Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer - Miscellaneous

Worrisome Radiation Doses Accumulate Over Time

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:18:09 GMT

Over time, patients can accumulate high doses of radiation from imaging procedures. This information was reported in the August 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. According to the report's authors, the use of imaging procedures needs to be improved, in light of the fact that cumulative radiation doses can be concerning. A doctor at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says that even moderate radiation exposure is a public health threat that may be avoidable. Procedures which expose people to ionizing radiation include myocardial perfusion imaging, radiographs, and CT scans. According to the reported study, radiation doses were higher in women, and increased with advancing age. The report's authors state that often doctors don't discuss radiation risks with patients because each single procedure has low risks, and procedures are considered in isolation. The researchers state that there needs to be a national public health conversation about ionizing radiation dangers and the appropriate use of imaging procedures.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Can You Really Trust That Scientific Article?

Jamie Sheller — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:37:39 GMT

Readers generally expect objective information from scientific papers authored by doctors at top medical schools. However, evidence suggests a widespread practice of doctors attaching their names to papers actually written by ghostwriters for drug companies. Often such articles have been written in a way to boost the sales of that company's product. The articles benefit from the reputation of the doctor whose name is attached to the paper. This practice breaches the public trust and is an issue of medical ethics. It is entrenched at some universities that fail to acknowledge the problem and don't have rigorous ethics rules for faculty members.

Now the practice has a powerful opponent in Washington. Senator Charles Grassley is pressuring the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) to crack down on the practice of ghostwriting. Senator Grassley helps oversee public funding for medical research, and he has been investigating conflicts of interest in medicine. N.I.H. is a chief underwriter for much of the medical research in the U.S., and the research of many top doctors is dependent on federal research grants. Though N.I.H. could be a powerful force in addressing the issue of ghostwriting, it is apparently hesitant to exert its power in that arena. According to an N.I.H. spokesman, ethics policies regarding ghostwriting are the responsibility of universities and other institutions that employ researchers. However, some universities take the position that the integrity of a faculty member's work is that person's responsibility. Bioethicists assert that medical schools must be responsible and that publications must explicitly acknowledge any industry support received by writers. Failure to acknowledge that industry support alters the authority of the article and may result in improper reliance on the information, ultimately affecting patient care.

Marketing for large drug companies routinely includes publication of scientific papers in medical journals. Publication of such articles lends weight to claims made by the companies in advertising and promotion of their products. The companies will have article ghostwritten and then invite prominent doctors to "author" the article. Evidence of the practice has come to light during litigation over pharmaceutical products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Questionable Claims About "Toning Shoes"

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:26:14 GMT

Several brands and styles of "toning shoes" are currently on the market. They are made by companies such as Reebok and Skechers, and are generally marketed toward women, with slogans like, "nice booty. nice sole" and "get in shape without setting foot in a gym." These shoes are essentially designed to create instability with pods or curves in the bottom. The shoe makers claim that the instability helps tighten and shape lower body muscles by making the legs, glutes, and calves work harder. However, many foot specialists have doubts about the claims for these shoes, saying that they are clunky, heavy and unstable. Further, the claims that the shoes make going to the gm obsolete are "far fetched." Though the design of the shoes may result in increased muscle activity, that does not mean that there is a benefit, according to a past president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.

Though rehabilitative shoes have been designed with curved soles to help people with foot and ankle problems, they are not meant to address physical fitness and strength. Those kinds of shoes are meant to improve problems by transferring the workload away from the joints and bones, not to replace exercise for fitness. One orthopedic researcher says that while the "toning shoes" may have some benefit, they cannot replace a diet and exercise routine. According to the American Council on Exercise, there hasn't been much independent research on the claims made by the makers of "toning shoes."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

FDA Warning For Some Diabetic Testing Strips

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:33:07 GMT

Recently, the FDA issued a warning regarding the use of certain types of glucose testing strips. According to the FDA, some of the strips can't distinguish between maltose, xylose, galactose, and other sugars. Such problems can produce falsely high readings, leading to dangerous overdoses of insulin. High doses of insulin can cause severe injury or death. Due to these dangers, the FDA warns that patients using therapies that include nonglucose sugars should not use GDH-PQQ glucose test strips. Dialysis patients or those with recent surgeries are more likely to use therapies that contain nonglucose sugars.

From 1997-2009, 13 deaths associated with false results in GDH-PQQ test strips were reported to the FDA. Those reports came from healthcare facilities, and prior to death, the patients suffered hypoglycemia, neurologic deterioration, severe hypoxia, and coma. The FDA safety alert included the following types of testing strips: ACCU-CHEK Comfort Curve test strips, ACCU-CHEK Aviva test strips, ACCU-CHEK Compact test strips, ACCU-CHEK Go test strips, ACCU-CHEK Active Freestyle test strips, Freestyle test strips, TRUEtest test strips, and Abbot Diabetes Care Freestyle test strips.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Nation's Food Safety System Set for New Rules

Jamie Sheller — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:09:05 GMT

Both the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are taking steps to improve the safety of our food. The Department of Agriculture is set to conduct regular tests of "bench trim," the meat trimmings added to other meat to make ground beef, in order to prevent E. coli contamination of beef sold to consumers. The FDA is seeking more extensive "mandatory standards for growing, harvesting and processing fruits and vegetables." The House of Representatives already passed legislation strengthening the FDA's food safety oversight powers. Similar legislation is scheduled for Senate consideration in the fall.

Most meat used in ground beef has been tested for E. coli, but inspectors had not been testing the bench trim. Recently, there have been several outbreaks of a virulent strain of E. coli, leading to recalls of tainted ground beef. This particular E. coli strain, O157:H7, can cause fatal illness, and it may survive cooking. According to the American Meat Institute, the industry supports additional government testing of meat.

There have also been several cases of illnesses from tainted produce, primarily tomatoes, leafy greens and melons. The FDA recently issued voluntary guidelines to improve the safety of these crops. Eventually these guidelines will lead to mandatory regulations for handling produce. Enforceable standards and requirements should be complete in two years.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Efforts to Increase Distance Between Health Industry and Medical Industry

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:04:16 GMT

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education wants to increase the distance between the commercial interests of the health industry and continuing medical education. This statement was made during testimony at a Capital Hill hearing of the Senate Committee on Aging. In response to earlier testimony by prominent physicians who criticized industry funding of CME, the ACCME said that industry does not influence CME in the U.S. The ACCME chief executive, Dr. Murray Kopelow, made this assertion despite the $1 billin in funding that the industry provided for CME in 2008, which accounted for 44% of total CME income. Dr. Kopelow testified that the $1 billion of industry funding in 2008 was $200 million dollars less than was provided in 2007. The ACCME is planning to institute various measures to minimize industry bias in CME. One of the propsed measures is to increase scrutiny on CME providers that are heavily supported by commercial interests. New fees on the CME system can help fund a boost in staff and expenditures of the ACCME. Those moves will alllow the ACCME to personally observe CME field ativities, as part of a surveillance and monitoriing system. Also, the ACCME will "exclude from accreditation any entity that markets, resells, or distributes healthcare products or services." These are some of the proposed efforts from the ACCME.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Former Surgical Technician Faces More Charges Related To Needle Tampering

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:48:39 GMT

Krisen Dane Parker, a former surgical technician at the Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado faces additional charges related to exposing patients to hepatitis C. In early July, Parker was charged with three federal counts, but recently prosecutors added an additional 42 counts of tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by deceit or subterfuge. Authorities allege that Parket injected herself with syringes containing the pain medication Fentanyl, and then filled the syringes with saline to be used on patients. Parker is infected with hepatitis C and by reusing needles that she had used on herself, she exposed patients to the virus. Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. About 4,700 patients of the Rose Medical Center were notified of their possible exposure, and nineteen former patients have tested positive for hepatitis C. Parker worked for the Rose Medical Center from October 2008 to April 2009. She was fired after failing a hospital-ordered drug test. Colleagues had reported Parker having "suspicious behavior." Another 1,200 patients may have been exposed to hepatitis C between May 4 and July 1 of 2009, when Parker worked at the Audubon Ambulatory Surgical Center in Colorado Springs, and 2,700 patients may have been exposed when she worked at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York. If convicted, Parker faces prison time up to life imprisonment, if any former patient dies as a result of her actions.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Kidney Patients May Be Harmed By Meat Additives

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:21:57 GMT

Excessive amounts of phosphorous and potassium may be found in uncooked meats and poultry products enhanced with phosphate salts. According to a recent report in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, such meats with additives have an average of 28% higher phosphate-to-protein ratio, compared with meat without additives. Such phosphate amounts could affect kidney patients by making it hard for them to limit their dietary phosphorous and potassium intake. Dialysis patients have to be careful of hyperphosphatemia, and controlling phosphorous is very important. However, that control is made difficult because meat and poultry are not always labeled as being enhanced with phosphate salts. Such information is not required to be included on labels. Enhancing meat and poultry with phosphate salts may affect phosphate binding requirements, because phosphates not removed by dialysis must be removed by binders.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Concentrated Acetaminophen Drops Recalled

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:19:18 GMT

Recently, bulk Concentrated Acetaminophen Drops were recalled by Brookstone Pharmaceuticals, due to the potential for dosing errors. Nationally, 344 bottles of this acetaminophen formula have been distributed, and 5301 bottles have been donated to charities for international distribution. Acetaminophen over-dosages can lead to liver toxicity, kidney damage, and blood disorders. There have been several reports to the FDA of dosing errors resulting in life-threatening or fatal adverse events in children younger than 3 years old. The errors were caused by confusion over regular strength acetaminophen versus concentrated forumations. An FDA advisory panel recently recommended the removal of one strength of acetaminophen from the market because of overdosing concerns. Brookstone's customers have been notified of the company's recall. The company has stopped manufacturing and shipping its bulk containers of Concentrated Acetaminophen Drops. Wholesalers and hospitals should quarantine and hold any product that they have, to return to Brookstone for a full refund.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Recall of Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Products

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:14:50 GMT

Recently, Nestle USA voluntarily recalled its Toll House packaged raw cookie dough products, due to concerns about E. coli. E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure. It can be deadly. The Centers for Disease Control have found a "strong association" between the cookie dough and the E. coli sickness suffered by 65 people who have tested positive for the bacterium since March. The identified sick people live in 29 states, and while some of them have been hospitalized with their illness, none have died.

The FDA advised consumers to discard any Toll House cookie dough products that they have, and requested that restaurants, retailers and food service providers not sell any of the refrigerated cookie dough products. According to the FDA, consumers should not try to cook the Toll House cookie dough products, because even though the cooked cookies may be safe to eat, the E. coli could be spread by the consumer's hands. The recall affects about 300,000 cases of cookie dough, including refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tubes, and cookie dough tubs. However, Toll House ice cream containing raw cookie dough is not affected by the recall. Nestle USA has said that it is temporarily halting production of the cookie dough products, while its Ohio factory is investigated by the FDA.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller