Overuse of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Home Patients
An investigative report by the Toronto Star reveals an alarming rate of use of powerful antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes, although these medications can be deadly for elderly patients with dementia. Some long-term care facilities routinely use these drugs to calm and “restrain” wandering, agitated patients who sometimes exhibit aggression. The Star found that as [...]
Cancer Risk with Fibroid Removal Procedure, FDA Warns
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication, warning doctors about the risk that a certain procedure in hysterectomy and uterine fibroid tumor removal could unexpectedly spread cancerous tissue into the patient’s abdomen. Power morcellation, in which a device cuts tissue into pieces that can be removed through tiny abdominal incisions [...]
Class I Recall Issued for Spacelabs Healthcare Ltd., ARKON Anesthesia Delivery System Due to Software Defect
Spacelabs’ ARKON Anesthesia Delivery System with version 2.0 software has been issued a class I recall. The systems are used in hospital operating rooms to delivery oxygen, air and nitrous oxide. It delivers these gases in a controlled manner with or without a mechanical ventilator and “may be used for the delivery of anesthetic vapor [...]
1 in 20 Outpatients are Misdiagnosed Every Year, Study Says
At least 1 in 20 adults receiving outpatient care are misdiagnosed every year, a new study suggests. According to the study, published in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety, data from three previous studies, shows that the rate of misdiagnosis in outpatients was about 5 percent. This translates to 1 in 20 adults, 12 million [...]
Endo Vaginal Mesh Facility Inspection Prompts FDA Warning Letter
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to pharmaceutical firm, Endo International PLC, following an inspection that revealed a number of issues at a vaginal mesh facility. The inspection took place at Endo subsidiary’s, American Medical Systems Inc.’s (AMS), Minnetonka, Minnesota facility, Endo wrote this week in a regulatory filing with [...]
Use of SSRI Antidepressants in Pregnancy Tied to Autism Risk, Study Shows
A study published online this week in the journal Pediatrics reports that boys with autism were three times more likely to have been exposed to SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants in the womb than typically developing children. Boys whose mothers took SSRIs – including Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft [...]
Injuries and Health Problems from E-cigarettes Rise as They Gain Populatiry
Reports of injuries and health problems linked to e-cigarettes – burns, nicotine toxicity, respiratory and cardiovascular problems – are on the rise, as the devices become more popular, recent government data shows. According to data from public records, more than 50 e-cigarette complaints were filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between March [...]
Implanted Spine Stimulators Can Lead to Paralysis
Spinal-cord stimulators are intended to treat chronic back pain, but some patients who have undergone procedures to implant them have become paralyzed. These devices are manufactured by a number of companies, the biggest of which include Medtronic, St. Jude Medical and Boston Scientific. The devices use stimulation therapy to help manage chronic pain; a small [...]
Class Action Filed Over Defective Ignition Switches in GM Cars
In a federal class action filed on Monday in Trenton, New Jersey, owners of General Motors cars allege the company fraudulently concealed a defect in the ignition switches of 2.6 million Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Saturn vehicles. The defect is connected to at least13 deaths. The suit, Ruff v. General Motors, alleges that GM engineers learned [...]
CPSC Recall for STX Throat Shield Protector Due to Injury Risk
The STX Shield Throat Protector for lacrosse goalies has been recalled because the shield can crack or break when struck by a lacrosse ball, posing an injury hazard to the user. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the federal agency charged with protecting the public from “unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with [...]
