In a recent safety communication, the FDA discouraged the use of power morcellators for hysterectomies or the removal of uterine fibroids, because of a concern of cancer risk. Since then, health experts have been debating the pros and cons of this procedure, with many hospitals…
On April 24, 2014 Zimmer Holdings Inc. said it would buy Biomet for $13.35 billion. The move will place Zimmer as the second-largest seller of orthopedic products next to Johnson & Johnson. The deal is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2015. …
A Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge is upholding a November 2013 Topamax verdict against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals according to The Legal Intelligencer. Janssen requested a new trial shortly after the $11 million verdict. The money was awarded to Haley Powell and…
In October 2006, the FDA approved the use of Risperdal (risperidone), an anti-psychotic medication, for the treatment of irritability in autistic children and young adults. Up until then, the drug had been approved only for use in adults, but was still apparently often prescribed off-label…
More e-cigarette users are complaining about injuries suffered after using the products. The FDA has received more than 50 reports from March 2013 through March 2014. These complaints include cardiovascular and respiratory issues, and burns including hospitalizations for the following: • Seizure • H
On January 31, 2014, the FDA announced they were investigating the safety of testosterone therapy drugs. Studies had linked these drugs to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death. Since then, many men who took testosterone replacement therapy and experienced serious side effects…
Medical errors lead to thousands of deaths every year across the United States. The numbers are staggering at 440,000 per year, but they are preventable. These medical errors can happen due to a wrong diagnosis, being prescribed the wrong medication, surgical errors or infections that…
A FedEx truck collided with a tour bus in Orland, California on April 10, 2014, killing 5 students, 3 adult chaperones, both drivers and leaving 34 others injured. The students were headed to visit Humboldt State University when the accident happened along Interstate 5. On…
Following the FDA warning concerning power morcellators in uterine surgery, Intuitive Surgical, makers of the da Vinci robot, cut back on its projection for growth. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the technology company had initially expected to see an increase of…
Testosterone-replacement therapy may increase risk of brain damage in Caucasian men. That was the conclusion of a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, which evaluated the influence of oxidative stress on testosterone’s typically protective effects. Usually, testosterone help
A procedure called “uterine morcellation” has allegedly caused serious injuries in some women, and now those women are fighting back. A number of new lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of electric or power morcellators. These surgical instruments are used to mince up tissues for…
Over the last decade, scientific studies have linked the use of antidepressants during pregnancy with birth defects, including heart, limb, cranial, abdominal, and neural tube defects. Many parents have filed lawsuits against manufacturers of these products, claiming they were not provided with adeq