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Pradaxa Use Blamed For Uncontrollable Internal Bleeding, Death

2012-05-17T18:27:52Z

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began a safety review of the blood thinner and anticoagulant drug Pradaxa (dabigatran) last December after serious and fatal events were reported relating to uncontrolled bleeding or hemorrhaging caused by the dangerous drug. According to Pradaxa manufacturer, German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, 260 people worldwide have died from Pradaxa-related internal bleeding since 2008.

Marketed as a safer, easier-to-use alternative to warfarin (Coumadin), Pradaxa prescriptions skyrocketed upon its release to the US market in late 2011. Pradaxa was supposed to be easier to dose, pose less of a threat for negative interactions with other drugs and not require monthly follow up tests to determine effectiveness as needed for those on warfarin.

However, Pradaxa has been blamed for being both over-effective -- resulting in uncontrollable internal bleeding -- and under-effective -- resulting in deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) and pulmonary embolism. In either instance, the dangerous and defective drug has caused injury and even death rather than improved the lives of some who have taken it.

]]> Related to the over-effectiveness of the drug, one of the main problems with Pradaxa is the lack of an 'off switch.' There is currently no known way to stop the blood-thinning effects of Pradaxa short of kidney dialysis, a process that can take several hours and in emergency situations that may simply be too long to prevent serious damage or even death. An individual taking Pradaxa has the potential to bleed to death if his or her bleeding cannot be brought under control.

If you are taking Pradaxa and have experienced bleeding from the gums, bloody stools or urine, frequent nosebleeds, unexplained bruises that appear to get larger rather than heal, heavier than normal menses or have coughed up or thrown up blood, you should seek medical assistance immediately.

Unlike Pradaxa, warfarin does have an off switch. Doctors can counteract the blood-thinning effects of warfarin by administering vitamin K.

Source: FDA.gov, "FDA Drug Safety Communication: Safety review of post-market reports of serious bleeding events with the anticoagulant Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate)"

Texting leads to fatal accident, wrongful death suit

2012-05-16T21:19:17Z

We have discussed the dangers surrounding teenage drivers many times. Because teenagers have been found more likely to text and drive, they are also more likely to be involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents.

As a reminder of this extreme danger, we will discuss the story of a 17-year-old girl who got behind the wheel of her car with her cell phone within easy reach. This was all it took for her to get distracted from focusing on driving the minute a text came through from her then boyfriend.

She attempted to read the text, but as she was manipulating her phone, she drifted first onto the rumble strips, and then due to overcorrecting, into oncoming traffic. She struck another vehicle in a head-on collision.

]]> When she was rescued from the fiery wreckage of her vehicle she would learn that she had taken someone else's life in that matter of seconds when she looked down at her phone. The driver who suffered the wrongful death was only 27 years old.

This woman pleaded guilty to using a cellphone and causing the fatal crash. Now she has to live with causing this young man's wrongful death for the rest of her life.

She now says she would never text and drive. She also takes her friend's phones from them and holds them while they drive. Perhaps by publicizing this story, drivers in Florida will realize the life-threatening risk of texting and driving and finally be willing to put away their phones and other electronic devices.

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Forgettable text had a calamitous result," Pam Louwagie, May 12, 2012

Study finds teen auto accidents rises with passengers

2012-05-11T16:44:15Z

It should come as no surprise to Florida residents that teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents. This is a well-documented fact. What may be news, however, are the recent results from a AAA study.

The study, the Foundation for Traffic Safety, analyzed federal fatality statistics. That data shows that the risk of being involved in a fatal crash multiplies depending upon the number of other teenagers riding in the vehicle as passengers.

]]> According to the statistics, when 16 and 17-year-olds get behind the wheel with one passenger, their risk of getting into a fatal car crashes actually increases by almost half. If two teenage passengers are present, then the risk doubles. The risk quadruples when three or more passengers are in a vehicle with a teen driver behind the wheel.

This is not the first study that has raised concerns about teenage driving either. The Governors Highway Safety Association found an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving 16 and 17-year-olds. Also, in a study published last month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers under the age of 24 were found to be more likely to text while driving.

Many parents already forbid their newly licensed children to drive with other teenagers in the car. Now parents will have support for those restrictions based on the AAA study. If having even just one passenger increases the risk of a fatal car crash, then it makes sense to prevent these crashes by protecting teenagers and refusing to allow them to drive in a vehicle with a teenage driver, or to get behind the wheel while passengers are in the car.

Source: The Washington Post, "Passengers increase chance of teen driver fatalities, AAA study finds," Ashley Halsey III, May 8, 2012

Pharmacies are overbilling Medicare

2012-05-10T13:36:58Z

The Associated Press recently reported that pharmacies throughout the United States are overbilling Medicare. The report indicates that Medicare paid pharmacies over $5 billion in questionable billing. Fraudulent billing practices hurt all of us. If you have information regarding fraudulent billing by a pharmacy or drug store you could be entitled to recover money for blowing the whistle on such fraudulent practices.

Individuals who properly report such improper practices are called "relators" and with the help of any attorney can file a lawsuit to recover funds on behalf of the government. The relator would then be entitled to a percentage of the recovery. It is important to remember, that a potential whistleblower cannot divulge the information, but must with an attorney to provide the information to the government in a confidential manner.

Birth injury causes cerebral palsy, jury finds hospital at fault

2012-05-09T21:51:55Z

Birth injuries can be among the most devastating injuries to Florida parents, especially when the parents' hopes and dreams for their unborn child are destroyed by the negligence of a doctor, nurse or health care facility.

The mother of one child suffered through this traumatic experience that continues even today after her child was born with cerebral palsy. When the mother was 36 weeks pregnant she sought medical treatment at a hospital because she noticed that something was not normal with her pregnancy. She was hooked up to a fetal monitoring machine which did not clarify whether or not something was wrong with her unborn baby. An ultrasound was then performed, and the baby was pronounced dead by the attending physician. Because it was a Sunday, the trained ultrasound technician was at home and not at the hospital.

]]> The ultrasound technician came to the hospital 81 minutes later to verify that the baby had died, but then found that the unborn baby was in fact, alive. However, by this time, the baby had already suffered brain damage. An emergency cesarean section was performed. Interestingly, the doctor told the mother that her baby had "come back to life" during those 81 minutes. He continues to maintain that he performed the ultrasound properly.

During the trial, the jury heard evidence that the ultrasound machine was outdated and poorly maintained. The family's lawyer argued that if modern technology had been used when the first ultrasound was performed, the baby may have been delivered before any brain damage had occurred.

The jury found that the treating doctors were not responsible for the baby's injuries. Instead, the jury found the hospital completely at fault for providing faulty ultrasound equipment, and for not having adequate staffing.

The jury awarded the mother $1.5 million for emotional distress in addition to $77 million to pay for the child's medical care and other expenses related to the child's future needs.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal, "Pottstown hospital ordered to pay $78.5 million," Jeff Blumenthal and John George, May 4, 2012

May Kicks Off Motorcycle Awareness Month In Florida

2012-05-04T16:35:24Z

Four years after passing legislation requiring all motorcycle riders go through a training course before earning a motorcycle endorsement on a Florida driver's license, the number of fatal motor cycle accidents in Florida has declined annually. Coupled with efforts aimed at increasing awareness off motorcycles and motorcycle safety issues, including declaring May to be Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, both Florida and national groups hope the number of people seriously or fatally injured in a motorcycle accident will keep going down.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), riding a motorcycle carries serious risks of injury or death. A rider is 25 times more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than are passengers involved in car accidents. Motorcyclists are five times more likely than car passengers to be injured in a wreck.

]]> Motorcycle riders and drivers of other vehicles share responsibility in improving safety for cyclists. Drivers of cars should:

Be on the lookout for motorcycles
Use turn signals even if you don't see other vehicles around you
Check and recheck mirrors and blind spots

Motorcycle riders should:

Stay visible
Stay out of other drivers' blindspots
Maintain safe following distances
Wear bright colored clothing
Wear a DOT-compliant helmet

The number of Florida drivers with motorcycle endorsements continues to increase; Harley Davidson reported a 25 percent jump in sales in the first quarter of 2012. More and more people are taking to the road on two wheels and it's the responsibility of everyone on the road to make the roadways as safe as possible for themselves, their passengers and others.

