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Defective Bard IVC Filters may cause life threatening injuries
The Food and Drug Administration has put out a warning to doctors to remove inferior vena cava (IVC) filters from patients after the danger of the clot has passed, with the fear that the device may fracture and migrate inside of the patient.
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters are devices that are used to prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs or heart and causing a pulmonary embolism. Studies have shown that pieces of defective IVC filters are known to break off and migrate to organs resulting in punctures, life threatening conditions, and even death.
According to the FDA more than 900 reports of problems associated with IVC filters since 2005.
- 328 : device mirgration
- 146 : embolizations (detachment of the device)
- 70 : perforation
- 56 : filter fracture
IVC Filters are meant for short-term placement, but are not always removed after the patients risk for PE has passed. Long term risks may include:
- Severe and reoccurring pain in the heart or other parts of the body
- cardiac tamponade (bleeding in or around the heart)
- pulmonary embolus (blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs by blood clots)
- hematoma (blood the collects under the skin or in an organ)
- perforation or puncturing to the vena cava wall and the heart
- perforation or puncturing to lungs, respiratory compromise, internal bleeding, infection
- other serious complications/injuries and death
Recently a study was released by the Archives of Internal Medicine concluding that the ”Bard Recovery and Bard G2 filters had high prevalences of fracture and embolization, with potentially life-threatening sequelae.”
Lawsuits
Bard IVC filter lawsuits have been filed. If you have had a Bard IVC filter implant and experienced injuries due to the fragmentation and migration of this device, contact our lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Toll Free: 877-544-5323 or Click Here to Email Us
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Common Causes of Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Virginia Attorney Richard Serpe is currently accepting cases involving those who have been the victims of medical malpractice. Prescription errors, the failure to make a timely diagnosis, birth injuries due to poor practice and serious conditions that were misdiagnosed are common occurrences, and the victims of these errors deserve experienced and dedicated legal counsel. If you or any of your loved ones have been adversely affected by the actions of a medical professional, contact Richard Serpe for a free case assessment today.
When the sick or injured go to see a doctor, they are doing so under the assumption that their needs will be seen to by competent and experienced professionals. For the most part, those assumptions are correct. The vast majority of doctors, surgeons and pharmacists will make the right diagnosis, flawlessly execute complicated surgical procedures, or make sure that the right medications are properly used.
Most medical professionals have their actions tightly regulated by their respective state medical boards, which make certain that the standards of medicine are both kept high and adhered to by those that practice.
Unfortunately, the medical standards of the Commonwealth of Virginia have fallen behind, and it is the patients who are paying the price.
A 2003 article in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot detailed how the standards of the Virginia State Medical Board are so loose and poorly enforced that even doctors who have been found “grossly negligent” are allowed to keep their licenses and keep practicing medicine. In the three years since the article was published, changes to how the Medical Board regulates the practice of medicine have been negligible, and as a result, more and more Virginians are paying the price.
According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, there were 2,972 cases of medical malpractice wherein the offending doctor was made to pay damages between 1990 and 2004. That is an average of 212 cases of malpractice a year, or just over 4 a week.
Common Causes of Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice can be described as the failure of a medical professional to follow established guidelines, which results in patient injury.
Some of the more common causes of medical malpractice are:
Prescription Errors: With the thousands of drugs that are available for almost every conceivable ailment, it is almost inevitable that mistakes will be made when the prescriptions are filled. According to a study by the Institute of Medicine, an estimated 1.5 million patients are sickened, injured or killed by being prescribed the wrong medication.
Birth Injuries or Deaths: Birth injuries can be caused by any number of reasons, including misapplication of forceps or complications that result in a breech birth or caesarean section. The effects of the injuries can be both physical (as is the case with Erb’s Palsy) or can cause serious damage to the brain (cerebral palsy.)
Wrong Diagnosis: If a medical professional diagnoses what is easy instead of what is accurate, he should be made to answer for his decisions if the patient suffers as a result.
Missed or Late Diagnosis: If a doctor does not recognize a condition as serious, the results could be fatal. A medical professional who fails to correctly diagnose a disease or condition until it too late is not helping his patients. If cancer is found early, a patient stands a very good chance of recovery. But if a doctor fails to act on clear warning signs in a patient, he could be held liable if the cancer isn’t discovered until it’s too late.
Failure to Recognize a Developing Heart Attack or Stroke: People with no medical background aren’t expected to be able to tell the difference between a case of heartburn and a heart attack or the difference between a headache and a stroke. But doctors and nurses should be able to easily differentiate between the superficial and the serious.
Richard Serpe: Justice for All
If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, you should realize that you are not alone. And you should be sure to find an attorney that has successfully helped others in recovering damages against negligent doctors or pharmacists.
Virginians in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area know to call Richard Serpe.
With over two decades of legal practice, Richard Serpe has established himself as one of the most dedicated and effective attorneys in Virginia. With successful arguments before state and federal Courts, he has garnered a reputation among his peers as an attorney that handles difficult cases, and over twenty years of aggressive representation for his clients has led to Mr. Serpe being listed among The Best Lawyers in America as well as obtaining the highest possible peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Serpe has obtained fair and just compensation for Virginians of all walks of life who have been injured due to the negligence or incompetence of doctors.
In addition to using his own expertise and skill, Richard Serpe collaborates with some of the foremost medical experts in the country. Having the perspective and testimony of these professionals helps to make the suffering of his clients clear to judges, juries, and professional arbitrators.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence or incompetence of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist, contact our offices for a free legal consultation today.
Toll Free 877-544-5323 or by Email
Chinese Drywall Signs & Symptoms
Chinese drywall is a devastating problem homeowners across the country are being forced to handle in this tough economic period. If your home is infested with toxic Chinese drywall, it is critical to get highly qualified representation to start an immediate investigation, so that you can make a recovery for your damaged home. Don’t let your dream home become a permanent nightmare.
Chinese Drywall Signs & Symptoms
Frequent replacement of air conditioning systems or refrigerator components (such as air coils) may be a sign that your home is contaminated. DANGER: If you have experienced loss of “freon” or refrigerant from your a/c system, it may have leaked into your home from sulfur eaten pinholes in your equipment.
- a strong smell of sulfur / “rotten egg-like” odor
- frequent failure of electronics and appliances
- frequent failure of electrical and piping systems, such as air conditioning units (coils)
- Although not proven to be directly linked to defectice drywall, common health symptoms that were reported include:
- nose bleeds
- respiratory problems
- headaches
- sinus problems
Download our Free 5 Step Guide and investigate your home for Chinese drywall.
www.FreeChineseDrywallReport.com
Other Resources:
CPSC: Chinese Drywall Information Center
HUD: US Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Chinese Drywall Blog
Chinese Drywall Facebook
Salsa and Guacamole Large sources of foodbourne diseases
Recently the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent out a press release stating that salsa and guacamole, especially those served in retail food establishments, are an increasingly important sources of foodbourne diseases.
According to research released almost 1 out of every 25 restaurant related food poisoning outbreaks between 1998 and 2008 can be traced back to contaminated salsa or guacamole.
Magdalena Kendall, an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) researcher stated, “Salsa and guacamole often contain diced raw produce including hot peppers, tomatoes and cilantro, each of which has been implicated in past outbreaks.”
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Non-compliant storages times and temperatures were reported in 30% of the salsa-guacamole-associated (SGA) outbreaks.
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Food workers were the source of contamination 20% of the time, which my have contributed to outbreaks.
Other Resources:
Food Poisoning Injury Cases
CDC: Food-Related Diseases
Hotel Food Poisoning Settlement
Vernon Hills Chili’s Grill & Bar Settlement
The Virginia lawyers at our firm are available to speak with you for an immediate review of food poisoning cases. Food poisoning is all too frequent in Virginia, and often results in a serious injury which requires extensive medical care and heavy medical bills.
Full StoryDiabetes medication Avandia linked to death & injuries
Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a drug, developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999. However, since the approval of the drug the FDA has continued monitoring several heart related adverse effects that were of concern during clinical trials. In 2006 & 2007, the FDA requested that the labeling for the drug be changed as new data showed the potential risks of the drug.
Since 2006 Avandia users have reported numerous side effects, some of which caused severe medical problems:
- Headaches and back pain
- Anemia
- Swelling or water weight gain (edema)
- Bone fractures in upper arms, hands, and feet
- Vision problems, including partial blindness
- Upper respiratory infections, similar to colds
- Heart disease, heart attack
- Increased risk of stroke
- Liver failure
- Death
Have you or a loved one been physically injured by the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia? If so, contact our Avandia lawsuit lawyers to learn more on how you can be compensated for your suffering.
Toll Free: 877.644.9365
www.Avandia-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/avandialawsuit
Time Magazine: Is Avandia the Next Vioxx?
Full StoryHow Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse, and Refuse
Tricks of the Trade: How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse, and Refuse [pdf]
Brought to you by the American Association for Justice. The publication reveals the tricks of their trade, and what you can do about it! “This report describes some of the most egregious ways the insurance industry attempts to make money at the expense of consumers.”
This is an interesting publication we have in our firm website’s car accident library
Have you been involved in a Virginia car accident?
Contact our Office to setup a free case review by phone or appointment.
Toll Free: 877-544-5323 or Local: 757-233-0009
Virginia Auto Accident & Injury Lawyer
Have you been injured in a Virginia car accident?
Our Virginia Personal Injury Attorneys are available for an immediate review of your case. Car accidents caused by distracted and drunk drivers lead to serious injuries and death every day across the state of Virginia. If you are the victim of a Virginia auto accident, contact our experienced automobile accident lawyers to help you claim your rightful compensation.
| Q: If a family member died from an auto accident, what kind of claims can family members make against the driver and owner of the car that caused the death? |
| Q: How much time do I have to sue the driver of the car that caused the accident? |
| Q: If I was a pedestrian or riding a bicycle and I was struck by a car, can I sue the driver and owner of that car for my injuries? |
Homeowners target ‘toxic’ drywall – NBC Nightly News
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Full StoryPart of 3-year-old’s ear bitten off by dog
Around 5PM Wednesday, 3 year old Christopher Elder’s ear was partly bitten off by a Golden Retriever. DailyPress.com reports that the child did not sustain any other serious injuries after being checked into Riverside Regional Medical Center in Poquoson.
Christopher and his father were visiting a neighbor’s property in the Shady Oaks Trailer Park, when the child wandered behind a shed in the yard. Witnesses heard a dog bark a the boy screaming as he came from behind the shed bleeding. The dog was not seen, and was said to be in a yard behind a 3 foot tall fence.
“All of a sudden my grandson started screaming and yelling and my son looked up and the dog had come over the thing and attacked him and took his ear, bit him on his arm, his shoulder, and bit his ear off. I mean, all this, all this is gone,” says Joann Elder.
WVEC.com reported, “The incident is under investigation by York-Poquoson Child Protective Services and the Newport News Animal Services Division.”
No charges have been filed.
Full StoryPoquoson Man slips & sues PetSmart for $1 million
According to the Virginian Pilot, 69 year old Robert Holloway stepped in a pile of dog feces, and badly hurt his back about a year ago at the Jefferson Avenue PetSmart.
It was reported that he “didn’t fall to the floor after stepping in it, but his body twisted violently and he smacked his head against something nearby.” As a result of hitting his head, he also knocked out four of his false teeth.
Now Mr. Holloway is suing the chain for $1 million. According to NBC Washington News, the suit was filed in US District Court.
A PetSmart spokesperson stated that pet accidents are quite a common occurance since owners are allowed to bring pets in the stores while on a leash. They also said for this reason they have “oops” stations within the stores for clean up by trained employees, and encourage owners to clean up as well.
In 2008 a similar lawsuit that was filed by a woman who slipped and fell in dog urine at the same store. The suit was dissmissed due to the lack of evidence that an employee knew it was on the floor.
Full StoryDetailed Chinese drywall ruling to be expected
The initial trial that began last month to determine the protocol to fix homes contaminated by Chinese drywall came to an end Monday, March 1st. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is expected to release a detailed ruling within the next few weeks.
During the trial homeowners gave statements regarding the heartache Chinese drywall has caused their families, while scientists and engineers presented detailed evidence of the amount of work that would need to be done in order to restore these homes.
The ruling is expected to include the extent of remediation, as well as a monetary judgment against Taishan Gypsum Co. “The plaintiff’s attorneys are asking for at least 2.5 million to be awarded to seven Virginia families whose homes have the contaminated Taishan drywall.” Remediation costs, estimated by several independent Virginia home builders, came out to $86 per square foot.
The trial was expected to last at least 5 days, however with the withdrawal of Taishan leading to no cross-examination or defense witnesses, it only lasted two.
Dean A. Rutila, of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger an environmental consulting firm, studied the seven Virginia homes as well as the control homes. He has also visited homes in Florida that were contaminated by Chinese drywall stating that the damage, or corrosion, caused by Chinese drywall “is unacceptable from the perspective of life safety and the building code.” Remediation “requires the replacement of all drywall, electrical equipment and all copper and silver components in the houses.” During the trial Mr. Rutila presented the results of testing done in the affect homes.
Full StoryChinese Drywall Town Hall -Chesapeake & Williamsburg, VA
Virginia Chinese Drywall
Town Hall Meetings Next Week
Meeting 1 – Chesapeake, Virginia:
Date: Monday, January 11, 2010
Time: 7:00 P.M – 9:00 P.M.
Location: Chesapeake Conference Center,
900 Greenbrier Circle, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Meeting 2 – Williamsburg, Virginia:
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Time: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Location: Williamsburg Marriott,
50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185
To Be Discussed:
-A detailed discussion: Remediation of Chinese drywall
-Financial recovery options for Virginia homeowners
-Details regarding the upcoming deadline to join lawsuit against Taishan
-Case updates, including the status of default judgment trial in Germano, et al., v. Taishan gypsum Co., Ltd., et al
-Updates regarding the use of Venture Supply Chinese drywall
Don’t forget your neighbors.
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