Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

Recall of Beef Due to Salmonella

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:24:26 GMT

A California company recently recalled almost 23,000 pounds of ground beef products. The recalled beef was produced on September 23 by Beef Packers Inc. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Services, the beef may be linked to two cases of salmonella illness. Two Arizona people have the "Salmonella Newport" strain, which is resistant to many drugs used to combat the illness. This drug resistance may increase the risk of hospitalization. Foodborne salmonella infection commonly causes several symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, headache and nausea.

The recalled beef products were produced by Beef Packers Inc., based in Fresno, California, but was repackaged in Arizona and sold under different retail brand names. The labels on the beef include the establishment number "EST 3191." According to Cargill, Inc., which owns Beef Packers Inc., the beef was sold in Arizona and New Mexico.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

GE and Omniscan Face More NSF Trouble

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:33:44 GMT

New analysis suggests that 3 MRI contrast agents may be risker than initially thought, leading the FDA to consider further regulation of the drugs. The drugs are linked to a rare, but potentialy fatal disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). The drugs being examined are Bayer HealthCare's Magnivest, Mallinckrodt's Optimark and GE Healthcare's Omniscan. According to FDA reviewers, Omniscan had a disproportionately high number of NSF reports, compared to its peers. Magnevist, Optimark, and Omniscan are contrast agents, containing the metal gadolinium, which are injected during magnetic resonance scans. Contrast agents are linked to NSF in patients with impaired kidney function. According to researchers, one possible cause is an inability to eliminate gadolinium from the body.

NSF causes a thickening and hardening of the skin around the joints, leading to limited movement and possible incapacitation. Also, internal organs may be affected, potentially resulting in a lung embolism or other life-threatening condition. There is no known cure for NSF. In the U.S., more than 500 NSF cases have been filed, with a majority of those cases involving GE and Omniscan. Further, Omniscan is the contrast agent most cited in reports of NSF filed with the FDA and European regulators. In an FDA review, Omniscan was rated as the least chemically stabale of the contrast agents.

If you or a loved one has had an imaging study with a gadolinium contrast agent, and developed NSF, contact Sheller, P.C., to discuss your potential legal claims. The Sheller firm has a long history of successfully representing people injured by pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Sheller is currently accepting cases of patients who have developed NSF.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Millions of Cribs Recalled(2)

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:34:22 GMT

Recently, the largest of cribs was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.&nbsp; More than 2 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs were voluntarily recalled following reports of infants being trapped and suffocated in these cribs.&nbsp; Four infants have died from being trapped in these drop-side cribs.&nbsp; Drop-side cribs have side gates which slide up and down, and there are growing concerns about their safety.&nbsp; The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately stop using the recalled&nbsp;cribs.&nbsp; Parents should obtain the free repair kit from Stork Craft, and should not try to repair the crib without the specific kit. The affected cribs were manufactured in Canada, China, and Indonesia.&nbsp; They are Stork Craft cribs, but some were sold under a Fisher-Price brand.&nbsp; According to the CPSC, babies can get stuck between the mattress and the crib side.&nbsp; This danger could be caused by improper installation of the drop side or by broken plastic hardware on the drop side. In January, there was a voluntary recall of all Stork Craft cribs manufactured and distributed between May 2000 and November 2008.&nbsp; The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/business/24crib.html?_r=1&amp;hp">most recent recall only applies to drop-side cribs</a>.&nbsp; In the last 2 years almost one million Simplicity drop-side cribs have been recalled.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Millions of Cribs Recalled

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:30:46 GMT

Recently, the largest of cribs was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  More than 2 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs were voluntarily recalled following reports of infants being trapped and suffocated in these cribs.  Four infants have died from being trapped in these drop-side cribs.  Drop-side cribs have side gates which slide up and down, and there are growing concerns about their safety.  The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately stop using the recalled cribs.  Parents should obtain the free repair kit from Stork Craft, and should not try to repair the crib without the specific kit.

The affected cribs were manufactured in Canada, China, and Indonesia.  They are Stork Craft cribs, but some were sold under a Fisher-Price brand.  According to the CPSC, babies can get stuck between the mattress and the crib side.  This danger could be caused by improper installation of the drop side or by broken plastic hardware on the drop side.

In January, there was a voluntary recall of all Stork Craft cribs manufactured and distributed between May 2000 and November 2008.  The most recent recall only applies to drop-side cribs.  In the last 2 years almost one million Simplicity drop-side cribs have been recalled.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Big Award In Pfizer HRT Case

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:40:11 GMT

Recently, a breast cancer survivor won her hormone replacement lawsuit against Pfizer. Plaintiff, Donna Kendall asserted that three of Pfizer's hormone replacement drugs contributed to her breast cancer, and a jury in Philadelphia agreed with her. The jury found that the drug company failed to adequately warn consumers of the risks of Premarin, Prempro, and Provera, and ordered Pfizer to pay Ms. Kendall $6.3 million in compensatory damages and $28 million in punitive damages. Pfizer became responsible for this and thousands of other hormone replacement lawsuits, when it acquired Wyeth and Pharmacia & UpJohn.

The FDA approved Premarin in 1942 and Prempro in 1994, and they are used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of menopause. Provera was approved in 1959 to treat abnormal uterine bleeding, secondary amenorrhea and endometrial hyperplastia in post-menopausal women who are taking estrogen pills. A study of Premarin and Prempro by the Women's Health Initiative, revealed an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and breast cancer. After that study, the use of hormone therapy decreased. One later study linked hormone replacement therapy to a signifcant increase in stroke risk. Hormone therapy was linked to an increased risk for ovarian cancer by a more recent study.

In October, another Philadelphia jury ordered Pfizer to pay $75 million to another plaintifff, whose breast cancer was connected to Prempro. Pfizer says it will challenge both verdicts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

New Defibrillator Warnings

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:06:09 GMT

Recently, the FDA warned that about 300,000 defibrillators manufactured by Cardiac Science Corporation have potential malfunctions. According to the FDA, these malfunctions don't show up on device self-tests, but may prevent delivery of life-saving shocks.

The devices affected by the warning include some Powerheart and CardioVive models of AEDs, manufactured between August 2003 and August 2009. Some of the potential problems include failure to recognize pad placement during use, interference from background noise, and interrupted electrocardiography analysis. Though the FDA is not issuing a recall of these devices, it is urging users to take certain precaution if they are currently using affected AEDs. Some of those recommendations include using an alternate AED if available, until the malfunctioning model has been replaced or repaired, for at-home use, only use the device when necessary, in clinical settings, use a manual defibrillator if available.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Bacteria In Vicks Nasal Spray

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:41:44 GMT

Vicks Sinex nasal spray has been recalled in the United States, Britain, and Germany. Proctor & Gamble announced the recall after discovering that some of the Vicks nasal spray was contaminated with bacteria. According to Proctor & Gamble, the bacteria was found during routine quality control at a manfacturing plant in Germany. The company states that, so far, the contamination is limited to a single batch of raw material mixture. Three lots of the product, sold in the United States, Britain, and Germany are affected by the recall. Proctor & Gamble asserts that the bacteria does not pose a great risk to healthy people, but that people with weakened immune systms or chronic lung conditions could develop serious sinus infections from the bacteria.

If you have the recalled Vicks nasal spray, you should discard it and contact Proctor & Gamble for a replacement coupon or refund. In the United States, the affected product is Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12-hour Decongestant Ultra Fine Mist, with lot number 9239028831.

Proctor & Gamble is based in Cincinatti, Ohio.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Synthes Components Recalled

Jamie Sheller — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:17:38 GMT

Recently, Synthes, a Swiss medical device company, voluntarily recalled its Synex II Central Body components. According to the company, all surgeons and hospitals with the recalled devices were to immediately stop implanting them. The FDA has classified the recall as a Class I, which means that they could pose an imminent health hazard. The Synthes devices are used to replace damaged or unstable vertebral body in the T1-L5 portion of the spine. The recall was issued after reports of device failure causing loss of vertebral body replacement height. Those problems could lead to neural injury, increased pain and possible need for further surgery.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Public Service Alert - Strollers Recalled

Jamie Sheller — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:02:02 GMT

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of about 1 million Maclaren strollers. The stroller recall came after an investigation of 12 reports of the strollers' hinge mechanism amputating the fingertips of children. Strollers affected by the recall have been sold since 1999 by Target, Babies "R" Us and other stores. The recalled Maclaren stroller models include: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller. There is a risk of children having their fingertips amputated if their finger is placed in the Maclaren stroller's hinge mechanism while the stroller is being unfolded. The finger tip can be cut off when the stroller locks into place. To prevent future incidents, Maclaren is offering free hinge covers, which should not be removed unless the stroller is being cleaned. Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the recalled Maclaren strollers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

Recall of Beef Due to Salmonella

GE and Omniscan Face More NSF Trouble

Millions of Cribs Recalled(2)

Millions of Cribs Recalled

Big Award In Pfizer HRT Case

New Defibrillator Warnings

Bacteria In Vicks Nasal Spray

Synthes Components Recalled

More Problems For Acne Drug Accutane

Public Service Alert - Strollers Recalled