Source: Consumer News, "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month reminds drivers, riders to share the road," May 1, 2012

Doctors Often Hide Or Do Not Disclose Medical Mistakes

2012-05-02T17:54:47Z

Have you received bad news or less than positive news after seeing a doctor, physician or surgeon and were left wondering what went wrong? Chances are, the health care professional involved won't tell you exactly what happened, particularly if he or she made a medical mistake in caring for you or a loved one.

According to a survey by researchers at Harvard Medical School, 34 percent of doctors reported that they do not feel the need to tell patients if a significant medical error occurred. Twenty percent of responding doctors noted that they had in fact withheld information about a mistake from a patient to protect themselves from a medical malpractice claim. Another 11 percent admitted to actually lying to a patient, a parent or guardian about a medical mistake.

]]> In a follow-up survey requested by MSNBC, twenty-one of the 100 doctors surveyed, including family practice physicians, cardiologists and neurosurgeons, admitted to keeping a medical mistake a secret from a patient and his or her family. The neurosurgeons and cardiologists polled had a much higher percentage of withheld mistakes than did family practitioners.

The Harvard survey questioned 1,900 medical professionals from a variety of specialties. Over half of the physicians surveyed admitted to giving a patient a more positive prognosis than their condition warranted, citing reasons like not wanting a patient to lose hope or to become upset about their condition. Another 28 percent admitted to breaking physician-patient confidentiality rules by sharing private medical information with an unauthorized person.

Interestingly, the survey found that honesty and openness in communications with patients were more important to women and minority doctors than to white male physicians.

Source: MSNBC, "Many docs tell white lies, study finds"

Flatbed Truck Runs Over, Kills Two Florida Pedestrians

2012-04-28T14:25:26Z

Two women traveling on a Florida sidewalk were mowed down by a flatbed truck when it cut across oncoming traffic, jumped the curb and hit the two pedestrians. Initial reports reveal that both victims were drug about 100 feet across a motel parking lot before the truck hit a fence and came to a stop, just before plunging into the motel pool.

The truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. He told police that he had had a medical episode while behind the wheel that resulted in him coughing heavily and blacking out. The driver of the truck had no recollection of the fatal truck accident and was reported by witnesses as asking what happened and whether anyone was hurt after exiting through the passenger side of the semi.

A blood sample was taken from the truck driver, as per protocol for auto and truck crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal truck accident.

]]> Medical emergencies -- like a heart attack, seizure, stroke or loss of consciousness -- can threaten the lives of individuals simply by occurring. But, when they happen behind the wheel of a car, truck or other motor vehicle, they can also be deadly to others.

When a driver suffers a medical emergency his or her vehicle typically doesn't stop until it hits something, like the fence in the Florida truck crash. This puts everyone at risk, including other drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, for serious or fatal injury.

Source: The Miami Herald, "2 pedestrians killed in crash," April 25, 2012

Errors In Reopening I-75 Blamed For 11 Fatal, 18 Other Injuries

2012-04-26T19:19:57Z

Eleven people were killed in multiple, near-simultaneous motor vehicle accidents on I-75 earlier this year. With drivers blinded by smoke and fog, there were a total of six separate crashes involving about 20 different vehicles -- cars, trucks, vans, semi-trucks and a motorhome -- and eighteen more people were injured and taken to the hospital.

A smoldering wildfire combined with fog in the early morning hours of January 29, to reduce visibility for travelers on Florida's I-75 and resulted in a three-hour highway closure. Although Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) individuals on the scene disagreed on whether the interstate should be reopened, Lieutenant John Gourley gave the directive to do so. About 30 minutes later, the fatal motor vehicle accidents occurred.

]]> The Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Forest Service agreed with Gourley's decision to reopen the roadway. There was concern that the dangers presented by closing I-75 for a longer period outweighed the risks of reopening the interstate. The most appropriate detour, U.S. 441, was already closed, leaving a small two-lane highway that passed through a small town and was ill-equipped to handle interstate traffic as the only rerouting option.

Among the problems noted in the FDLE's review of problems that contributed to the fatal car accidents were a lack of:

Continued monitoring of the visibility situation on I-75
Mandatory, rather than suggested protocols, for dealing with similar situations
Roadway signage alerting drivers to the dangers ahead

In the wake of the I-75 tragedy, the Florida Legislature has allocated $4 million to improve signage and alert systems on all Florida roadways.

Source: NBC Miami, "FDLE: Troopers Made Errors in I-75 Crash That Killed 11," April 26, 2012

Hope For Families Facing A Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis After Childbirth

2012-04-21T13:36:41Z

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in every 300 children has cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is caused by injury to the brain, often occurring while a baby was still in the womb, during delivery or within the first few years of life. Although there is currently no cure, scientists are hopeful that a new drug may offer hope to children diagnosed with CP.

There is a small window, researchers believe, up to and shortly after birth during which an injured brain can be treated, minimizing the effects of cerebral palsy. Researchers focused on one cause of cerebral palsy - a bacterial infection in the mother's womb during pregnancy. The infection can cause the baby's brain to become inflamed, which can lead to brain damage.

]]> If doctors are able to lower or stop the baby's brain from becoming inflamed, stopping the inflammation from killing brain cells, researchers hope that the effect of cerebral palsy on a child's motor functions will decrease. But that means that doctors must be able to get the anti-inflammatory medication to the right part of the brain as soon after birth as possible.

The initial study was conducted on rabbits that had a cerebral-palsy like condition. Drugs were administered to the rabbits one day after birth. At day 5, rabbits that received the drug, rather than the placebo, appeared to move almost as well as healthy rabbits. Rabbits with the CP-like condition that were given the placebo showed no signs of improvement.

More information is needed to determine whether the results of the study would have lasting implications in minimizing the effects of cerebral palsy as well as whether humans would have an experience similar to the rabbits. Developmental delays related to cerebral palsy were not the focus of this particular study.

Source: Fox News, "Cerebral palsy drug may offer hope for treatment," Rachel Rettner, April 19, 2012

South Florida Fatal Hit-And-Run Claims 13-Year-Old Victim

2012-04-19T18:12:52Z

Sandor Guillen was drinking and driving, according to police, traveling 100 mph down a 40 mph bus route in Southwest Miami-Dade when he slammed into a minivan, ripping it into two pieces. Guillen's Range Rover hit a tree and spun several times before coming to a stop. When it did, he jumped out and ran.

The driver of the minivan was taking his two daughters to school when he was hit by the drunk driver. His 13-year-old daughter was fatally injured in the crash; he, along with his 16-year-old daughter, was admitted to the hospital with injuries but has since been released.

]]> The impact of the crash was so intense that a bystander at a nearby gas station reported feeling the ground shake. The Good Samaritan ran to help. He was able to pull the 13-year-old out of the minivan, but by the time the ambulance arrived he reported that her pulse was less than strong. She later died of her injuries in the motor vehicle crash at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center.

The driver is fighting for release from jail. Prosecutors in the criminal drunk driving and manslaughter case against Guillen have argued that he is a flight risk because of family wealth and connections that could allow him to leave the country. Guillen insists that his bond, currently set at $1 million, should be lowered. He recently filed bankruptcy and his home is in foreclosure.

Meanwhile, the family is left mourning the loss of one daughter and healing the wounds of the rest of the family after Guillen chose to drink, drive and forever change each of their lives.

Source: The Miami Herald, "Good Samaritan haunted over crash that killed 13-year-old girl," Monique O. Madan, April 19, 2012

Second lawsuit filed in Miami Beach police ATV crash

2012-04-11T19:47:29Z

Last week we discussed a series of complaints filed against the Miami Beach police department. At least one person reported seeing a Miami Beach police officer drinking in his squad car a few weeks ago and another police officer was caught on tape speeding through a crowded stretch of beach in a squad car.

The Miami Beach Police Department was already under intense public scrutiny ever since last summer's pedestrian accident involving an ATV. That accident happened after a pair of police officers joined a bachelorette party at The Clevelander Hotel. The on-duty officers were pictured partying with several young women while in uniform and one of those officers was arrested after he took one of the women on his ATV while intoxicated and hit a pair of beachgoers.

]]> One of the beachgoers suffered a broken femur and had to have her spleen removed after the accident. The male victim's leg was broken and he recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Miami Beach and the police officer for disability, disfigurement, mental anguish and lost wages.

The female victim already has a pending lawsuit against the city and The Clevelander. The hotel denies serving the officers that night and it is unclear how the officer driving the ATV became so intoxicated. The officer registered a 0.088 percent blood alcohol level five hours after the accident, which means that he was likely far more intoxicated when the crash occurred.

Source: Miami Herald, "2nd lawsuit filed by victim run over by Beach officer's ATV," David Ovalle, April 6, 2012

I-95 Car Pileup in Hollywood, Florida Severely Injuries Driver

2012-04-09T19:06:24Z

Easter Sunday started with a dramatic car accident on I-95 in Broward. Authorities say that a 48-year-old Miami man driving a Toyota Camry rear-ended in a 49-year-old Hallandale Beach man's Nissan Quest. This accident happened around 6:20 a.m. near Hollywood Boulevard.

Rear-end accidents account for roughly a third of all car accidents in South Florida and often result in neck and back injuries. Many insurers try to minimize the whiplash and back injuries typically associated with these accidents and car accident victims often have to consult with personal injury attorneys to obtain the coverage that they deserve.

]]> Unfortunately this particular accident resulted in more serious injuries than whiplash. The Hallandale Beach man exited his vehicle and was standing next to the Miami man's Camry when a third vehicle slammed into the disabled vehicles and the man. The Hallandale Beach man suffered severe personal injuries and was rushed to Hollywood's Memorial Regional Hospital in serious condition.

The third vehicle was a Honda driven by a 28-year-old Boynton Beach Man. The Honda shoved the Camry underneath the Nissan van. Photos of the crash show the van's wheel's right above the driver's seat of the Camry.

Authorities charged the Boynton Beach man with careless driving and the Camry driver with failure to use due care.

Source: Miami Herald, "Easter Sunday crash on I-95 in Hollywood leaves van on top of another," Mar. 8, 2012

Inattentive Nurse Severs Florida Baby's Finger

2012-04-06T15:45:30Z

Amputations are one of the many injuries that a Florida patient can suffer in a medical malpractice incident. One young Polk County mother was recently horrified when an inattentive nurse at Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center cut her child's finger off instead of cutting a plastic intravenous tube attached to the baby's hand.

"I looked at her hand and she didn't have her finger anymore," the 15-year-old mother said. "I started screaming, 'Her finger! Her finger!' The nurse was saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

]]> The nurse then allegedly ran out of the room screaming for doctor to come and help save the baby's pinky finger, half of which was severed. The mother remembers the horrible incident in vivid detail and said that blood squired all over her wailing daughter.

The mother said that the nurse initially denied cutting off the baby's finger and claimed that it was just the tube. The nurse and the hysterical mother then realized what had happened, but unfortunately, the baby's finger was too small to reattach.

The mother is now filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.

"There's many things I would like to say to that nurse," the teen mother said. "She not only caused pain, but she did a lot of harm to all of us - not only my daughter. It has been a very hard thing to go through with my daughter. She caused a lot of pain to all of us."

Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Polk mom's lawsuit: Nurse cut off baby's pinky," Ray Reyes, March 27, 2012

Polo Club Founder Held Liable For Fatal DUI Crash

2012-04-04T15:22:17Z

Last month we discussed the drunk driving car accident caused by millionaire Palm Beach County polo club founder John Goodman. The polo mogul was involved in the crash two years ago which took the life of a 23-year-old civil engineer. Authorities say that Goodman caused the accident by running a stop sign and failed to help the engineer, who drowned in a nearby canal while still buckled in.

The Palm Beach County jury in Goodman's criminal case returned the verdict in under six hours and convicted him of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. A wrongful death lawsuit is still pending against the millionaire, who recently adopted his girlfriend in an attempt to shield some of his assets from the family of the car accident victim.

]]> "I'm always going to miss my son. He was the most wonderful," the victim's mother said. "I will always cherish his memories. And now, coming from me and the rest of the family and his friends, it's time for the healing process to begin."

Throughout the trial Goodman's attorneys attempted to downplay his level of intoxication and presented testimony that he only had a few drinks, not the 20 or so that he would have needed to get to the 0.23 percent blood alcohol level that he was believed to have had during the crash.

The prosecutor characterized the defense's theories as "bizarre" and noted that the jury found the defense experts not to be credible.

As the civil litigation against Goodman continues, a court will have to decide whether the millionaire's adoption of his girlfriend will impact the availability of his children's trust fund for purposes of assessing punitive damages. The trust fund was previously declared exempt from the suit but the recent adoption of his girlfriend may warrant a reversal of that determination.

Source: CNN, "Florida millionaire found guilty of DUI in man's death," March 23, 2012