Medical Malpractice

• Proposed Roof Safety Standards Inadequate

  Staff Writer | January 06, 2006 10:40 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  According to the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen, the reently proposed changes to vehicle roof-crush standards are a joke, with 70% of current vehicles already meeting them.In their press release, Public Citizen notes:Rollover crashes kill 10,000 people each year, accounting for one-third of all occupant deaths in vehicle crashes. Many deaths and injuries that stem from rollover crashes...

• Sleep Apnea Flow Generators Recalled

  Shannon Weidemann | April 30, 2007 10:45 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Some flow generators used in the treatment of sleep apnea have been recalled. ResMed is voluntarily recalling S8 flow generators made between July 2004 and May 15, 2006 because the power supply connector may short circuit. This creates a potential for machine failure, sparks and fire. Patients may continue to use their S8 flow generators until they receive a replacement device. As with any...

• Medication errors harm millions

  Staff Writer | July 22, 2006 5:57 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Pharmacists and physicians belong to two of the most trusted professions in America. We routinely follow our doctors advice regarding drugs they prescribe and then trust that our pharmacists will correctly fill the order. Unfortunately, many times our trust is misplaced. Today the Institute of Medicine released a report noting that medication errors harm 1.5 million people each year. The...

• Is it frivolous when it affects you or yours?

  Staff Writer | June 01, 2006 10:34 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  I read a story today about a Tacoma physician filing a medical malpractice lawsuit involving his wife's recent death. While you cannot make a good determination based on just what you read in the papers, it appears as if her death should have been prevented. We, of course, sympathize with the family and offer our condolences.Medical malpractice damage caps affect us all. I hope our legislators...

• FDA Warns of Burns/Explosions From Oxygen Cylinders

  Staff Writer | April 25, 2006 7:06 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The FDA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)issued a safety alert April 24, 2006, warning that 12 incidents have been reported in which regulators used with oxygen cylinders have burned or exploded, in some cases injuring personnel. Improper use of gaskets/washersin the regulators are a major factor in the ignition and severity of the fires, and FDA and NIOSH...

• Guidant gives green light to Boston Scientific Offer

  Staff Writer | February 06, 2006 6:20 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Guidant Corp. has accepted Boston Scientific's acquisition offer of about $27 billion in cash and stock. Boston Scientific had been vying with Johnson and Johnson for a chance to acquire Guidant and gain entry into the fast-growing $10.3 billion cardiac-rhythm management market. Boston Scientific's enthusiasm for the merger was not dampened by Guidant's 1-23-06 announcement that it was...

• Guidant Defibrillators

  Staff Writer | May 21, 2006 1:57 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Many of you have learned of recent problems associated with implantable cardiac devices. Guidant Corporation's implantable defibrillator has been associated with potentially fatal complications. As a result of negative publicity, Guidant created a panel to investigate complaints. The May 18 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine contains an early release of their findings. Of note,...

• Strengthening Medical Device Safety

  Staff Writer | February 14, 2006 1:37 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  FDA has announced a new program that is designed to transform and strengthen medical device safety.This initiative will work toward an electronic reporting system and is expected to provide unique ways to identify medical devices including standardized and globally accepted names. Information in patient records about device information will be improved as will collaboration on post market...