- Shannon Weidemann | September 30, 2007 11:29 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA 49-year-old man driving a moped on Countryway Boulevard on Tampa was killed when he was hit by a car. The sports car was being driven by a 16-year-old student from Alonso High School. The moped accident happened on Wedesday afternoon. Investigators say the accident happened at about 3:15 p.m. on Countryway Boulevard just south of Woodbay Drive in Tampa. That's near the Westchase...
- Shannon Weidemann | September 29, 2007 9:02 PM |
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Workplace InjuriesA construction accident in Tenino, Washington has left an 80-year-old man injured on Monday. He was working on an underground bunker being built there. He was injured in a fall from some scaffolding. The man was reportedly working on at eight-foot-tall scaffolding structure at the site on the 7000 block of Churchill Road Southeast around 1 p.m. when he fell and hit his head and neck on the...
- Joe Saunders | September 29, 2007 9:16 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsWith personal injury protection (PIP) set to expire on October 1, 2007, the Florida Legislature is set to return to Tallahassee on Tuesday without dealing with this important issue. When PIP expires Floridians will be left with only property damage auto insurance. This insurance doesn't cover hospital bills or doctor bills if you're involved in a car accident. PIP covers up to $10,000 per...
- Joe Saunders | September 28, 2007 12:24 PM |
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MiscellaneousThe recent revelations of former St. Petersburg City Council member John Bryan and his subsequent suicide demonstrate the perverse and prevalent nature of pedophiles and ephebophiles (those who prey sexually on post-pubescent teens). On the surface, John Bryan was a doting father who loved his adopted children. Yet the truth revealed that he was preying sexually on these children he had...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 28, 2007 11:00 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThe FDA has previously warned about the risks of buying drugs and other medical products over the internet which could be fake, sub-potent, counterfeit, or not approved by the FDA. Some of the drugs most susceptible to counterfeiting are expensive drugs that are sold in large volumes including cholesterol-lowering medications and "embarrassment drugs" (drugs for conditions that patients may not...
- Chrissie Cole | September 27, 2007 11:59 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rhode Island Novelty announced a recall of its children's spinning wheel metal necklaces due to excessive amounts of lead.The clasp of the necklaces contains excessive levels of lead. If ingested by young children, lead can be toxic and cause adverse health effects.The recalled necklaces are 30-inches-long with a spinning...
- Joe Saunders | September 27, 2007 11:41 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA NJ meat producer is recalling 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties because they may be contaminated with the potentially deadly E coli O157:H7. Affected brands include: Butcher's Best, Kohler Foods, Sand Castle, Topps, and Westside. E coli is most lethal in the young, elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal cramps. For afull list...
- Joe Saunders | September 27, 2007 10:38 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsIn a move that is widely seen as a step in the right direction for consumer safety, a consortium of pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions will combine forces to study data concerning the link between genetics and drug safety. The pharmaceutical companies involved in the group include: Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc., Roche Holding AG,...
- Joe Saunders | September 26, 2007 12:41 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsAn auto passenger was killed and three people were seriously injured on interstate 275 last night by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate. The accident was caused by two criminals who were trying to escape from the police. The Saint Petersburg police were chasing the suspects on St. Petersburg city streets at 2:30 in the morning when the suspects entered the interstate going the...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 26, 2007 10:56 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA study published in the September 4th issue of Neurology indicates that smokers are 50% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or dementia than non-smokers or those who used to smoke. The Rotterdam Study, a large population-based, cohort study from the Netherlands which was designed to investigate the incidence and causes of cardiovascular, neurologic, endocrine, and ophthalmologic...
- Joe Saunders | September 26, 2007 9:13 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA St. Petersburg car crash closed south bound lanes of I-275 for hours this morning following a high speed police chase. The suspect was driving a Ford Escort the wrong way on 275 when it crashed into another vehicle, a Toyota Camry, head-on. The passenger in the Toyota Camry was taken to Bayfront Hospital and later died.
- Chrissie Cole | September 26, 2007 12:12 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), RC2 Corp., announced additional recalls of Thomas & Friends Wooden Railroad Toys due to a violation of federal lead paint standards.The newest recall includes approximately 200,000 toys. 1.5 million Thomas & Friends Toys were recalled in June 2007.The toy recall includes five toys from the Thomas and Friends Wooden Railroad...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 25, 2007 10:51 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsAccording to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths around the world, claiming 1.3 million lives each year. Statistics show that nearly 60% of people die within one year of diagnosis. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp A new system that classifies many tumors as more treatable than in year's past will provide thousands of lung cancer patients...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 24, 2007 5:14 PM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsFor months, there have been growing concerns over the safety of Ketek, an antibiotic that has caused liver failure in a number of patients. Ketek (telithromycin) is part of the ketolide class of antibiotics, and was approved by the FDA in April of 2004. The drug has been shrouded in controversy due to Congressional investigations into irregularities with regard to the approval process,...
- Joe Saunders | September 24, 2007 5:35 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeAfter a USF student, Rachel Futterman, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, the university has braced itself for more cases of the rare but potentially deadly disease. Bacterial meningitis, an infection of the brain and spinal cord lining, is a rare but potentially fatal illness. Early symptoms can resemble the flu, including fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and...
- Joe Saunders | September 24, 2007 1:52 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThe potential link between such ADHD drugs as Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, and Dexedrine and cardiovascular disease and strokes will be studied by the FDA. According to the September 17 FDA News item:"Case reports have described adverse cardiovascular events in adult and pediatric patients with certain underlying risk factors who receive drug treatment for ADHD, but it is unknown whether or not...
- Joe Saunders | September 23, 2007 1:44 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeIn a move that's been expected for weeks, President Bush has threatened to veto a bill that would expand healthcare coverage for children. The child healthcare program is set to expire September 30 and Congress will most likely vote to renew it, setting a showdown with the President. The program covers children, many of whom would not have access to healthcare without it. Bush has argued that...
- Shannon Weidemann | September 22, 2007 3:19 PM |
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MiscellaneousDamage from the 2004 Hurricanes in Florida brought about disputes between homeowners and insurance companies about what caused damage to homes. Conventional insurance companies pay out for wind damage and separate flood insurance policies pay for flood damage. Earlier court rulings said that insurance companies were responsible for flood damage. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that...
- Staff Writer | September 22, 2007 6:27 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsChinese manufactured baby cribs are the latest in a recent spate of defective product recalls. The latest product recall occurred after two infant deaths were linked to Graco and Simplicity brand baby cribs. Graco and Simplicity brands are not the only brands making news today. Mattel issued a surprising apology today to Chinese manufacturers in which they took the blame for design flaws and...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 21, 2007 5:12 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA recent study published in Lancet adds more controversy to the ongoing debate over the safety of Taxus® and Cypher® drug-coated stents versus bare-metal stents. Stents are metal devices placed into diseased arteries that act as scaffolding to keep arteries open after angioplasty procedures. In this article, the researchers reviewed the results of thirty-eight clinical trials comparing the...
- Staff Writer | September 21, 2007 4:09 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsPIP, personal injury protection insurance, has been a staple for injured Florida auto accident victims for decades. PIP auto accident insurance provides no fault medical and wage benefits for those injured in auto accidents. Florida PIP insurance requirements are set to expire on October 1, 2007 unless the Florida Legislature acts to extend or modify the insurance requirement. Rick Kriseman, a...
- Staff Writer | September 21, 2007 7:57 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsWhat happened last Saturday night in St. Petersburg is every parents' worst nightmare. Another local teenager died in a tragic car accident. The driver had just obtained his learner's permit and was behind the wheel of a car loaded with fellow teens and no adults. The details of the accident are still sketchy and vary among the witnesses. This much is clear: the Tampa Bay region has lost...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 21, 2007 7:00 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThe osteoporosis drug Evista® (raloxifene) was recently approved for use to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancers in postmenopausal women who also have osteoporosis or are at high risk for developing breast cancer http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01698.html. The FDA reports that Evista® is only the second drug ever approved to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Tamoxifen® was...
- Chrissie Cole | September 20, 2007 1:22 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA division of Dole Food Company, Inc., Dole Fresh Vegetables - announced a voluntary salad recall in the U.S. and Canada with the label "Dole Hearts Delight" due to possible E. coli bacteria contamination.The recalled salad has a "best if used by (BIUM) date of September 19, 2007 and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B" stamped on the package.The recall was announced after a sample at a...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 19, 2007 1:37 PM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsJury selection and opening statements have now been completed in the trial of Refik Kozic v. Merck, the first Vioxx case to proceed to trial in the State of Florida. Refik Kozic, a current resident of Jacksonville and a former long-term resident of Tampa, filed his lawsuit against Merck in 2003 for injuries relating to the heart attack that he suffered after ingesting Vioxx daily for 9 weeks. ...
- Staff Writer | September 18, 2007 11:42 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsNY Attorney General and son of former Governor Mario Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo has filed a lawsuit against Merck and Co. for fraudulently concealing safety information about the embattled drug Vioxx. NY joins ten other states who have sued the company for failing to disclose safety information about Vioxx. NY city Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also joined the lawsuit which seeks restitution for tens...
- Chrissie Cole | September 18, 2007 12:46 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA car accident, Tuesday, along West Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, sent one car crashing into a building and another into a Hillsborough River.A man, 24, was driving a 1996 Nissan Sentra with two occupants when it was seen sharply changing lanes prior to rear-ending a 1998 Mercedes SUV, according to Tampa Police.The crash sent the SUV spinning off the road and through a wood fence. It came to...
- Chrissie Cole | September 15, 2007 5:59 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsChrysler announced an automobile recall of approximately 300,000 trucks and SUVs due to drivers experiencing a short delay in breaking when driving uphill.Chrysler dealers will fix the problem for free by reprogramming the control module of the antilock brake systems on 2007 Dodge Nitros and Jeep Wranglers and also 2006-2007 Commanders and Jeep Grand Cherokees.One report of a crash, with no...
- Courtney Mills | September 14, 2007 5:07 PM |
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Motorcycle AccidentsJoseph K. Wright, a young man with extended family from Tampa, passed away last week during a motorcycle accident on the way to Key West. He was 36 years old.Joe Wright and his father Ed had left work last Friday to ride down to the Keys, and Joe had placed a sweatshirt on the seat of his cycle to cushion the ride. Somewhere along the trip, the sweatshirt became tangled up in the rear spokes...
- Staff Writer | September 14, 2007 6:48 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsCephalon had already been criticized for its inappropriate and aggressive marketing techniques when it sent a "Dear Doctor" letter to physicians warning them about the possible side effects in Fentora. These side effects include 4 deaths, one a suicide. Actiq and Fentora were approved for cancer patients only. Yet, as we've seen before, the drugs are marketed more broadly than their intended...
- Staff Writer | September 13, 2007 5:50 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsNuvaRing has been associated with venous thromboembolic (VTE) events such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as well as ischemic stroke (CVA) and myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack.Like OrthoEvra, NuvaRing has shown to cause serious adverse health risks for consumers of the product. This vaginal ring contains a relatively high dose of etonogestrel.
- Shannon Weidemann | September 12, 2007 9:28 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsNo-fault auto insurance expires on October 1st for those in Florida and many drivers are hoping for lower auto insurance premiums. Drivers will no longer have to purchase $10,000 in personal injury protection insurance. The changes though mean that insurance companies are raising the rates on other items so there may be marginal savings. In fact insurance premiums may go up for some drivers. ...
- Staff Writer | September 12, 2007 11:55 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeA 2006 registry of Medicare patients has found that 15% of doctors implanting defibrillators have had no formal training in the procedure. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (or ICD) is the small device implanted beneath the patient's collarbone and connected to the heart through insulated wires. The device is designed to provide an electric shock to the heart if its rhythm is...
- Chrissie Cole | September 10, 2007 5:35 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsHayes Company Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced a voluntary recall of 83,000 "Avant Yarde" outdoor candles due to a fire hazard. The candle wax can catch fire causing a high flame and burn hazard to consumers.To date, the company has received two reports of minor burn injuries while consumers tried to extinguish the candle flames.The candle...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 10:33 AM |
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MiscellaneousIn a blistering editorial entitled "Sidelining Safety" in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration was criticized for failure to implement the necessary to ensure patient safety. In September of 2006, sparked in part by the regulatory fallout from the withdrawal of Vioxx, the Institute of Medicine published a report entitled "The Future of Drug Safety." This...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 9:54 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsJury selection will begin on September 10, 2007, in the latest round in the HRT litigation involving Wyeth. Pfizer was also a defendant in the case, but, according to Bloomberg, settled with the plaintiffs in late August. This trial involves the claims of three Nevada women, one of whom is terminal, who developed breast cancer after taking the combination hormone replacement therapy drugs...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 9:28 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsOn August 30, 2007, Altria Group announced that it was spinning off Philip Morris International and will be moving that division to Lausanne, Switzerland. Philip Morris USA will remain a division of Altria. Big Tobacco is facing a backlash in the United States from consumers and regulators who are fed up with renegade marketing and sales tactics to expand its market as the cigarette...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 8:41 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsSchering-Plough is now facing eight lawsuits in coordinated federal MDL proceedings in Newark. These lawsuits follow a plea agreement in which the company agreed to pay $435 million to settle criminal and civil charges stemming from its improper, off-label marketing programs and payment of "kickbacks" to prescribing physicians. The pending lawsuits involve several popular Schering-Plough drugs:...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 7:51 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsPatients who received drug-coated stents after a heart attack are nearly five times more likely to die within 6 to 24 months afterwards when compared to patients who received older "bare metal" stents according to a recent study presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna last week. This study analyzed 2,300 patients in 14 countries who are included in the GRACE Registry...
- Brenda Fulmer | September 10, 2007 6:32 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThe New Jersey Supreme Court rejected a request by a union health plan to certify a national class action lawsuit against Merck on September 6, 2007. The claims were brought under New Jersey's consumer fraud statutes by a union health plan on behalf of health insurers who paid for Vioxx prescriptions. The class had been previously certified by Judge Higbee, the New Jersey state court judge who...
- Shannon Weidemann | September 08, 2007 9:49 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA student at the University of Central Florida was killed after being hit in a crosswalk on Alafaya Trail. The pedestrian accident happened early on Wednesday morning. The victim was 18-years-old and from Sarasota. The victim was struck first by a Volkswagen Jetta in the outside lane, then knocked into the middle lane where he was hit by a Toyota Corolla, according to the accident report.A...
- Joe Saunders | September 07, 2007 11:16 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn 2005, Pinellas County had 1,631 alcohol-related crashes in Pinellas County, resulting in 1,162 injuries and 39 fatalities. During the same year, Hillsborough County authorities arrested more than 7,000 drivers for suspicion of driving under the influence. Unfortunately, this is still a huge problem in the Tampa Bay area. According to statistics, 38% of traffic deaths in Florida are...
- Staff Writer | September 07, 2007 10:56 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsConAgra Foods, most recently in the news for peanut butter contamination, is once again drawing the attention of federal authorities. This time, it's because of an additive in their microwaveable popcorn. The additive, diacetyl, gives popcorn the buttery flavor. It's also known to contribute to lung cancer in workers who handle large quantities of the additive. The FDA has stated that...
- Chrissie Cole | September 05, 2007 7:09 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsMattel announced a voluntary toy recall of 675,000 Barbie accessories due to excessive levels of lead in the surface paints, which is prohibited by law and toxic to small children.The toy recall includes several Barbie toy accessories that were manufactured between September 30, 2006 and August 20, 2007. You can view a full list of recalled barbie accessories to determine if you have any. The...
- Chrissie Cole | September 04, 2007 9:08 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA Milwaukee County Judge has given preliminary approval for a class action tobacco lawsuit filed in 2002, that has reached a $65 million dollar settlement. The final hearing is set for December.The settlement terms will allow Wisconsin snuff users to each receive more than $800 in coupons to buy smokeless tobacco at a steep discount over the span of twenty years.The lawsuit claimed Wisconsin...
- Shannon Weidemann | September 04, 2007 4:18 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsBaby cribs that may pose a strangulation hazard to babies and young children have been recalled by NettoCollection. The recalled cribs were sold between October 2003 and June 2005 for around $1,350. About 400 cribs are affected by the recall. The slats on the crib can seperate from the rails. The crib side rails are made of wood and sold with a brown finish. Only cribs with model numbers...
- Staff Writer | September 04, 2007 8:31 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsGadolinium is used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dyes to enhance test results. However, the FDA has found that the gadolinium-based dyes are linked to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a sometimes fatal that involves the skin, muscle, and internal organs. According to the FDA advisory, signs of dangers include: For the skin--burning or itching, reddened or darkened patches; and/or skin...