Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

July 9, 2009

Troubles at Philadelphia VA Continue

Is Gary Kao a renegade physician, or maybe just a doctor who was allowed to get in over his head?
Kao is the only person whom officials have identified in the unfolding scandal over substandard radioactive seed implants at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

As the radiation oncologist who did most of the implants, Kao played a central role. But a cast of actors supported and directed him – week after week, for six years – until the VA suspended the program a year ago.

Those actors included a medical physicist with little experience in developing implant treatment plans, a radiation-safety committee that allowed crucial radiation-dosage calculations to go undone, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors who let Kao revise two patients’ treatment plans to avoid reporting medical errors, according to the Veterans Affairs investigation report.

July 9, 2009

Nevada Whistleblower Gets Job Back

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A federal agency has been ordered to rehire an ex-worker until an appeals board can hold a hearing on his whistleblower claim that he was fired in retaliation for telling his boss two co-workers illegally shot mountain lions from a government airplane in Nevada.

An administrative law judge granted Gary Strader’s motion for reinstatement because Strader presented enough evidence to suggest there is a “substantial likelihood” he will prevail in his case against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, where he worked as a professional hunter in northeast Nevada until his firing in April.

July 8, 2009

Yasmin and Yaz Side Effects

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Yasmin was introduced in 2001 by Berlex Laboratories as a combined hormonal oral contraceptive. After Berlex was acquired by Bayer Healthcare in 2006, they marketed Yaz, which was an identical drug to Yasmin, except that Yasmin contained 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol, while Yaz contained 20 mcg. Yasmin/Yaz was sold throughout the world but they are linked with problems and side effects.

Side effects such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), heart attack, stroke and death were prevalent among women who used Yasmin/Yaz. These problems were linked to drospirenone, which acts as a diuretic related to spironolactone. This causes high potassium levels, called hyperkalemia, which results in serious heart problems and other serious health issues.

July 8, 2009

Litigation Over Johnson & Johnson Antibiotic Levaquin Designated N.J. Mass Tort

by Dr. Shezad Malik

The New Jersey Supreme Court has designated mounting litigation over the Johnson & Johnson antibiotic Levaquin as a mass tort and has assigned it to an Atlantic County, N.J., judge. The suits charge that the drug, which is prescribed for bacterial infections of the lungs, urinary tract and skin, has caused Achilles’ tendon ruptures and other damage.

The plaintiffs law firm that sought mass-tort status, Douglas & London of New York, maintains that the litigation will likely involve thousands of cases with the same defendants, similar complex issues of law and fact, and plaintiffs with a high degree of commonality in their injuries and damages.

The firm, which has filed six Levaquin suits in New Jersey, also said Atlantic County is appropriate because its docket is less crowded than those in Bergen or Middlesex counties, the other venues hearing mass-tort cases.

July 7, 2009

Suicide Warnings for 2 Anti-Smoking Drugs

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Federal drug regulators warned that patients taking two popular drugs to stop smoking should be watched closely for signs of serious mental illness, as reports mount of suicides among the drugs’ users.

But officials emphasized that fear should not stop patients from taking the smoking-cessation medicines, Chantix, made by Pfizer, and Zyban, made by GlaxoSmithKline, which also sells it under the brand name Wellbutrin, for depression.

July 6, 2009

Zicam Lawsuit Filed

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Side effects of Zicam Nasal Gel and Nasal Swabs, marketed as an over-the-counter cold remedy, have been associated with the loss of sense of smell and taste, which can be an extremely devastating injury. In June 2009, the FDA required that three Zicam Cold Remedy products be pulled from the market due to reports of more than 130 users losing their sense of smell.

STATUS OF ZICAM LAWSUITS: Hundreds of Zicam lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who lost their sense of taste or smell, and lawyers are continuing to review potential claims.

July 5, 2009

Defective Drugs: Chantix

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Side effects of Chantix could increase the risk of suicide or lead to a number of serious and life-threatening injuries.

The side effects of Chantix are being reviewed for potential lawsuits for individuals who suffered severe physical injury or death which may be related to the use of Chantix. The anti-smoking drug has been linked to a number of psychological side effects and other problems which could be caused by the effect the drug has on the brain.

July 5, 2009

County Settles in Cyclist’s Death After Crash

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Santa Clara County has agreed to pay $2.3 M to the parents of one of the bicyclists killed when a former sheriff’s deputy drove his patrol car into a group of cyclists.

The payment settles a lawsuit filed against both the county and the deputy by the family of cyclist Matt Peterson, 29, who was killed in the crash. Negotiations are still ongoing in civil suits filed by the family of the other cyclist who died, Kristy Gough, 30, and with Christopher Knapp, 21, who suffered two broken limbs but survived.

July 4, 2009

Jury: Home Depot Liable for $1.5 M in Accident

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A Cobb County, Georgia jury has awarded a Home Depot customer and his wife $1.5 million in a personal injury case stemming from a forklift accident inside a store.

According to the complaint, in November 2005 shopper Larry Reece fell and suffered neck and spine injuries after a pallet of plywood fell 24 feet from a forklift.

The wood hit a barricade that knocked over Reece, who wound up trapped under the plywood.

As part of the verdict, Reece’s wife was awarded $30,000 for loss of marital relations, said the couple’s attorney, Jeff Shiver. Shiver said medical expenses for Reece’s neck injuries were about $120,000, including surgery to repair herniated discs.

July 3, 2009

Texas Patient Awarded $10 M in Medical Malpractice Claim

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A Harris County Texas jury has ruled in favor of a Houston man in a medical malpractice case, awarding him $10 million in damages stemming from a lawsuit against Methodist Hospital and the doctors who treated him there.

John German developed gangrene that required the amputation of his left leg above the knee, all the toes on his right foot and all of his fingers in the aftermath of heart surgery in 2002 .

“It’s been a long time coming, but I feel vindicated,” said German, who was a 32-year-old mechanic at the time of the care.