Alabama Personal Injury Blog - Wrongful Death

Making Sense of the Medical Record - Medication Administration Abbreviations

Jan Boswell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:49:50 GMT

Deciphering a medical record can be a real headache, especially handwritten records. Once you break through the handwriting code, you have to deal with the alphabet soup that is medical jargon. Below is some of the abbreviations used in medication administration. I hope this helps you make some sense of the medical records you are looking at. Use this prn.

Doses

cc = cubic centimeter

gm = gram

gr = grain

gtt = drop

mcg = microgram

mEq = milliequivalent

mg = milligram

ml = milliliter

oz = ounce

tsp = teaspoonful

Tbsp = tablespoonful

U = units

Times

ac = before meals

BID = twice a day

pc = after meals

PRN = as needed (commonly written with a time frame and reason the medication is being given. For example q 2-4 h prn for pain meaning every 2-4 hours as needed for pain)

Q = every

QD = every day

QID = four times a day

QOD = every other day

q h = every hour (so q2h would be every two hours)

qhs = every bedtime (sometimes written as just hs)

TID = three times a day

Stat = immediately

Routes of Administration

AD = right ear

AS = left ear

AU = both ears

buc = inside the cheek

IM = intramuscular injection

IV – intravenous

IVPB – intravenous piggyback

OD = right eye

OS = left eye

OU = both eyes

opth. = pertaining to the eye

otic = pertaining to the ear

PO = by mouth (NPO means nothing by mouth)

PER G.T.= through gastrostomy tube

PR = per rectum

SL = sublingual

SQ or sub-Q = subcutaneous (also written as SC)

Supp – suppository

Susp = suspension

TPN – total paternal nutrition

Tab = tablet

Other

c- with

s – without

MAR – medication administration record

OTC – over the counter

Sig- label

EC – enteric coated

DC – discontinue

Per – through or by

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jan Boswell

Court Allows Apartment Fire Lawsuit

Michael Roberts — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:44:40 GMT

A recent decision from the Alabama Supreme Court permits a lawsuit, arising from an apartment fire, to go forward. In Collins v. Scenic Homes, Inc., a fire caused death of one tenant and serious injuries to others. The tenants argued that the apartment complex had not been provided with adequate fire-suppression safeguards or fire escape routes. The companies who built and maintained the apartments, however, argued that, because the fire had been intentionally set by an arsonist, this was an “intervening criminal act,” that under Alabama law, meant that the companies were not responsible, even if they were negligent. The Alabama Supreme Court agreed with the tenants, stating that the companies had a duty to construct and operate a reasonably safe apartment building, equipped with appropriate exits and fire-suppression safeguards designed to reduce the risk of injury from a fire, regardless of the origin of the fire. It is a foreseeable risk that an apartment complex fire, however started, can cause harm to the tenants if there are inadequate fire-suppression safeguards and fire-escape routes. For further discussion of Alabama law concerning premises liability see Chapter 8, and for further discussion of Alabama law concerning intervening criminal acts in negligence cases, see Chapter 11, in Alabama Tort Law.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Michael Roberts

Wrongful Death Damages in Alabama

Michael Roberts — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:43:08 GMT

WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES IN ALABAMA

Damages awarded in wrongful death cases vary significantly from state to state. In many states, damages include lost income that the deceased person would have earned, economic value of a life, and grief or emotional distress suffered by the surviving family members.

In Alabama, however, the measure of damages is different. All damages for wrongful death in Alabama are considered punitive or exemplary due to a nineteenth-century Alabama Supreme Court precedent. This means that, when a wrongful death case is tried to a jury, the jury is told to consider that these damages are imposed for the preservation of human life and as a deterrent to others to prevent similar wrongs. The amount of damages should be directly related to the amount of wrongdoing or culpability on the part of the defendant.

An Alabama jury is permitted to recognize the sanctity of human life in considering the amount of a jury verdict. In determining the proper amount of a verdict for a defendant’s negligence, it may consider the ease with which the defendant could have avoided the death. Examples of this factor could include the ease with which a driver could have paid attention at a red light; a trucking company instituting a safety program to better train its drivers; or a manufacturer implementing an interlock safety device on a machine which is subject to causing injury.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Michael Roberts

Alabama the Beautiful - Eh, Maybe Not

Jon Lewis — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:34:45 GMT

When you cross the Alabama State Line, there is a sign which says, "Welcome to Alabama the Beautiful." It is beautiful. We have mountains, trees, lakes, and even a coastline with incredible white sandy beaches. We have the world famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail with its eleven courses. However, these beautiful attributes cannot apply to the laws of the state.

