraints last year after receiving several consumer … [Read more...]
AstraZeneca and Seroquel Suits
March 15, 2011 by 1 Comment
from Bloomberg.Com AstraZeneca Said to Pay $150 Million to Settle About 6,000 Seroquel Suits AstraZeneca Plc agreed to pay $150 million to settle more lawsuits claiming its antipsychotic drug Seroquel causes diabetes, pushing the amount the drugmaker has paid to resolve cases over the medicine to almost $350 million, people familiar with the accords said. AstraZeneca, the U.K.’s second-biggest drugmaker, will resolve about 6,000 cases alleging the company knew Seroquel could cause diabetes and failed to adequately warn patients, two people familiar with the settlements said. They spoke … [Read more...]
Ford & Chrysler Recall Trucks, Crossovers, SUVs
March 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
from the Kansas City Star The Consumer Memo, 12/30: Ford recalls 15,000 trucks, crossovers; Chrysler recalls trucks, SUVs Ford is recalling nearly 15,000 trucks and crossovers due to problems with electrical systems that can short and create a fire. The Detroit automaker said Thursday that the recall includes some 2011 model year F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles. A Ford supplier of a control module produced the faulty product over a six-day period. F-Series trucks are built at the Claycomo plant. Owners may call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 to see if … [Read more...]
