The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will make data public on eight hospital-acquired conditions in the near future. This data can be found on the CMS website. The data will include mistakes that occur in hospitals, such as foreign objects being left in patients following…
The first MDL bellwether trial began this week against DePuy Orthopaedics in connection with their Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip replacement product. This trial is the first of more than 6,000 cases filed across the country that have been consolidated in U.S. District Court in Dallas, Texas. The Plaintiff in the case,…
When an elderly person suffers a hip fracture, the injury is sometimes referred to as a “death sentence.” This is particularly true for elderly individuals who are residing in nursing homes. Studies going back to the 1980s showed that 27% of elderly persons who suffer a hip fracture die within…
AndroGel testosterone gel is a topical testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) manufactured by AbbVie, Inc. and formerly Unimed Pharmaceuticals of Abbott Laboratories, Inc. AndroGel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat men with low testosterone or “Low T,” associated with a diagnosed medical condition. AndroGel 1% and…
Medication errors remain one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in hospitals. These incidents occur in several, different scenarios. Medication dosage errors are the most common. It can be particularly dangerous when a decimal point describing the dose is placed in the wrong location. For example, suppose a…
Running events have steadily increased in popularity over the past decade. A runner looking to compete in a race never has to look very far from their own home to find a 5k, 10k, or marathon to participate in. Last year millions competed in traditional road races, but nearly 4…
Medical product manufacturer, Medtronic, announced that it is paying $22 million to settle the claims of approximately 950 individuals involving Medtronic’s Infuse spinal surgery product. Moreover, Medtronic anticipates setting aside millions more to cover a larger number of claims that remain pending or will be filed in the future. The…
Elopement, sometimes referred to as wandering, is defined in the context of the nursing home setting, as a cognitive-challenged resident leaving the facility and exposing themselves to potential dangers. Individuals who are the most at risk for wandering in nursing homes are those who suffer from dementia. It is estimated…
According to a study released this week by Medicare’s Inspector General, one in three patients in skilled nursing facilities suffered a medication error, infection or some other type of harm related to their treatment. A “skilled nursing facility” is defined as a facility that provides specialized care and rehabilitation services…
Talcum Powder, a household item that is sold globally for use in cosmetics and personal hygiene products, has recently been linked to ovarian cancer after prolonged use. Talcum powder is commonly found in baby powder and other adult products including body and facial powder. In October of last year, a…