Today, I was near the beautiful coastline in Enterprise, Alabama on a fee petition hearing in Coffee County. While there, I was speaking with an attorney from Chicago, Illinois. We were discussing some of Alabama's laws and, particularly, the laws regarding wrongful death claims. You should have seen his face when I told him that the only damages available to the family of a victim of wrongful death are punitive damages, i.e.: to punish the wrongdoer. No damages are allowed to compensate the victim's family. Nothing for lost wages. Nothing for the value of a life. Nothing for the loss of a spouse or parent. This is only in Alabama. No other state has such a rule.

Later today, I spoke to an attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. He was referring an accident case to me which occurred in Alabama. We were discussing the facts of the case, and when I explained to him that Alabama was a pure contributory negligence state, he was in disbelief. What is a pure contributory negligence state? If two parties are in an accident and one is 99% at fault and the other is 1% at fault, neither party may recover damages from the other. Most states are comparative negligence states, and in the example above, the person who was 1% at fault would recover 99% of the verdict.

These are just a couple of the laws which adversely affect victims of accidents, injury and death. There are others. These laws need to be revised to bring Alabama in line with the rest of the country.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jon Lewis

Taser Loses Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Shannon Weidemann — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:13:00 GMT

Taser International has lost a wrongful death lawsuit for the first time. They have been sued a number of times but have never been found at fault. A family sued them and said that the company failed to inform the Salinas Police Department of the risk of shocking someone mulitple times. The jury agreed and awarded the family $5.2 Million.

Heston, 40, died 30 hours after receiving 25 shots from five deployments of stun guns. Taser and the city of Salinas had argued Heston went into cardiac arrest because he had high levels of drugs in his system, including methamphetamine.

The family is hoping that Taser International will make adjustments to their policies. The Salinas Police Department has no plans to change their procedures unless sent new instructions from Taser. The city of Salinas and the officers involved were found not liable in the man's death. The company plans to appeal the verdict.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

$2.7 Million Awarded in Ohio Wrongful Death Case

Shannon Weidemann — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:26:00 GMT

A mother has been fighting for 10 years to prove that Franklin County could have prevented her daughter's death. A jury found the county negligent and awarded her $2.7 Million in a wrongful death lawsuit. Her daughter called 911 three times and it took dispatchers 26 minutes to send an officer to her home. The police officer did not hear anything from inside the apartment when he knocked on the door and left. The victim was being assaulted by her estranged boyfriend, information that was not given to Officer Ratliff.

Two other dispatchers testified they had more information they did not give Ratliff, including the fact that Kirk could be heard yelling at a male in the background and that the violence appeared to be escalating.

Ratliff testified that he never knew about that and that he would have burst into the apartment had he known Kirk was inside fighting for her life. Moss later confessed to the killing, saying he had been trying to smother Kirk as Ratliff knocked on her door.

The county argued that the estranged boyfriend was responsible for the death and they plan to appeal the verdict. Kirk's mother feels as if a great weight has been lifted from her. The assistant county prosecutor counseled the county to settle for less but they decided to go to trial.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

John Ritter's Widow to Speaks at Wrongful Death Trial

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:13:03 GMT

John Ritter's widow sat before jurors, on Monday, at her late husband's wrongful death trial and gave testimony about the events that led up to the actor's death in 2003.

The family is suing a radiologist who performed a body scan on him two years prior and the cardiologist who treated him on the day he died, claiming both doctors misdiagnosed his condition.

Ritter died from a torn aorta, but was treated for a heart attack. The suit seeks $67 million in damages, according to the plaintiff's claim.

Yasbeck said that in 2001, her husband went to get a body scan at her urging. The results, she recalled, were positive, at least according to Ritter.
Upon showing her the outcome of the scan, "he said, 'This is good. This is not bad for a man of my age.' He said, 'You'd better be good to me because I'm going to be around for a long time,'" Yasbeck recalled.
She said he did not mention any vascular problem diagnosed as a result of the test.

The radiologist testified Wednesday, stating he met with Ritter after the scan and informed him that he had triple vessel coronary disease and should follow up with a cardiologist or internist.

According to his wife, Ritter never mentioned the meeting.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Alabama House Bill to give Road Contractors Immunity

Tedford Taylor — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:52:38 GMT

Members of the Alabama House of Representatives seek to introduce HB 382 which would give total civil immunity to road contractors working on state projects within the specifications of the contract. If passed, this bill would provide that a contractor performing highway, road, or street repairs, construction or maintenance is not liable for damage or injury resulting therefrom despite the existence of negligence or notice of a dangerous condtion.

Last Friday, a Bullock County jury returned a verdict in the amount of $10 million for the Plaintiff, represented by Taylor & Taylor, against APAC, the Defendant road contractor. Attorneys for the Plaintiff proved that APAC created a dangerous "dip" on Highway 110 near Fitzpatrick Aalabama, APAC knew of the dangerous condition from other similar incidents, APAC did not fix the condition, and ultimately caused a wreck whereby Plaintiff's decedant was killed. Attorneys for Plaintiff argued against APAC's position that a dangerous condition did not exist and ultimately proved the condition did exist and was repaired soon after the fatal crash; despite APAC's continued denial throughout the trial of any subsequent repairs.

If HB 382 passes into law, egregious corporate conduct by road contractors will continue unfettered, placing the public at risk on the roadway.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Tedford Taylor

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Alabama Trooper

Christina Cole — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:47:03 GMT

An Alabama State Trooper is due back in court regarding the shooting death of a Shelby County man.

The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the trooper who shot and killed her son in 2004. A grand jury decided in May 2005, the trooper should not face charges in his death.

The Plaintiff is suing the Trooper and eight other Department of Public Safety employees, seeking a jury trail for the defendants. The lawsuit claims the trooper did not have probable cause to approach the man for committing a crime.

Lindley's truck ran into a ditch on Dec. 17, 2004. Shortly after, Roberts stopped and he and Lindley got into an altercation. Lindley began to run toward the direction of his mother's house when the two began struggling with one another. Robert's statement said Lindley ignored warnings after attacking the trooper. It also claims that Roberts' own statement to investigators shows that he, not Lindley, initiated the three-minute struggle prior to Lindley's shooting.

The other listed defendants are named in the suit for hiring Roberts, whom according to the suit, did not meet Department of Public Safety standards.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Safety Concerns Surround Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

Christina Cole — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:22:34 GMT

Dr. Joel S. Lippman, former vice president at two Johnson & Johnson alleges in a lawsuit that he was fired for seeking recalls on numerous faulty products that include the Ortho Evra birth control patch with at least 1,000 product liability suits.

In Lippman's civil complaint, he alleges he was unlawfully let go on May 15, after 15 years of employment because he repeatedly complained about product safety problems while urging several be recalled or not launched. "He feels wronged," said Lippman's attorney. "He was fired at the peak of his career for doing his job."

The suit filed in N.J. Superior Court in Middlesex County on November 13, seeks lost past and future salary and lost bonuses, pension c contribution amongst other benefits. The suit alleges Lippman's problems with J&J began when he complained about inadequate safety data on a hormonal menopausal product called Ortho-Prefest and about serious health concerns regarding the Ortho Evra patch, "that releases dangerously high amounts of estrogen in patients."

In September, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring J&J to add a warning label to the package insert advising the risk of dangerous blog clots in the legs and lungs might be higher for women on the patch instead of birth-control pills. At this time it is uncertain if Ortho-Prefest was ever sold, but J&J disregarded Lippman's concerns and launched the product and then transferred him.

According to the lawsuit, over the next few years, Lippman complained about safety concerns with five other devices including an applicator used in endoscopic procedures that "oozed chromium during use" and ProCeed a surgical mesh for hernia repair that the FDA ordered the company to recall.

As of October 1st, J&J has reported approximately 1,000 claimants that have filed lawsuits or maid claims alleging Ortho Evra caused injuries.

Some women using Ortho Evra, including women in their 20s, have died of blood clots. Attorneys who specialize in medical product liability suits are seeking more plaintiffs through Internet sites, so more suits are likely.
Attorney Ellen Relkin, who is on committees of plaintiffs lawyers overseeing both federal Ortho Evra lawsuits and those filed in New Jersey, said news of Lippman's lawsuit will have some impact on the number of product liability suits, particularly among women who believe Ortho Evra injured them but hadn't yet sued.
She said documents and testimony from Lippman's case also could come into play in the product liability lawsuits. "We have millions of documents that the lawyers are reviewing that we've received from Johnson & Johnson (in Ortho Evra lawsuits) and we'll take a closer look at anything involving him," Relkin said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole