Beaumont Personal Injury Lawyer

RFID Chips Used in Surgical Materials to Prevent Them From Being Left in Patients

Jenny Albano — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:34:38 GMT

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, which are normally used to prevent people from stealing merchandise, are being used in many new ways. Recently, this technology has been used to make sure surgical materials are not left inside of patients after surgery.

The RF-Detect system helps health-care professionals keep tabs on all the surgical sponges employed during operations by using RFID tags embedded within them. A wand-like device is then waved over the surgery site to detect the RFID tags.

This new technology is extremely valuable; foreign objects being left inside patients' chests after surgery is actually quite common. According to the 2003 New England Journal of Medicine study, an estimated 1 out of every 1,000-1,500 inter-abdominal surgeries have this kind of mistake. Leaving surgical materials, such as surgical sponges, in patients after surgery can cause serious infections and can even lead to death. Sponges are the most commonly left behind material, probably because they are used often and can blend in once saturated.

Also, as of fall 2008, healthcare providers will no longer receive payment from Medicare for the removal of for of foreign objects mistakenly left behind in patients. These providers have been trying to find a way to stop these mistakes, and RFID is a cost-effective way to decrease the problem. The RF-Detect system only adds $50 to $60 to thoracic procedures, which is much less expensive then removal surgeries and infection treatments.

Currently more than 50 hospitals have committed to or plan to trial the system over the coming two months, the Tribune article says. A nationwide rollout of RF-Detect is planned for this spring.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Honda Recalls Defective Lawnmowers

Courtney Mills — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:20:42 GMT

American Honda recalled some 167,000 lawnmowers today in conjunction with the CPSC because of a consumer laceration hazard posed by the lawn mowers when the mower's control lever is released.

In light of the serious risk to consumers posed by the cutting blade, Honda has recalled the following mowers from the U.S. market: Model HRB217HXA, all serial numbers, and Models HRX217HXA and HRX217HMA, serial numbers 1000001 - 1513628. These are all walk-behind mowers that Honda has recalled, and the mowers are grey with a red cover. The mowers were sold by Honda Lawn and Garden dealerships and by Home Depot between 2003 and 2007.

Owners of the affected mowers can contact their nearby Honda Lawn and Garden Center for a free repair, or check Honda's website for further information regarding this defective product.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

MRIs Prove Secondhand Smoke Damage

Courtney Mills — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:32:06 GMT

People who have been exposed to high levels of second hand smoke have lasting damage to their lungs, MRIs show in a recent study of several non-smokers.

Researchers examined study participants using a special kind of MRI scan to evaluate changes in the lung tissue of secondhand non-smokers. Researchers used a special kind of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to review the lungs of non-smokers. The study revealed that one-third of nonsmokers exposed to extensive periods of smoking experienced structural changes in their lungs.

This study is significant because it was the first study of its kind to investigate secondhand smoking and the effects it has on other people. Scientists in this experiment were able to assay lung structure with MRIs to reveal epidemiological changes.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Hospital Announces New Patient MRSA Testing

Courtney Mills — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:50:29 GMT

Loyola University Medical Center made the announcement this week that the hospital will begin evaluating all new patients for staph infections. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections (MRSAs) are the type of bacterial infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics.

The new policy comes in the wake of a $25 million dollar wrongful death suit filed this week by the surviving parent of a Brooklyn boy, who died of MRSA-related complications in Kings County Hospital.

Loyola Medical Center initiated the universal testing policy in part because of the alarming number of cases of staph infections showing up around the country. The test is a simple matter of a nasal swab to determine if the bacteria are present. Because transmission of the bacteria usually takes place from patient to patient via nurse or doctor, it is especially important to encourage a thorough hand-washing policy among hospital staff members.

Although many staph infections are minor surface abrasions, the infections can become quite serious if the bacteria enter the bloodstream and are allowed to permeate organs. These infections are usually the cases that are most severe and can result in death if not treated in time

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Lead Toy Jewelry Recalls from Dollar Tree

Courtney Mills — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:05:20 GMT

The Dollar Tree Chain of Stores in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on certain child toy jewelry products the company sells that contain excessive amounts of lead.

The chain is recalling almost 200,000 pieces of play jewelry made in China, sold under the names Beary Cute, Expressions, and Sassy and Chic Children's Metal Jewelry. If eaten by young children, the pieces could have serious adverse health effects. The toy items recalled are designated with item numbers 855589, 873091, 873097, or 903950.

Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal, and can cause a wide variety of ill health effects and neurological problems, especially if ingested accidentally by developing young children. While lead paint in old buildings was of primary concern in the past, the problem of lead poisoning in the U.S. was thought to have been largely eradicated. It is for this reason that the recent spate of U.S. lead-related toy recalls is so alarming.

The toy jewelry items were sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, and Only 1$ stores from December 2005 to July 2007.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Wife Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Chrysler for Husband's Death

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:45:43 GMT

A widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chrysler Corporation claiming the company failed to provide adequate protection, ultimately leading to her husband's death.

Robert Leaks was driving his Dodge pickup truck when he lost control and slammed into a tree, killing him. The family claims the dangerous 2006 Dodge Laramie pickup "was not reasonably fit for unintended, but clearly foreseeable, accidents."

The widow, individually and as estate representative, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chrysler Corporation, in the Marshall Division, of the Eastern District of Texas.

Leaks claims her husband's death is due to the vehicle's failure to maintain survival space and not providing adequate restraint with "side airbags, side head curtains or any side impact SRS." Moreover, the lawsuit asserts Chrysler is liable through its failure to use "technology to minimize loss of structural integrity" and failure to conduct side impact and pole impact side testing.

On behalf of the deceased, the lawsuit seeks damages for medical, funeral, and burial expenses, physical pain, torment, mental anguish, emotional pain, and distress. The Leaks' estate is seeking damages for mental anguish, loss of care, maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel, companionship, society, and consortium and contributions of a pecuniary value.

While Chrysler does admit its vehicles may be involved in accidents, they deny further allegations made by the family. Chrysler states that at the time of the trucks manufacture it was in full compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Woman Dies in Hot Air Balloon Accident

Jenny Albano — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:39:50 GMT

A woman died in a hot air balloon crash on Monday, October 8 during an annual balloon festival in Albuquerque. The balloon tipped over after getting caught on fiberoptic line running above a power line at about 8 a.m., which sent 60 year old Rosemary Wooley Phillips to her death. She over 60 feet after falling from the hot air balloon.

When the craft got caught the pilot threw down a tether to a pickup truck on the ground to reel the balloon down and release it, but the tether broke and the balloon flew back up which caused the basket to tip over.

Paramedics tried to revive Phillips but they were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the balloon had a crash landing near Interstate 25. The hot air balloon had four other occupants, but authorities do not know the condition of the pilot or the three other passengers.

The crash site is about three miles from the launch site for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a nine-day event that began Saturday and features mass ascensions of balloons, events for special shaped balloons and competitions for pilots.

In recent years there have been numerous fatalities from hot air balloon accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Oxnard Man Suffers Head Injury After Falling in Pit

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:53:18 GMT

Oxnard firefighters rescued a construction worker who suffered a head injury while working in a 40-foot-deep pit, on the 5700 block of Perkins Road today at 1:20 pm, according to authorities.

The man was working in the pit of an industrial construction site when he fell about 8 feet from a ladder or scaffolding, said Chief of the Oxnard Fire Department.

The construction worker sustained a moderate head injury in the fall. Firefighters extricated the man at 1:50 pm and transported him to a local hospital for treatment, according to a spokeswoman for the Oxnard Fire Department.

The accident is still being investigated by officials, his current condition is unknown.

If you or a loved one have suffered a head injury, please see our section on Head & Brain Injury for more information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Motorists Lift Truck Off Texas Man in Truck Accident

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:21:17 GMT

A truck accident claimed the life of a man on Tuesday, despite the heroic efforts of fellow motorists who lifted the pickup truck off of him.

One motorist approached the vehicle and held the man's head as he called 911 for help.

Several other motorists stopped and together they were able to lift the pickup truck off of him. At which point the man was breathing approximately every 6 to 7 seconds.

The pickup truck was speeding when the driver lost control of the vehicle, jumped a median and flipped over on Calloway Cemetery Road, according to witnesses. The driver was thrown from the vehicle during impact and pinned beneath the truck.

Approximately ten motorists were involved in lifting the truck off of him. He was airlifted to Harris Fort Worth Methodist Hospital where he died soon after. Sadly, his 22nd birthday would have been next Tuesday.

Police are still investigating and trying to determine if alcohol was a factor of the crash.

For more information on this subject, please visit or section on Car Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Three Teens Killed when Train Crashes into Car

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:03:47 GMT

Three teenagers were killed in a car accident, Wednesday night, when a train plowed into their car as they tried to beat the train across the railroad tracks.

The teenagers, none whom had driver's licenses, allegedly ignored blinking lights, bells, whistles and crossing gates as they attempted to beat the Amtrak train across the intersection at C.E. King and Beaumont Highway.

Police declared the teens dead at the scene of the accident.

"If they had waited about 8 seconds, the train probably would have passed them," said a Harris County Sheriff's Deputy. "When people look down the tracks, they think they have plenty of time. But they don't."

The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the accident. Preliminary reports say the train was traveling at approximately 55 mph and will be compared to equipment that officially calculates the speed.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole