Recent medical studies have shown that shoulder infusion pain pumps may cause some patients to suffer permanent cartilage damage. One study, published in the October 2007 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine, links the use of high-volume shoulder infusion pain pumps to Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL), a painful condition caused by permanent cartilage damage. If you believe that you have been injured by this or a similar infusion pain pump, contact us for further advice.
» Medtronic SynchroMed II and SynchroMed EL Implantable Infusion Pump and Refill Kits Recalled
The Food and Drug Administration has announced a Class 1 Recall of the Medtronic SynchroMed II and SynchroMed EL Implantable Infusion Pump and Refill Kits. The pump and infusion system are used in patients undergoing therapy that requires the constant delivery of drugs or fluids into a patient's body. The refill kit is used in refilling most Medtronic implantable infusion pumps. If you have been injured because of a malfunctioning Medtronic SynchroMed II and SynchroMed EL Implantable Infusion Pumps, contact our firm for further advice.
» The United States Senate Finance Committee is currently investigating why surgeons overlooked complications linked to the Infuse Bone Graft in clinical trials. Infuse, also known as bone morphogenetic protein-2, is a bioengineered protein; it is used instead of real bone in a significant number of graft operations. It was approved by the FDA for limited purposes in 2002 - the fusing together of vertebrae in the lower spine, using a frontal approach. However, it is widely used for other purposes with 85% of Infuse use "off-label". The Senate investigation has been spurred by reports of serious complications associated with the product. Independent researchers at Stanford University found evidence of a link between Infuse and male sterility. You may obtain additional information about this investigation by following the link below, and if you have had Infuse utilized for a medical procedure, feel free to contact us for a free consultation regarding your rights. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/229321.php
» The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending against continued prescribing of the pain reliever propoxyphene commonly known as "Darvon" and "Darvocet" because new data show that the drug can cause serious toxicity to the heart. If your physician has been prescribing this pain killer for you, and you have been diagnosed with heart problems, please contact us for a free consultation, and for more information go directly to the FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm234338.htm
» Medical malpractice lawsuits are on the rise for the increasingly popular laser spine surgery technique and the facilities that perform it.
Laser spine surgery centers, part of a boom in outpatient clinics operated by entrepreneurial physicians, sell a high-tech version of a procedure that has been around for years, although research does not show that their variation leads to better outcomes. The procedure generally costs more than conventional spine surgery, driving up the cost of health care. More importantly however, the occurrence of medical malpractice claims appears to be several times that of the conventional procedure. One such institute, one of the largest facilities in Florida, has a rate of medical malpractice claims per 1,000 surgeries performed that is several times the rate for all U.S.outpatient surgery centers, based on insurance industry data- and by percentage is more profitable than even the internet giant Google. For more information click on the link below, or contact us directly. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/laser-spine-surgery-more-profitable-than-google-sees-surge-in-complaints.html
» New Residents Arrive at Hospitals in July creating the "July Effect"
In July, new residents physicians arrive at the nation's teaching hospitals and the assumption has been that incidents of medical malpractice rise with the new inexperienced arrivals. Researchers from the University of California at San Diego and UCLA have investigated this phenomenon. Read their conclusions as reported by the Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/06/03/study-the-july-effect-may-hold-for-fatal-medication-errors/tab/print/
» Select Specialty Hospitals Scrutinized for Record of Poor Care in New York Times
Select Specialty Hospitals, which has eight (8) facilities in Florida, and others nationwide, was the subject of a detailed analysis of its record of poor care. The article states that lawsuits, state inspection reports and statistics deep in federal reports paint a troubling picture of the care offered at some Select hospitals, and at long-term care hospitals in general.
In 2007 and 2008, Select's hospitals were cited at a rate almost four times that of regular hospitals for serious violations of Medicare rules, according to an analysis by The New York Times. Other long-term care hospitals were cited at a rate about twice that of regular hospitals. Long-term care hospitals also had a higher incidence of bedsores and infections than regular hospitals in 2006, the most recent year for which federal data is available.
In the last three years, inspectors have found 22 violations of care standards at 12 Select hospitals so serious that, if uncorrected, could lead Medicare to ban those hospitals from admitting Medicare patients. The 22 violations represent an estimated 2 percent of the serious violations Medicare found nationally, even though Select operates less than half a percent of the nation's hospital beds. Put another way, on a per bed basis, Select hospitals were cited about four times as often as the average.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of poor care at Select Specialty Hospital, or other long-term care hospital, please call or e-mail us with your concern to see if Needle & Ellenberg can be of assistance. See the full NYTimes article and the list of Select Specialty Hospitals by following this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010
/02/10/health/policy/10care.html
Honda is recalling 378,000 additional vehicles because the driver's side air bag may deploy too forcefully, causing an injury or death. The company had announced the recall of 440,000 vehicles for that reason last year.
The expanded recall affects 2001-2 Accord, Civic, Odyssey and CR-V models, and some 2002 Acura TLs.
The automaker said it was aware of 12 accidents that resulted in 11 injuries and one fatality.
Honda's first move to address the problem came in November 2008, when it recalled 3,900 Civics and Accords from the 2001 model year.
Needle & Ellenberg are experienced claims arising from similar airbag problems and are available to consult if you or a loved one has suffered injury or death as a result of this or similar defective products. Please call or e-mail us with your inquiry. See the full NYTimes article by following this link: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/honda-expands-air-bag-recall-to-378000-more-cars/
» Toyota has recalled over 2 million vehicles for problems related to sudden acceleration and "sticking" accelerator pedals.
Added to this is now an announcement that they will recall over 200,000 hybrid vehicles for brake "problems". The United States government is beginning to look into the problem. If you or a family member have been seriously injured in an incident related to these Toyota issues, please contact Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. to find out about your rights.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/business/global/05toyota.html?scp=3&sq=Toyota%20recalls&st=cse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100205/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_toyota_prius
» Legionella Bacteria causing the rare and often fatal "Legionare's Disease", a pneumonia, has been found in Miami Buildings.
Health Department officials have reported that buildings with certain water filtration systems that strip all chlorine from the water, leave them susceptible to bacteria like the one that causes Legionnaires' disease. Culligan, the Chicago water equipment firm was reported to have supplied the filters to the buildings. If you have contracted "Legionare's Disease" or "Legionella Bacteria", please contact Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for further information about your rights.
» Lawsuits being brought for PoliGrip and Fixodent denture adhesive causing neurological problems from zinc buildup in the body
Plaintiff's law firms across the country are investigating and filing product liability lawsuits over neurological problems attributed to zinc buildup in the body from denture cream products. The cases are pending across the country and allege that long term use of PoliGrip and Fixodent denture adhesive leads to zinc buildup and neurological problems because copper and zinc compete to bind to neuro receptors and the body expels the copper that is not absorbed. If you reside in Florida and have been a long term user of the product and are suffering from these problems, Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. are investigating these claims.
» Medicare and Medicaid Will Not Pay for Certain Hospital Caused Injuries and Illnesses
In an effort to crack down on rising costs associated with or resulting from poor hospital care, Medicare and Medicaid will no longer pay for ten (10) categories of Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) - injuries or illnesses which a patient did not have on admission to a hospital. If you, or a family member, acquired one or more of these injuries or illnesses, you or they may have been a victim of malpractice and the hospital may not charge you or Medicare and/or Medicaid for associated care, treatment or service... read more »
» Cases Being Investigated for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults
In Florida, a Vulnerable Adult means a person 18 years of age or older whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living, or to provide for his or her own care or protection, is impaired due to a mental, emotional, long-term physical, or developmental disability or dysfunctioning, or brain damage, or the infirmities of aging... read more »
» Andrew Needle Recognized in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Editions of the Best Lawyers in America read more »
» Andrew Ellenberg Recognized in the 2009 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America... read more »
» Andrew Needle & Andrew Ellenberg Recognized in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Editions of the Florida Super Lawyers.
» Needle & Ellenberg Named "Top Law Firm" and Firm's Partners Again Named "Top Lawyers" in 2009 Edition of the South Florida Legal Guide... read more »
» Medication Errors Litigation
Extensive National Study Finds Widespread, Costly Mistakes in Giving and Taking Medicine. Read more on our Medication Errors Resource Center.
