Miscellaneous

• German Shepherd Attacks Nine Year Old

  Beth Janicek | March 28, 2008 9:57 AM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Jakob Kelso of Columbus, Indiana was attacked by a friend's dog. The dog attacked his face, puncturing his cheek and nose and knocking out a tooth. Jakob Kelso needed over 100 stitches on the outside of his face and more inside his mouth. The owner has quarantined the dog and plans to destroy it.

• Lung Cancer Study Financed by Cigarette Company

  Beth Janicek | March 27, 2008 4:03 PM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Dr. Claudia Henschke published a study showing 80% of lung cancer deaths could be prevented through widespread use of CT scans."She's the biggest advocate for widespread spiral CT screening," said Dr. Paul Bunn, a lung cancer expert and executive director of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. "And now her research is tainted." Dr. Jerome Kassirer, a former editor of The...

• Pharmacy Gives Wrong Prescription for Child

  Beth Janicek | February 13, 2008 9:40 AM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Jennifer Barragan took her 1 year old son to the hospital because he had a cold and cough. The doctor prescribed Motrin and saline. Ms. Barragan's fiance went to pick up the prescriptions a Walgreens and was not only given the Motrin and saline but was also given a bottle of cough medicine and pills. The pharmacist told them that the doctor had faxed over these prescriptions. Ms. Barragan's...

• Stopping Plavix May Cause More Blood Clots

  Beth Janicek | February 07, 2008 9:44 AM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  A study was done on patients that were given Plavix (a blood clot preventer) after a heart attack or receiving a stent. The study showed that these patients are at a higher risk of heart attack or death within the three months after stopping the medication.The study showed that the patients were getting more blood clots due to the suggested "rebound effect". The study tracked patients with...

• Insurance Industry Overcharging Consumers

  Beth Janicek | January 14, 2008 9:13 AM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  According to the Consumer Federation of America's report, the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry systematically overcharges policy holders and underpays on claims. The Consumer Federation of America is a composed of consumer activists. In 2006, The insurance industry reported $63.7 billion in profits which was a 19 year record high. The 2007 report should be in soon. "A major reason why...

• Hospital Fined After 3rd Brain Surgery Mistake

  Beth Janicek | November 27, 2007 4:04 PM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Rhode Island Hospital has performed three different brain surgeries by three different doctors on the wrong side of the head this year. The state Department of Health fined Rhode Island Hospital $50,000.00 and the hospital was ordered to develop a neurosurgery checklist. Two of the patients were okay after the surgery error, but one of the patients died three weeks after the surgery. That...

• FDA Suspends Trasylol

  Beth Janicek | November 05, 2007 3:19 PM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Today, November 5, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation to suspend the marketing of Trasylol. This drug is used to control bleeding during heart surgery. FDA requested the suspension in the interest of patient safety based on the serious nature of the outcomes suggested in the preliminary data. FDA has not yet received full study data...

• Boy Killed By Pit Bull Mauling

  Beth Janicek | September 13, 2007 10:30 AM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  On August 31, 2007, a 6-year-old boy was mauled to death by his family's pit bull. The mother was outside of the house and the dog and child were inside. This dog attack came a day before the new Texas law, Lillian's Law, went in to effect. The law will allow felony charges to be filed against the owner of a dog that kills or seriously injures someone. The law has a punishment of prison...

• Fire Kills Three People Due to No Smoke Detector

  Beth Janicek | August 22, 2007 12:04 PM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  Roy Riley lost his fiancee, Raheem Rasheedah Muhammad, their 9 year old son, Royelle Edward Riley, and Ms. Muhammad's 7 year old niece, Markia Summerfield to a fire last month. The apartment that they lived in did not have a smoke detector. A lawsuit was filed seeking $52.3 million against the apartment building's management. The building management failed to install smoke detectors. Of the...

• Ferris Wheel Breaks and Kills 5 People

  Beth Janicek | August 14, 2007 4:07 PM | 0 CommentsSan Antonio, TX

  In Sequl, South Korea five family members fell 65 feet to their deaths when the car they were riding in unexpectedly overturned. The "Giant Wheel" was among 30 rides at the World Carnival mobile amusement park that opened in Busan last month.Seven relatives were in the car when it broke. Two people were able to be rescued, four fell and died at the scene and one woman died after being taken to...